Participants should typically have successfully completed the first 60 credits of the BA (hons) Professional Support for Education (top up). They should additionally be enrolled on the Research Techniques for Educational Settings module.

Participants will be expected to carry out a thorough literature review, which should include texts, journals, websites, and other germane resources that are pertinent to the learning outcomes and the issues or strategies that form the focus of the module.

Current thinking and research from the identified resources should be embedded within the Summative dissertation and should inform all critical and reflective practice related to the study of the module.

The module will include a range of teaching and learning strategies including independent study, on-line discussion forums, group and individual tutorials.

The module provides participants with opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods and approaches in the context of professional support in education and to apply appropriate research techniques within the framework of a small scale research study.

A dissertation length 7500-9500 weighted at 80%. A poster weighted at 20%.

Formative 1:
Participants are required to submit a detailed research proposal on a pre-designed form as part of the prerequisite requirements for study on the module.

Formative 2:
Participants should submit a full draft of their chapter which outlines their approach and methodology for their dissertation research.

Formative 3:
Participants should submit a full draft of their literature review.

Formative 4:
Participants should submit a full draft of their dissertation.

Summative component:
Participants will be required to submit a research dissertation, which includes the collection and analysis of primary data and is structured in accordance with a predefined format.
7 500 - 9 500 words. Learning outcomes 1,2,3,4 (partially) and 5.

Participants will be required to submit a poster (minimum size A1) summarising the research, which could be used at a conference or similar event. Learning outcome 4 (partially)

All assessment elements must be passed.

University library for a range of relevant texts, journals and germane resources including internet access to relevant websites. The following are suggested as possible sources:

Key reader:

DENSCOMBE, M. (2007) The good research guide for small-scale research projects. 2nd Edition, Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Recommended reading:

BELL, J. (2005) Doing your research project. 3rd Edition, Buckingham: Open University Press

COHEN, L. (2000) Research methods in education. 5th Edition, London. Routledge Falmer

DENSCOMBE, M. (2002) Ground rules for good research, a 10 point guide for social researchers. Buckingham: Open University Press

OLIVER, P. (2003) The students guide to research ethics. Maidenhead. Open University Press

Websites:

http://www.bera.ac.uk/
http://www.bera.ac.uk/publications/pdfs/ETHICA1.PDF
http://www.nfer.ac.uk/index.cfm
http://www.nerf-uk.org/
http://www.ceruk.ac.uk/ceruk/
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/home/index.cfm
http://www.eera.ac.uk/web/eng/all/home/index.html
http://www.aera.net/
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CER/
http://www.sera.ac.uk/
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/