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Unit of Study EDUC6006 - Research Methods in Education (2021)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

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Unit description

This unit facilitates the development of an appropriate methodology to identify and explore a specific research problem. Students are mentored in skills and understanding including research problem development; research paradigms; methodological approaches; research designs; sites and sampling; data collection and analysis methods; and ethical considerations. For most students this unit will contribute directly to an ongoing research project.

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
Session1,2
Session1

Learning outcomes

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:

explain the role, function and potential impact of different types of research in educational contexts

analyse the relationship between epistemology, theory, methodology and methods in educational research

identify and justify the most appropriate research approach to address an identified educational problem, issue, or knowledge need

select appropriate qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods for such a study

describe the approaches taken to analysing data

identify and address ethical issues related to research in an educational context

develop a proposal and ethics application for a small scale study in an education context.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.