Aims

To further develop student knowledge and appreciation of the complexities and skills required to critically evaluate, interpret, and successfully undertake research. To provide a deeper understanding of, and the facility to, actively use varied research designs and methods. This module explores the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative methods and explores the basic design principles of instruments that address particular research problems or questions. The module also enables students to apply these basic design principles and concepts to a potential or actual proposal for their thesis/dissertation.

Outline Of Syllabus

• Surveys and sampling
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Ethnography & Experiments
• Observation
• What is research?
• Methodology: design, strategy and methods Validity, reliability and replication Case study
strategy Interviews and Focus Group Survey and questionnaires Ethnography and observation
• Using these methods in practice
• Quantitative data
• Qualitative data
• Evaluating research

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module is taught using 2 hour interactive sessions, part workshop and part mini-lecture, supported by directed learning in the students’ own time, some student-led group work and synchronous online drop-in sessions. The learning activities for this module will include: critical reading of research, group discussion, research design, computer-aided and other data analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, research planning, ethics. Implicit in the design of each session, is an attempt to engender a deep and active approach to learning, but also to develop both subject knowledge and key skills. The mini-lectures during the sessions, supporting materials online and the directed tasks, enable assignment work to be planned and developed.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assignment One consists of two parts.

Part One:
To write a critique of two research articles of the student's choice; to include reflection on possible relevance of said articles for student's own research.

Part Two:
To write a research proposal, upon which the dissertation can be based.