Introductory description

The dissertation is an opportunity to explore, in depth, an area of academic and/or professional interest related to your degree. Building on the knowledge and skills developed during the Foundation Research Methods module, and your other modules, you will conduct an independent research project, developing a deeper understanding of your chosen topic. From your research project you will produce a dissertation, with guidance from a supervisor who will be allocated to you. Through the dissertation you will demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesise relevant literature, produce coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence and logical discussion, and acknowledge sources of ideas and information.

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.

The module will address the following core themes:

• Understanding educational research appropriate to educare/school-based inquiry.
• Interviews, questionnaires, observation schedules, survey data as tools for inquiry.
• Experimental design, survey and quantitative data analysis.
• Approaches to analysing qualitative data and using documentary and other sources.
• Designing, planning and writing a research project.
• Use of literature as a support for research.
• Implementing innovation.
• Extending innovation in an educare/school setting.

The module should enable students to develop key research skills appropriate for developing an educare/school-based project. Session tutors, drawing upon their particular research expertise, will guide students in the practicalities of research design, data collection and data analysis.

Each student will also be allocated a supervisor who will guide them on the specific focus of the practical research they will be undertaking and support them in producing a 15000 word project report.

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 Educational Leadership
• Written communication skills
• Demonstrate use of information technology via analysis of qualitative data, quantitative data, or use of e-resources in the library, e.g. literature searches
• Use of relevant research skills
• Demonstrate ability in critical analysis
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate new concepts
• Demonstrate ability to plan and structure a sustained report of research or a piece of sustained academic scholarship related to education

Indicative reading list

Aubrey, C., David, T., Godfrey, R. and Thompson, L., (2000), Early Childhood Educational Research: Issues in methodology and ethics. London: RoutledgeFalmer
Bieger, G. R. and Gerlach, G. J., (1996), Educational Research: A Practical Approach, Wadsworth Publishing.
Grey, D., (2004), Doing Research in the Real World, Sage
MacNaughton, G., Rolfe, S. A. and Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2001) Doing Early Childhood Research. International Perspectives on Theory and Practice. Buckingham: Open University Press
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
Wilson, C. and Powell, M. (2001) A Guide to Interviewing Children. London: Routledge

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Students complete an independent research study related to a chosen aspect of educational leadership and management, with supervision.

Subject specific skills

• examine, evaluate and deploy the findings of empirical and theoretical studies related to educational leadership and management • reflect upon the ethics of studying aspects of education • generate and explore suitable research questions • carry out empirical or desk-based studies ethically • use appropriate methods of data collection to answer research questions • analyse data • present and evaluate research findings

Transferable skills

• Analysis and decision making • Communication skills • Critical thinking • Data handling • Emotional intelligence • Intellectual ability • Judgement and decision making • Negotiation • Planning and organisational skills • Problem solving • Reasoning • Using IT effectively