Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Develop your own ideas and organise a project independently but with supportive guidance
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the approaches by which research and critical awareness of debates in education can be utilised to construct a scholarly argument.
• Produce and present a carefully argued dissertation
• Analyse and synthesise research findings
• Know the research process and understand methods of data collection and analysis and apply them in a self-reliant manner
• Choose and evaluate a feasible independent research design, project plan and structure
• Demonstrate an understanding of data collection and analysis methods, where applicable
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of your chosen dissertation project, its potential impact on practice and the range of relevant scholarly literature and source materials
• Refine and practice a range of skills which would be useful to you in further study or a professional/work based context.
• Develop advanced practical and analytical skills in a range of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods as an academic researcher and writer on educational and social matters
• Devise appropriate research methods to undertake a research project, where applicable
• Make your own contribution to educational understanding by presenting a coherent, detailed and sustained argument at length on an educational topic
• Devise appropriate research questions
• Critically evaluate an appropriate range of relevant primary source materials and arguments reflected in other sources and propose a relevant area of investigation
• Acquire appropriate Ethical and Research Governance approvals where needed

In studying this module you will cover aspects of the following:

• Strategies for focusing and managing the research process.
• Quantitative and qualitative methodologies and approaches to research.
• Key data collection methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation).
• Methods for analysing and interpreting data.
• Dissertation writing and presentation skills

Teaching and learning methods

The dissertation builds on work undertaken across other taught modules and provides you with an opportunity to undertake an independent research project in a chosen topic. Students are expected to manage their research project independently with academic guidance and support by their supervisor. Supervisory support is provided via face-to-face tutorials and/or electronic feedback and communication, as appropriate.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. London: Sage.

A Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research.. Buckingham: Open University.

Qualitative Research in Education- A User's Guide. London: Sage.

Content Analysis: An Introduction to its Methodology .. London: Sage.

How to conduct Surveys: A Step by Step Guide. London: Sage.

Robson, C (2002). Real World Research. Oxford: Blackwell.

(2014). Conducting Research Literature Reviews. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Newby, P (2010). Research Methods for Education. Edinburgh: Pearson Education Ltd..

Bell, J (2014). Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage.

Thomas, G (2013). How to do your research project: a guide for students in education and applied social sciences. London: Sage.

Creswell, J. (2014). Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research.. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches .. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Yin, R (2003). Applications of case study research. Sage: London.

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

Competing paradigms in Qualitative research . In Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (eds). The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Introduction to Research methods in Education. London: Sage.

Action Research: Principles and Practice. London: Routledge.

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 Information

Repeat type: Internal & External