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2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC5434M Dissertation in Research Methods

60 creditsClass Size: 10

Module manager: Dr Matt Homer
Email: M.S.Homer@education.leeds.ac

Taught: 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is mutually exclusive with

EDUC5033M

Educational Research Meth: Dis

Module replaces

EDUC 5033M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- design and undertake a small-scale research project;
- critically reflect on and discuss the role of the researcher;
- select, design and construct a range of research tools which are commensurate with their research questions;
- show that they have undertaken their study in accordance with the School of Education's ethical guidelines;
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the philosophical context and/or tradition in which they have located their study eg critical realism, post-structuralism etc.
- demonstrate the link between theory and methods in relation to the construction of research tools and the interpretation of their data;
- apply appropriate forms of analysis to the primary and/or secondary data which they have 'gathered';
- make a short oral presentation of their research proposal;
- make an oral presentation of their research findings using appropriate media e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, OHPs etc.

Skills outcomes
Analytical skills
Critical thinking
Ethical awareness
Research skills

Syllabus

The dissertation study will comprise of an empirical piece of work related to the student's own interests and will be designed to allow the student to navigate the research process as a whole.

As such, it will function as the focal point of the MSc programme and will draw together the complex relationship between the four main phases involved in 'doing' research i.e. the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of a small-scale in-depth study. In terms of methods and methodology, the study should ideally demonstrate an appropriate use of both numeric and non-numeric forms of data, as well as an understanding of and critical reflection upon the research process and the role of the researcher.

Students will also be required to explicitly show the links between their theoretical frameworks and research methods used during the course of their study. An additional requirement will be that students will make a short oral presentation of their proposed area of study and an oral presentation of their findings at the end of their research.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Tutorial	6	1.00	6.00
Private study hours			594.00
Total Contact hours			6.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			600.00

Private study

Students will be provided with a critical study pack, and will attend an introductory seminar and planning session.
As the study progresses, there will be a further 3 hours of supervision tutorials, which may be face-to-face or distance.
Supervision will be organised on an individual basis and additional meetings will be subject to agreement between the tutor and the
student.
- Reading to prepare for the study
- Presentation of plans
- Piloting of research tools, gathering data, analysing data, writing-up.
Progress monitoring
- Feedback given on initial proposal and subsequent development of the study.
- Progress monitored through programmed supervision tutorials (including distance).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be discussed during meetings with the dissertation supervisor.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Dissertation x 12,000 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

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 11/11/2016

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