module specification

In this module, students will be introduced to the two main traditions of social research – positivism and interpretivism. They will learn about key aspects of social research and the steps involved in developing an effective qualitative research project. They will be provided with examples of good quality educational research and will have opportunities to analyse and critique these, aiming to develop their own knowledge, understanding, and skills.

At the end of the module, students will design and conduct a small-scale qualitative pilot research study. It is envisaged that this module will form the foundation for the final year dissertation module. As such the pilot study report will directly feed into students’ dissertation research project.

Module Aims:

As a result of successfully completing this module, you will be able to:

1) develop a good understanding of the purposes, nature, components, and processes of social research.
2) design and conduct a small-scale qualitative research study in education.
3) review and critique existing social research.
4) report the findings of a small-scale primary qualitative research study.

Please include details of any pre- or co- requisites for the module. Students should have successfully completed level 4. Available for Study Abroad? YES/NO Please delete as applicable.

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to educational research. During the module, the nature, purposes, processes, methods, ethical issues, and outcomes of social research with will be critically explored. The module is an important component of students’ learning journey as it aims to equip them with a sound understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and practical skills for carrying out valid academic research.

The module begins with exploring the notion of social research and analysing the two main traditions – positivism and interpretivism. It problematises the notion of social reality and the implications of this for academic research. Students will be introduced to the idea of the locatedness of human knowledge both culturally and historically.

Students will be encouraged to devise a researchable question for their own studies. They will be equipped with the skill of reviewing relevant academic literature to locate and frame their own research. Students will be introduced to the role of a theoretical framework in research and will be supported with constructing an appropriate one for their own research.

The module introduces students to different components of qualitative research design. They will be provided opportunities to develop their skills of designing and conducting an effective, small-scale qualitative study.

The module will introduce students to the centrality of ethics in research and will encourage them to think and act ethically at every stage of their research projects.

Students will learn how to write coherent and insightful reports on small-scale qualitative research projects, following standard academic formats and protocols.

Students will learn in lectures, seminars and tutorial groups. Students will be encouraged to collaborate both face-to-face and virtually with discussion rooms available with the VLE. They will have opportunities to discuss in small group tutorials their learning on the module with tutors and peers.

Students will be encouraged to view themselves as emerging social scientists and as such collaborate with their peers to refine and develop their own research plans as well as to share and disseminate their experiences and findings.

Students will be encouraged to reflect on their emerging research projects and develop the skill of reflexivity in research and as such develop an ongoing awareness of their positionality within their research studies.

There will be a continuing emphasis on academic literacies through the reading, writing and information literacy strategies.  Students will be explicitly guided through reading and studying strategies to enable them to become confident users of the research material including reports and journal articles.  Explicit connections will be made with other modules in which research challenges are presented.

As a result of successfully completing this module, you will be able to:

1) identify an appropriate area for your own research and operationalise it in the form of an appropriate researchable question.
2) discuss the differentiating characteristics of the two main traditions of social research, especially focusing on the qualitative research.
3) explain the role of literature review in scientific research and follow the steps and processes involved to construct one for your own pilot study.
4) explain the role of a theoretical framework in social research and construct an appropriate one for your own research.
5) write an analytical account of the research methodology and design of a small-scale qualitative research project.
6) demonstrate an emergent understanding of ethical issues in social research.
7) design and conduct a small-scale qualitative research study.
8) meaningfully analyse qualitative data to arrive at findings that could help you answer the main research question.

Researching Education https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/D699AF52-CD87-7CC7-E73D-8DF3620B5C6E.html?lang=en&login=1