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Planning & Communicating Research - EDU00035M

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  • Department: Education
  • Module co-ordinator: Information currently unavailable
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23
B Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

  • To consolidate knowledge and understanding of research methods To help students plan a small research project, then communicate that plan and/or disseminate the results
  • To enable students to orally communicate clearly and professionally a research project idea, plan, or finding to an audience.
  • This module will provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills involved in conducting a research study and allow them to reflect on these to enrich their own experience.

Notes
The module builds on the Autumn term modules on Research Methods. 

Module learning outcomes

Students should, by the end of the module be able to:

  • Apply skills associated with planning, implementing and communicating a research study in the specific context of their own work.
  • Apply knowledge of research methods to the development of their own research project.
  • Create a coherent outline of a planned research project (The research proposal should be at least 500 words. References are not included in the word count).
  • Critically analyse and communicate methodological frameworks and research findings.
  • Show an awareness of key issues concerning the collection and interpretation of research data.
  • Show an awareness of ethical issues in education research and apply this to the context of their own study to match appropriate ethical guidelines.
  • Assess the ethical implications of a research project, and modify the project where necessary.
  • Communicate ideas and research in a concise, clear and interesting way that is appropriate to the audience concerned.
  • Develop and make use of ICT skills as an aid to presentation.
  • Handle questions by the audience at the end of a presentation.
  • React critically to other people s presentations by questioning the speaker.

Module content

In weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of Term 2 there are five lectures. The first four are designed to help you develop and improve skills relating to designing and carrying out research. The fifth is designed to help you prepare for the assessment and will focus on helping you prepare effective oral presentations.

In Term 3, you will carry out the research for your own dissertation. This will begin with you (1) constructing a workable research proposal and (2) completing the Ethics Audit Form with your supervisor. You will begin work on this with your supervisor in Term 2. The deadline for the submission of the research proposal to the supervisor for feedback is week 10 Term 2. The deadline for the submission of the final research proposal is week 2 of Term 3. If the research proposal does not meet the assessment criteria, re-submission will be required in week 7 of Term 3.

The deadline for completion of the Ethics Audit Form is week 2 of Term 3.

In weeks 2-5 of Term 3, you will give a short (10 min) oral presentation on your proposed research. The aim is to both inform and entertain the audience.  If the presentation does not meet the assessment criteria, you will be given another opportunity to present your proposed research at the end of Term 3.

Course outline

Term 2

Week 2                       Developing a research proposal

Week 4                       Preparing an ethics application

Week 6                       Using mixed methods

Week 8                       Reliability and validity 

Week 10                    Giving effective oral presentations

 

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation Abstract & Ethics		 N/A 50
University - project
Presentation		 N/A 50

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Successful ethics audits will be signed off as appropriate by the supervisor. Written checklists and guidelines for acceptable proposals and presentations will be given to students. Verbal feedback will be provided by supervisors for the initial and final proposals. Feedback on the final proposal will be given within two weeks and include an annotated checklist with problem (= Fail) areas made explicit. Feedback on the presentation will be given within 2 weeks, using an annotated checklist. The same system will apply for assessments and reassessments.

As this is a pass/fail assessment all fails are moderated. Failed research proposals and ethics applications are normally moderated by the Programme Leader. Where the supervisor is the Programme Leader, fails are moderated by the Module Leader. Failed presentations are normally moderated by the Module Leader.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation Abstract & Ethics		 N/A 50
University - project
Presentation		 N/A 50

Module feedback

You will receive feedback in a range of ways throughout this module. This will include oral feedback in class, responses to posts on the VLE discussion board and written comments on work. You will have the chance to obtain feedback on your writing during the module.

Feedback on your summative assignments will be uploaded to e:vision. The feedback is returned to students in line with university policy. Please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information

Indicative reading

Bell, J. (2014). Doing your research project: A guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science (5th ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morisson, K. (2007). Research methods in education. Routledge[Available as an e-book]

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (Eds.). (2011). Research methods in second language acquisition: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.