|
 Academic Year: | 2016/7 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Education |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
|
| Assessment Summary: | CW 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
|
| Supplementary Assessment: |
|
| Requisites: | |
| Description:
| Aims: The aims of this unit are to: * Consider the relationship between research, policy theory and practice in education at the level of classroom, institution and government; * Explore interpretations of the concept of education and the implications this has for research methodology (ESRC); * Deepen students knowledge and awareness of different value positions in educational research, identify contested areas and understand the political nature of much research activity; * Understand the nature of "knowledge claim" and "evidence" and the use of interrogating questions (Wallace and Poulson); * Consider the responsibilities of the researcher including the ethical issues in educational research within different paradigms; * Enable the student to communicate, interrogate and discuss research. Learning Outcomes: Completion of this unit, and associated course-work, should enable students to: * understand the relationship between different kinds of knowledge and forms of explanation in educational research; the drivers of research and the relationships between policy, practice theory and research; * be familiar with the values and assumptions underpinning different approaches to educational research and understand how they influence research design and issues of bias; * recognize the tensions as well as the advantages of using mixed methodologies in educational research; * make considered responses to ethical and quality issues in educational research; * have an understanding issues of contextualisation, generalisation; * be able to contribute to seminar discussion through the identification of questions and issues. Skills: * Application of a critical understanding of issues in educational research by evaluating examples of published research (T/A). * Evaluating the claims of research and theoretical knowledge (T/F/A) * Problem analysis, research and critical reflection/evaluation (T/F/A) * Independent work and self-directed learning (F) * Group and team work (F) (F) * Written communication (A) * Skills in communicating research to different audiences (T/F). Content: * The Politics of research (research in the context of the particular conjunctural moment, why do it, for what purpose, axiology and morality as integrral / central to design) * The governance of research (political influence, science based evidence etc) * What constitutes evidence? What constitutes educational theory? * Relationship of research to policy theory and practice: at classroom, institutional, national levels * Priorities and values of different commissioners of research * Understanding value positions in educational research * Relationship between methodologies, values and criteria used to make judgements about research * Ethical Issues in educational research and their relationship to issues of epistemology and ontology * Tensions in the use of mixed methodology * Research and professional development * Critical engagement - asking questions * Research representation, presentation and audience * The politics of representation (newer, less traditional ways of reporting / performing research). |
| Programme availability: |
ED50337 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Education
|
Notes:
|