Introductory description

This module encourages students in understanding, designing and implementing research in the field of education. It will introduce you to a range of established research strategies and techniques, including data collection and analysis. These skills will enable you to design and carry out a dissertation research project, as well as to disseminate its findings. As part of this module you will present your research design and have the opportunity to receive feedback ahead of completing your dissertation.

Module web page

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.

Introduction to research methods in education
Research designs in research in education (eg, case studies, action research , survey research,
quasi experimental designs)
Quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analysis (eg, thematic analysis,
descriptive and inferential statistical analyses)
Ethics in research in education
Issues regarding reliability, validity and generalisability in research in education
Developing a research proposal

Learning outcomes

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

• a) Understand competing paradigms and methodologies in educational research. Examine quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as mixed method designs
• b) Identify theoretical and methodological grounds on which education research is based. Analyse the relationship between research questions, research design and methods for data collection.
• c) Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of educational research from different perspectives and methodologies. Develop a research proposal on a topic in education
• d) Gain familiarity with different research practices in relation to various empirical investigations within educational settings; developing a research proposal and a plan upon which to build the Masters dissertation

Indicative reading list

Cohen, L., Manion, L., and Morrison, K. (2011). Research Methods in Education (7' Edition). London: Routledge/ Falmer.
Hartas, D et al (2010). Educational Research and Inquiry. Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches. London: Bloomsbury
Muijs, D. (2004). Doing Quantitative Research. London: Sage.

Subject specific skills

• examine, evaluate and deploy the findings of empirical and theoretical studies related to the chosen education-related topic and research questions
• reflect upon the ethics of researching a particular education-related topic
• generate and explore research questions relating to the chosen topic
• create a proposal for undertaking empirical studies ethically involving a variety of methods of data collection
• demonstrate an understanding of how to analyse data acquired using a variety of data collection methods

Transferable skills

• Analysis and decision making
• Application of numeracy
• 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