| Credit |
12 points |
| Availability |
Semester 1, offshore teaching period |
| Old unit code |
300.970 |
| Outcomes |
Students have a basic understanding of the major paradigms in educational research; hypothetico-deductive reasoning; inductive analysis; the major components of a thesis; the major components of a research proposal; and the need to adopt conventional styles of academic writing for a thesis. |
| Content |
This unit reviews the main methods of research in education and enables students to develop the research expertise necessary for the completion of their theses. It covers the review of research and its methods in education; quantitative research methods; qualitative research methods; developing research proposals; and academic writing. |
| Assessment |
In an 8000-word essay, students select a substantive topic or phenomenon of personal/professional interest within the broad area of education; identify within the topic a central research question for investigation; identify a number of major sub-questions within the central research question; identify the study population and the sampling (if any) that are used; identify how data are gathered, analysed, recorded and stored; identify how the quality of data is ensured; and identify any ethical considerations which have to be kept in mind.
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit. |
| Unit Co-ordinator(s) |
Winthrop Professor Tom O'Donoghue and Professor Marnie O'Neill |
| Location |
UWA (Crawley), Singapore, Hong Kong |
| Mode |
on-campus |
| Unit Rules |
| Prerequisites: enrolment in the Doctor of Education or the Doctor of Educational Psychology |
| Advisable prior study: a master's degree, preferably in education, with evidence of research ability |
Contact hours—25 hrs (compressed unit)
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| Texts |
There are no prescribed texts. In the first and subsequent lecture sessions students are introduced to the sections of the Library dealing with the various aspects of the field of education studies. They become familiar with the location of relevant books, encyclopaedias, handbooks, other reference material and journals.
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Recommended
reading | |
Punch, K. F. Developing Effective Research Proposals: Sage Publications 2000
Punch, K. F. Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches: Sage Publications 2005 |
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- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
- Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
- Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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