Module: EDU6004-20 Dissertation Project Part 1

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Chloe Shu-Hua Yeh

Module Tutor Contact Details: 

c.yeh@bathspa.ac.uk 

1. Brief description and aims of module: 

EDU6004 Education research project part 1 lays the foundations for you to carry out research in the field of education related to your award. It is a chance to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills you have already acquired through your work at levels 4 and 5. You will choose an education issue, question or topic which you are very interested in, an area which you have already looked into and would like to develop further, or an aspect of education which you think will be useful for your future career.

This module allows you to consider in depth an issue related to primary practice. This could be to do with an aspect of curriculum, teaching and learning or supporting transition.

The module enables you to write a literature review of your chosen issue, investigate potential resources that might be used in the classroom or by teachers and finally to design a resource of your own that will potentially address the issues relating to your chosen topic.

You will be expected to work independently, researching your topic thoroughly.

You will produce a formative 1000 word research proposal. You will also complete the ethics approval as a mandatory requirement for any students who conduct a research at the Bath Spa University. You will also complete a summative assessment - Dissertation Part 1 - 4000 words. 

In order to support your research, you will be assigned a project supervisor who will be able to assist you with your exploration of the issues and project design.  In addition there will be range of online resources designed to support the development of your project and personalised learning

2.Outline syllabus

The module will introduce you to school based research and

Types of literature reviews - critical, thematic, systematic, mapping.

Skills

• Academic writing

• Critical thinking

• Developing research questions and research design

Content

• What is educational research 

• Common educational research approaches 

• Developing research questions and research design

• Philosophical foundation of research 

• Research ethics 

• Ensuring research quality  

• Primary research - qualitative 

• Primary research - quantitative 

• Secondary research - systematic literature review 

• Secondary research - critical discourse analysis to secondary documents 

• Theoretical research 

• Academic writing and Critical thinking

• Developing research questions and research design

 3.Teaching and learning activities

• Lectures

• Seminars

• Tutorials

• Online resources

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Dissertation Part 1 (4000 words)

• % Weighting: 100