Module Code - Title:
EN6503
-
ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS 1: RESEARCH DESIGN
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To advance candidates' proficiency in reading, critically analysing and conducting research appropriate to educational settings.
Syllabus:
Research traditions and epistemologies in educational research; positivist and post-positivist traditions; interpretive tradition; action research and evidence-informed educational practices; mixed-methods research in educational settings; research triangulation; research ethics; informed consent; participant anonymity and limitations on such anonymity; potentially vulnerable research subjects, particularly in the context of research with young persons; research contract; the potential effects of research on research subjects; basic issues in the design of qualitative research; framework for understanding qualitative data analysis (grounded theory; analytic induction method); transcription issues and the development of coding in qualitative research; differences in the writing of qualitative and quantitative research outputs in educational research. Introduction to descriptive statistics.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
The student will be able to: Conceptualise a research project from question/ hypothesis through choosing appropriate research methods through to analysis Relate educational research epistemologies to appropriate research questions and, broadly speaking, to appropriate research methods Identify the major ethical issues in educational research (particularly in research with young people)
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
The student will be able to: Apply ethical principles to research design decisions Communicate effectively using appropriate research data Relate to research participants/ subjects while carrying out basic qualitative or quantitative educational research
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will comprise a blend of face-to-face lectures and tutorials with online learning tasks to facilitate distance learning.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Bryman, A. (2008)
Social Research Methods ,
, Oxford: Open University Press
Cohen, L., Mannion, L. and Morrison, K. (2007)
Research Methods in Education, 6th Edition
, London: Routledge
Bell, J. (2005)
Doing your research project: a guide for first time researchers in education, health and social science, 4th Edition ,
, Oxford: Open University Press
Other Relevant Texts:
Hammersly, M (2007)
Educational Research and Evidence-based Practice
, London: Sage
Hopkins, D. (2008)
A Teachers Guide to Classroom Research ,
, Oxford: Open University Press
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Spring
Summer
Module Leader:
niamh.lafferty@ul.ie