Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM308: Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 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.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. 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 Skills5. 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 Skills7. 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.

Core Text Book:


• Thomas, G. (2017) How to do your research project : a guide for students in education and applied social sciences (3rd edition) London Sage

Essential Reading:


• Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2018) Research Methods in Education (8th edition) London Routledge

• Bell, J. (2018) Doing your research project (8th edition) London Open University Press

• Pring, R. (2015) Philosophy of Educational Research (3rd edition) London Bloomsbury

• Robson, C. (2011) Real world research : a resource for users of social research methods in applied setting (3rd edition) Chichester Wiley

• Wellington, J. (2015) Education Research: contemporary issues and practical approaches (2nd edition) London Bloomsbury

 

Recommended Reading:

• Bryman, A. (2018) Social Research Methods (5th edition) Oxford Oxford University Press.

• Cresswell, J. (2014) Educational research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th edition) London Pearson

• Crotty, M. (1998) The Foundations of Social Research : meaning and perspective in the research process London Sage

• Descombe, M. (2017) The Good Research Guide for Small-scale Social Research Projects (6th edition) Buckingham: Open University Press.

• Miles, M., Huberman, A. & Saldana, J. (2014) Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook (3rd edition) Arizona State University.

• Hammersley, M. (2007) Educational Research: Policy Making and Practice, London: Paul Chapman.

• Davis, D. J., Brunn-Bevel, R. J., Olive, J. L., & Jones, S. R. (Eds.). (2015). Intersectionality in educational research (1st edition). Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.