Research Methods in Education

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically reflect on your skills, practices and knowledge
• Recognise the need to manage time and resources
• Critically evaluate published research
• Report and effectively communicate the results of research

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Design appropriate research tools for collecting empirical data from educational contexts
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research design for education and psychology
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of data collection methods and analysis

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Report educational research findings in an appropriate format
• Use appropriate statistical analysis software
• Develop a research proposal from initial research question to research design, data collection and data analysis and methods
• Design research tools and select appropriate data analysis methods for qualitative or quantitative empirical data

Topics normally covered in this module will include:

• An introduction to designing a good research question for research;
• Critically evaluate published research;
• Various research designs in qualitative and quantitative approaches;
• Data collection methods in qualitative and quantitative approaches;
• Analysing qualitative data using appropriate methods (e.g., thematic analysis);
• Analysing quantitative data using appropriate methods (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics);

Reporting data analysis ;Design a research proposal

Teaching and learning methods

This module include 3-hours session for 24 weeks which are run as workshops, practicals, and plenaries as appropriate. The sessions will include peer feedback and assessment opportunities, and whole group interactive learning. Where useful, technology will be used to support the session.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Software. SPSS, available via http://software.soton.ac.uk

Devices for statistical sessions. Devices for statistical sessions - students will need to work on their own devices during stats sessions. Download SPSS before sessions, UoS license.

Additional resources. Online videos and resources will be made available.

Textbooks

Denscombe, M (2014). The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Punch, K (2009). Introduction to Research Methods in Education.. London: Sage.

Muijs, D. (2004). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS.. London: Sage.

Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2011). Research Methods in Education.. London: Routledge.

Lichtman, M. (2010). Qualitative Research in Education: a User's Guide.. London: Sage.

Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. London: Sage.

Sharp, J. (2009). Success with your Education Research Project.. Exeter: Learning Matters.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External