Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the nature and purpose of educational research.

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of qualitative (including action research), quantitative and mixed methods of researching educational problems.

• Critically analyse the beliefs, paradigms, issues and ethics related to the various practices of educational research, integrating a Christian perspective.

• Interpret, critically analyse and synthesise research reports.

• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of research designs for addressing the research question or problem.

Unit Description

This unit will examine various examples of research practices in education to identify the common elements, language and concepts used to describe the process and purposes of educational research. The unit will investigate several paradigms used to drive and direct research.

The unit covers a number of research designs that are commonly associated with each paradigm. Designs discussed encompass both methodology and methods. Critique of paradigms, methodology and methods covers both practical issues such as cost and time constraints faced by researchers in selecting and developing their problem and methodology, as well as ethical issues and Christian perspectives of faith, reason and justice.

The unit will cover a broad range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches to researching educational questions and problems, and guide students in how to identify and select the best approach when planning to undertake research.

This unit prepares students for undertaking a finite and feasible piece of research for the research project in unit RP994.512. As such there will particular emphasis on research designs that examine the impact of an intervention or change to teaching practice such as Action Research.

The unit will also cover how research reports are written and the processes for critically reading and interpreting research reports. Students will be guided through the process of identifying a research focus, formulating a research question or problem and designing an appropriate research approach to address it, that considers the current literature, ethical issues and constraints, including Christian perspectives, that are relevant to the design.

This unit is delivered as a split intensive. The class will meet for two intensives, one per school term with the ability to communicate to your peers and lecturer electronically in-between. All learning will happen through your readings and in a face-to-face setting.

Topics

Key features of Research

Religious, social and political nature of research Paradigms
Qualitative methodologies
Quantitative Methodologies
Various methods for collecting data
Various methods for analysing data
Ethics and ethical issues
Writing up a research report /Literature reviews

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Unit offerings

Face to face: (Demand based)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.