This module is not currently running in the selected year. The information shown below is for the academic year that the module was last running in, prior to the year selected.

2011/12 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC5025M Introduction to Educational Research Methods and Approaches to Data Collection

30 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Mr Thomas Roper
Email: T.Roper@education.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2011/12

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the purposes, approaches and methods used for conducting research in educational contexts. The module covers the main philosophical positions taken by researchers in the social sciences generally, and explores a variety of issues relating to these philosophical positions. Also covered are a selection of the main methods and approaches that researchers in educational contexts use to collect data, including discussion of the benefits and limitations of these, together with some common strategies for the analysis and interpretation of research data in education.

Objectives

On completion of this module, participants will be able to demonstrate a capable grasp of:

- the nature of educational research, including basic concepts of conceptualisation, operationalisation and claims of alternative approaches and paradigms;
- the issue of grounding and a range of strategies for gathering data;
- action research and evaluation;
- relevant basic statistical concepts and processes;
- the principal current debates in educational research;
- the nature, background assumptions and selective utility of a basic range of data gathering methods as detailed in the module syllabus.

Syllabus

This module will provide an introduction to educational research methods, including basic concepts, current approaches and major forms of data gathering considered for their strengths, weaknesses and combination possibilities, and current controversies such as qualitative-quantitative debates and claims of traditional and action research models. This module will also provide a gradual week-by-week introduction to the most basic aspects of qualitative methods, including averages and measures of variation, data distributions and the idea of statistical significance.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	12	2.00	24.00
Private study hours			276.00
Total Contact hours			24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

3 hours preparation per lecture = 36 hours
2 hours follow up per lecture = 24 hours
216 hours research and preparation for assignments

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

There is no formal assessment during the delivery of the module. Progress is monitored through the discussions and other interaction that characterise the weekly sessions.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	5,000-6,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 22/08/2012

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD