This module presents approaches to research design in a professional education context. The following topics and issues will be explored:

Research principles, paradigms and strategies for data collection.

Data management, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Research management, planning and organising a research project, identifying researchable issues, critically engaging with academic literature, time and task management, organising fieldwork.

Ethical issues in education research, consent and confidentiality issues

A research proposal that would satisfy the requirements for an identified funding body for a small scale research project.



This assessment is intended to provide students with the opportunity to prepare a research proposal which relates to an area of professional interest. Students will identify a relevant funding body that relates to their area of professional interest or expertise. In consultation with the module leader, they will produce a research proposal that would meet the requirements for the selected funding body. The submitted proposal should only include the methodological elements of the funder’s requirements.



The research proposal must include the following elements

a) Critical understanding and analysis of key literature in the chosen research area that informs the aims, objectives and research questions for the proposed study (LO1)
b) Detailed ethical research design and methodological approach to the proposed research project (LO2)

Teaching and learning strategies on MA Education programmes are designed to develop personal, intellectual and professional skills. Students will encounter teaching and learning approaches that ensure the development of:¿¿

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Strategies of communicating clearly¿¿

Enhanced independent thinking¿¿

Understanding the societal, environmental and global potentials of education¿¿

Creative problem solving¿¿

Critical thinking¿¿

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To support this skill development and to ensure that students develop subject knowledge and understanding, subject specific skills and focused transferable skills, a range of teaching and learning strategies will be employed so that critical engagement with aspects of education are developed. These might include:¿¿

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Individual participant learning activities¿¿

Group discussions¿¿

Participation in discussion forums¿¿

Group work¿¿

Peer review¿¿¿

Engagement with course and learning materials¿¿

Independent research¿¿

Enhancing technological skills¿¿

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There will also be the opportunity to receive developmental formative feedback focused on academic and professional development.¿¿¿

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This module will help you to design a research proposal. You will therefore engage in a variety of activities to develop your understanding of social research, including approaches, tools, and ethically focussed education research.¿

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Activities may include:¿

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Discussions considering the importance of educational research

Evaluation of research methodologies

Understanding of academic literature

Engagement with research design

Peer evaluation of research questions, methods and tools

Opportunities to use technology enhanced or creatively focussed research approaches

Networking opportunities for career development¿

Opportunities for embracing a research community

Exploration and understanding of the potential to publish research findings in

academic publications.

Demonstrate a critical awareness of an educational issue that informs the justification of a proposed small scale research project.

Analysis


Apply appropriate methodological techniques of research and enquiry to design a robust, ethical and manageable research study

Application

Clark, J.S.¿et al.¿(2024)¿Action Research. Place of publication not identified: New Prairie Press



Cohen, L, Manion, L, & Morrison, K. (2017) Research Methods in Education, Taylor & Francis Group, Oxford.



Lichtman, M. (2023) Qualitative Research in Education. London: Routledge



O’Leary, Z. (2021) The Essential Guide to doing your Research Project. London: Sage



Vasileios, S. (ed.) (2024) Enhancing the Value of Teacher Education Research. Brill. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004689992.



Young, M. and Diem, S. (eds.) (2024) Handbook of Critical Education Research. London, Routledge.

Unless otherwise stated, all books are available online through Staffordshire University library website and each module has an online reading list accessed through the VLE.¿

Study skills:¿¿There is extensive guidance on academic writing, research skills and working at Master’s level available at¿https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/study-skills.

VLE Resources¿¿

The University VLE (Blackboard) will enable access to course materials, lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and reading lists.¿ The VLE offers opportunities to engage in group work and independent learning¿using¿such things as synchronous/asynchronous discussion boards, video links, blogs and wikis.¿¿

Teams

Online learning and associated activities will be through Teams and students will have access to Microsoft Office 365.

This social research module will enable you to engage with literature and theoretical frameworks to extend and deepen your understanding of important aspects of education with a focus on research methodology and design. You will design a research proposal to address an educational issue or theme, developing research questions and how they might be operationalised in your own study. You will explore research methods in line with your understanding of the social world, producing a justified strategy for your dissertation. The research proposal will also enable you to consider the context and approach of research funding.