2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC2004 Research Methods

20 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Michael Inglis
Email: M.Inglis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

EDUC 2102 Approaches to Research, Theory and PracticeEDUC 2081 Research Methods for TESOL

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is designed for School of Education students who are new to research. It aims to give students a foundational understanding of what research is, why we do it, and why it is important. Students will be supported to develop a research proposal for their final year project enabling them develop an understanding of methods for undertaking research, research ethics, credibility, and quality.

Objectives

This module provides an introduction to research approaches and methods in the fields of childhood and youth, and education. Throughout the module students will work towards designing a research project which could form the basis of their final year projects. Students will reflect upon definitions and philosophical underpinnings of research and their implications for making ethically-informed decisions. Students will learn about the key concepts and principles of planning and conducting childhood and educational research, gaining hands-on experience of a range of methods and processes. Throughout the module there will be a strong focus on research impact, ethics, quality and credibility. The module will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to design, develop, and conduct future research, including the final year project.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. understand different research approaches in childhood and education more broadly and their philosophical underpinnings
2. identify, understand and address ethical issues in research
3. identify and formulate research questions and appropriate data generation and analytical strategies for addressing these
4. understand key concepts regarding research quality, e.g. validity and reliability
5. understand the impacts of research in childhood and education.

Syllabus

Indicative content

Connecting research with existing knowledge

Developing an ethical research project
Philosophical underpinnings; approaches and paradigms; aims and rationale; research questions; literature review; theoretical frameworks

Data generation including Questionnaires; observation; interviews and focus
groups; mixed methods

Data analysis
Different approaches to analysing data

Interpreting data
Returning to literature/theoretical frameworks; addressing research questions; writing up and reporting

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	9	2.00	18.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will use this time to work through materials and activities set for each week by tutors. Students will also engage in a number of individual tasks during weeks 14-22 (i.e. pre-Easter break) with weeks 23 and 24 (i.e. post-Easter break) focussing on drawing together what they have learned and support for preparing their assignment submission.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through:
• Monitoring (during teaching sessions) on student performance of tasks
• Encouraging, and observing the level of student participation in class discussions
• Reading and providing feedback on the research proposal

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3000 word research proposal	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: 19/10/2023

Disclaimer

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