Participants will typically be current practitioners within a post compulsory education environment.

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. (2003) The good research guide for small-scale research projects. 2nd Edition, Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Recommended reading:

BELL, J. (1999) 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/

hhtp://www.staffs.ac.uk/academic_ethics/index.php

Formative 1:

Participants are required to submit a detailed research proposal on a pre-designed form as part of the application process for entry to the award.

Formative 2:

Participants should submit a full draft of their literature review.

Formative 3:

Participants should submit a full draft of their dissertation.

Component 1:

Participants will be required to submit their data collection tools for checking and validation. Submitted data collection instruments will be assessed for inclusivity and ethical integrity against current British Educational Research Association and Staffordshire University guidelines.

Pass/Fail (Learning outcomes: K & U (1 partially), Analysis (4 partially), Learning & Reflection (2 partially).

Component 2:

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.
(100% weighting) Typically submitted work will be in the range of 12 000 - 14 000 words, but in no circumstances should the 14 000 words maximum be exceeded. (Learning outcomes: K & U (1 partially), Learning & Reflection (2 partially), Enquiry & Application (3), Analysis (4 partially), Problem solving (5), Communication (6).

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

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 provides students with opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of practitioner research methods and approaches in the context of education and to apply educational research techniques within the framework of a small scale research study.