Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Action Research: Principles and Practice. London: Routledge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Introduction to Research methods in Education. London: Sage.

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

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

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

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