Day or weekend cohort meetings will be integrated with independent study. You will receive individual tutorials to support your learning and the assessment work. Peer group learning is an essential element of the programme and there is an emphasis upon using the resources of the group; participants will be expected to present to their peers and contribute through discussion in face-to-face seminar and electronic mode. Direct teaching through seminar, guided reading and web-based study tasks will structure the learning. You will be expected to use online databases for literature searching; to access the internet for relevant materials to support your learning; and to utilise the Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard, provided for the programme. Opportunities for ongoing formative feedback will be provided.

In this module you will consider relationships between methodology, epistemology and ontology, examining critical readings on the methodology of social science research; on the debates concerning different paradigms of research; and on specific investigations in educational research. Major forms of data gathering and the strengths and weaknesses of different research paradigms in educational research will be evaluated in the light of your own professional needs in general, and the kind of research you intend to carry out in particular. You will then be supported to design, conduct and evaluate a small pilot study. This will involve in-depth discussion of the following topics:
- The potential and limitations of small-scale research by professionals and the value of conducting pilot studies
- Framing research questions and designing research for addressing those
- A range of research methods and tools for collecting and analysing data.
- Relationships between methodologies and methods
- Ethical considerations and research practices

- Materials and resources on the module VLE
- Access to academic study skills tutors and resources
- Access to subject librarians
- University Library for a range of relevant texts, e-books and academic journals

Module Texts Basit, T. N. (2010) Conducting Research in Educational Contexts. London: Continuum.

Bell, J. and Waters, S. (2018) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers, 7th Edition. Maidenhead, Berks: Open University Press.

Blaikie, N. and Priest, J. (2019) Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation, 3rd Edition. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2017) Research Methods in Education, 8th Edition. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Creswell, J.W. and Creswell, J.D. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 5th Edition. London: Sage.

Kara, H. (2018) Research Ethics in the Real World. Bristol: Polity Press.

Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds) (2018) The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, 5th Edition. London: Sage.

Punch, K. and Oancea, A. (2014) Introduction to Research Methods in Education Paperback, 2nd Edition. London: Sage.

Savin-Baden, M. and Major, C.H. (2012) Qualitative Research: The Essential Guide to Theory and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Schostak, J.F. (2002) Understanding, Designing and Conducting Qualitative Research in Education: Framing the Project. Buckingham: Open University Press.

de Vaus, D. (2013) Surveys in Social Research, 6th Edition. London: Routledge.

The assessment for this module comprises two components, each weighted at 50%. The learning outcomes are assessed by both parts of the assessment.

PART 1 - Write an assignment of 5,000 words (maximum) that (a) outlines and justifies your likely methodological approach to your intended research and highlights possible limitations and challenges and (b) critically reviews a range of research approaches and designs, including strategies for data analysis, in your chosen educational research field, before reflecting on the implications for the design of your own study in a similar area of education research.
Assesses Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5,7

PART 2 – This assignment is written in the form of a research paper which reports on a pilot study relating to your chosen area of research. The research paper assignment is based upon the piloting of a relevant research instrument/tool, which you design and then explicitly and critically reflect upon the process in order to inform the approach to your future research project. The written assignment will be structured in a way that resembles a typical journal article with the following components: abstract (150 word), introduction, short literature review, research design of the pilot study (including ethical considerations), findings, analysis and discussion, conclusion, references. Ensure the assignment addresses the module learning outcomes as specified. 5,000 words (maximum)

Any figures and tables are not included in the word count. The reference list is not included in the word count. Assesses Learning Outcomes: 2,4,5,6,7

In this module you will consider relationships between methodology, epistemology and ontology, examining critical readings on the methodology of social science research; on the debates concerning different paradigms of research; and on specific investigations in educational research. Major forms of data gathering and the strengths and weaknesses of different research paradigms in educational research will be evaluated in the light of your own professional needs in general, and the kind of research you intend to carry out in particular. You will then be supported to design, conduct and evaluate a small pilot study. This will involve in-depth discussion of the following topics:
- The potential and limitations of small-scale research by professionals and the value of conducting pilot studies
- Framing research questions and designing research for addressing those
- A range of research methods and tools for collecting and analysing data.
- Relationships between methodologies and methods
- Ethical considerations and research practices