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Unit of Study EDU93001 - Research Methods in Education (2014)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    PG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • AQF level

    9

  • Level of learning

    Advanced

  • Former School/College

    Former School of Education

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Considers the role, nature and practice of research in education. Students are introduced to general research principles and qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies with a focus on ethical issues in the conduct of research. Students plan a research-based project, and develop a research proposal and an ethics application.

Unit content

Module 1: Introduction

The role, nature and practice of research in education
The role of ontology, epistemology and theory in informing approaches to research
Overview of research methodology and methods, including a broad understanding of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches
Framing a research study

Module 2a: Qualitative research methods in education (optional module)

Qualitative methodology and theory
Qualitative data collection approaches and techniques, including sampling
Qualitative data analysis approaches
How is qualitative research evaluated?

Module 2b: Quantitative research methods (optional module)

Quantitative methodology and theory
Quantitative data collection approaches and techniques, including sampling
Quantitative data analysis approaches
How is quantitative research evaluated?

Module 3: Preparing a research proposal and ethics application

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online Session 1,  2 Session 1,  2

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 explain the role, function and potential impact of different types of research in educational contexts
2 analyse the relationship between epistemology, theory, methodology and methods in educational research
3 identify and justify the most appropriate research approach to address an identified educational problem, issue, or knowledge need
4 select appropriate qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods for such a study
5 describe the approaches taken to analysing data
6 identify and address ethical issues related to research in an educational context
7 develop a proposal and ethics application for a small scale study in an education context.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. explain the role, function and potential impact of different types of research in educational contexts
    • GA1:
  2. analyse the relationship between epistemology, theory, methodology and methods in educational research
    • GA1:
  3. identify and justify the most appropriate research approach to address an identified educational problem, issue, or knowledge need
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
  4. select appropriate qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods for such a study
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
  5. describe the approaches taken to analysing data
    • GA1:
  6. identify and address ethical issues related to research in an educational context
    • GA3:
  7. develop a proposal and ethics application for a small scale study in an education context.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.