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 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.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Introduction to research
Designing a small-scale study
Reviewing literature: critical analysis and synthesis
Research methodologies
Research ethics
Data collection methods: questionnaires, interviews, observations
Data analysis methods: qualitative and quantitative
Writing a dissertation.

This module encompasses two interrelated phases: an initial preparatory phase which introduces research methodology and research design; and a dissertation phase in which you conduct and complete the chosen research enquiry.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
40	560	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	10	10 x 60 minute online/face to face lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	20	10 x 120 minute seminars- face to face or synchronous online.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	10	Individual supervision
Guided Independent Study	50	Directed tasks through module online materials eg reading, preparing outline of study, drafting data collection instruments etc.
Guided Independent Study	50	Preparation of research proposal and ethical approval
Guided Independent Study	460	Carrying out of research enquiry, for example, gathering data, analysing data, writing dissertation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).