Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM308: Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
A written outline of the research problem/focus	250 words	1,2,4,7,9	Written and verbal feedback from tutor. Written/verbal feedback from peers.
Research proposal	3000 words	1-4, 9	Written feedback from dissertation supervisor.

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
A dissertation presenting the processes and outcomes of the research enquiry	100	12,000 words	1-9	Written feedback and grade

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
A dissertation presenting the processes and outcomes of the research enquiry	Resubmission of dissertation (12,000 words)	1-9	Usually 6 weeks

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.