Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

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 teaching and learning methods will include lectures and workshops, discussions and self- directed study and individual tutorials

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Kvale, S. (2008). Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage.

Hopkins, D. (2002). A Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research.. Buckingham: Open University.

Oppenheim, A. (2000). Questionnaire Design. London, UK: Continuum.

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

Creswell, J. (2002). Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches .. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

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

Neuendorf, K. (2002). The Content Analysis Guidebook. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Fink, A. (2009). How to conduct Surveys: A Step by Step Guide. London: Sage.

Guba, E., & Lincoln, Y. (1998). Competing paradigms in Qualitative research . In Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (eds). The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

McNiff, J., & Whitehead, J. (2002). Action Research: Principles and Practice. London: Routledge.

Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content Analysis: An Introduction to its Methodology .. London: Sage.

Rubin, I., & Rubin, H. (2005). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. London: Sage.

Fink, A. (1998). Conducting Research Literature Reviews. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Muijs, D. (2004/8). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. London: Sage.

Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. California: Sage.

Bell, J. (2005). Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Summative

Summative assessment description

Referral

Referral assessment description

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External