College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation
Module EFPM308 for 2019/0
Module EFPM308 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
EFPM308: Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of the module is to develop your understanding of a range of methods of educational enquiry and to provide the necessary theoretical back ground to carry out a research enquiry, usually in a professional context. Specifically the module will enable you to:
- develop a critical understanding of the range of educational methodologies and paradigms and their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses;
- conduct a rigorous enquiry into a relevant and approved area of study within a particular field of education;
- identify and develop an appropriate theoretical framework for the enquiry;
- design an appropriate enquiry and select suitable methods for the enquiry and justify these in theoretical terms;
- interpret evidence and discuss its relevance to existing theory;
- develop a critical understanding of the ethical and other issues involved in the selected area of inquiry.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current problems in educational theory or professional practice; 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques/ methodologies applicable to your own work (theory or research- based); 3. Communicate the outcomes of research clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a written dissertation and other appropriate formats; 4. Demonstrate awareness and ability to manage the implications of ethical dilemmas and work pro-actively with others to formulate solutions; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the chosen area of study with an associated mastery of relevant academic literature and discourse; 6. demonstrate an ability to undertake research tasks competently with minimum guidance; |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. Exercise initiative and autonomous responsibility for the direction, management and completion of the research enquiry; 8. Demonstrate decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations through sensitive collaboration with academic peers, professional colleagues, research participants and research users; 9. Demonstrate the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development by making relevant connections between theory, personal research and, where appropriate, professional practice. |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
- Bell, J. with Waters, S. (2014) Doing your research project: a guide to first time researchers in education and social science. 6th edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
- Bryman, A. (2016) Social research methods. 5th edn. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2018) Research Methods in Education. 8th edn. London: Routledge.
- Mertens, D. M. (2015) Research and evaluation in education and psychology 4th edn. London: Sage.
- Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M. and Saldana, J. (2014) Qualitative data analysis: expanded methods sourcebook. 3rd edn. London: Sage.
- Pring, R. (2015) Philosophy of educational research. London: Bloomsbury.
- Radnor, H. (2001) Researching your professional practice doing interpretative research. Buckingham: OUP.
- Robson C. and McCartan, K. (2016) Real world research.4th edn. Chichester: Wiley.
- Thomas, G.T. (2017) How to do your research project. 3rd edn. London: Sage.
- Wellington, J. (2015) Educational research: contemporary issues and practical approaches. 2nd edn. London: Bloomsbury.
- Wilkinson, D. (ed.)(2000) The researcher's toolkit. London: Routledge Falmer.