Introductory description

This is the final major project of the MA Professional Education, providing students with an opportunity to consider in depth an area of academic and professional interest related to education.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Following consultation and needs analysis and discussion with tutors, students select either a topic within an area of scholarship or a topic for empirical research within the field of education. Students write a 20,000 word dissertation in consultation with their supervisor. In order to undertake the study, students select and read appropriate theoretical and methodological literature in consultation with the supervisor. The study for the dissertation builds on the Foundation Research Methods module, which is a pre-requisite.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of a specific topic within the field of education relevant to your professional context.
• Demonstrate ability on critical analysis and an ability to understand and articulate new concepts
• Demonstrate ability to undertake original research
• Demonstrate understanding of appropriate research methods. Offer a systematic defence for chosen methodologies / methods, providing evidence that they have been used competently.
• Demonstrate ability to adhere to the highest ethical standards in research.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and structure a sustained report of research or a piece of sustained academic scholarship related to education.

Indicative reading list

Anderson, G.L., Herr, K. and Nihlen, A.S., 2007. Studying your own school: An educator's guide to practitioner action research. Corwin Press.
Bieger G R and Gerlach G J (1996) Educational Research: A Practical Approach (Wadsworth Publishing).
Burton, D. and Bartlett, S., (2004.) Practitioner research for teachers. Sage.
Grey, D. (2004) Doing Research in the Real World. (Sage)
Muijs, D. (2004) Doing Quantitative Research. (Sage/Paul Chapman)
Opie, C. (2004) Doing Educational Research. (Sage/Paul Chapman).
Prior, L. (2003) Using Documents in Social Research. (Sage)
Robson, C. (1993) Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner Researchers, (Oxford, Blackwell).
Thomson, P. and Hall, C. (2017) Place-Based Methods for Researching Schools (Bloomsbury)
Wyse, D., Selwyn, N., Smith, E. and Suter, L.E. eds., (2016). The BERA/SAGE handbook of educational research. Sage.

Journals (all available in Warwick library, most electronically)
British Educational Research Journal
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
Oxford Review of Education

Research element

Students undertaking their own research in educational contexts.

Subject specific skills

Knowledge and understanding related to the field of education
Ethical research practice in education

Transferable skills

Research skills to facilitate further research (PhD or EdD) and in alternative professional contexts where research skills are desirable.