| CODE | EDS5024 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research component: Applying Research Methods in Education | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Education Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is intended to advance the knowledge and skills in becoming professional teacher researchers by engaging students in the more practical aspects doing educational research and developing further their experience and abilities in carrying out a Masters research project and in submitting MTL dissertation successfully. The process of becoming a teacher also entails the important aspect of becoming professional researchers and enhance their professional practice. The first part of the study-unit focuses on the strategies in researching the literature relevant to the research project’s questions and approaches in reading texts in a engaged and critical manner. This leads to how writing itself is a method of inquiry that involves clear presentation and articulation of ideas and arguments for the justification for positions and decisions taken by researchers with respect to research methodologies, methods, research design analyses and conclusions. Practical knowledge on how to respectfully relate to research participants and gatekeepers, how to report honestly and avoid plagiarism are addressed in relation to research ethical and professional research guidelines. The other part of the study-unit presents students with a choice from the basic research methods used in education. Elective research methods are intended for students to engage more practically in the specific research strategies. These include philosophical inquiry, case study research, observations, interviews with individuals and groups, surveys, questionnaires and quantitative analysis, action research, pedagogical project-based research, mixed research methods amongst others. Study-Unit Aims: - Engage student teachers in practical research methods; - Inquire into the epistemological political and ethical issues in doing educational research; - Acquire specific knowledge of the various methods how to conduct research; - Identify approaches and strategies for reading texts critically; - Write in a clear, descriptive and argumentative style; - Recognise professional ways to conduct research and to relate to various participants; - Reflect on the importance of research planning; - Initiate them into the process of reporting research results and publication. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply and/ or develop methods of research appropriate to the research question; - Critically engage with and discuss diverse ideas and thoughts; - Examine and justify their own value positions; - Demonstrate how to relate to different participants (particularly children, youths, and special groups) in caring and respectful ways; - Determine how to collaborate with gate keepers, librarians and other people having access to information in a respectful and grateful ways; - Generate write ups related to the dissertation; - Analyse the responsibilities in conducting and reporting research; - Reflect on the limitations of their research project. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Conduct a research project in line with professional and ethical guidelines for teacher researchers; - Conduct a literature review; - Read and analyse texts in a critical manner; - Articulate ideas, knowledge through a clear writing style; - Argue for epistemological and methodological approaches taken as researchers; - Engage research methods, processes and procedures; - Plan a research design and research timeline; - Adopt a coherent reference style; - Prepare and present a successful dissertation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Hoveid M., H, Ciolan L, Paseka A. & Marques da Silva S. (eds.). (2019) Doing Educational Research: Overcoming Challenges in Practice. London, Sage - Kornuta H.M. & Germaine R. W. (eds.). (2019) A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation: Educational Research and Beyond. London, Routledge. - Lambert M (ed.) (2019) Practical Research Methods in Education An Early Researcher's Critical Guide. London, Routledge. - Matias C.E. (2021) (ed.). The Handbook of Critical Theoretical Research Methods in Education. London, Routledge. Supplementary Readings: - Bazeley P. (2018) Integrating Analyses in Mixed Methods Research. London, Sage. - Harris D. (2021) Literature Review and Literature Design. Oxon, Routledge. - Fulford, A., & Hodgson, N. (eds.). (2016). Philosophy and Theory in Educational Research: Writing in the margin. London, Routledge. - Muijs, D. (2022). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with IBM SPSS Statistics. London, Sage. - Punch K. F, Oancea A. (2014) Introduction to Research Methods in Education. London, Sage. - Wentzel A. (2018) Guide to Argumentative Research Writing and Thinking - Overcoming Challenges, London, Routledge. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: EDS5023 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Julia Ruby Alegre Patrick Camilleri Louise Chircop Maria Cutajar Manwel Joseph Ellul Joseph Gravina Michael Grech Victor Martinelli Milosh Raykov (Co-ord.) Lara M. Said Christine Scholz Joseph Vancell Yosanne Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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