| Unit name | Research Methods 3 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACHSD0007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | D/8 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Franey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Research Methods 1 & 2 |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The unit builds on the work of previous units Research Methods 1 & 2. The primary focus is on data analysis and is based on the expectation that students will be in the process of data collection for their dissertation. The Unit will provide qualitative and quantitative research approaches to the treatment of data and will give the students hands-on work on certain educational psychology datasets. The Unit will prepare students for both analysis and the drawing of conclusions, the limits of the data and the requirements for clear reporting of the work. The emphasis of this Unit will be on use of on-line facilities and all of the Unit content will be accessible at a distance and on-line.
Aims:
To provide support to the students in maximising the use of data, whether qualitative or quantitative by exploring and giving direct experiences of, current techniques for data analysis. This will include experience of SPSS and other programs for dealing with larger data sets, on-line facilities for handling non-parametric analysis and tools available for quantitative data bases of text and in other forms. Other online sources of research information and research analysis will also be explored.
To provide guidance on the preparation of reports and the rational appraisal of research studies as a basis for self examination of students’ own research projects.
Most work in this unit is accessible on-line – offering datasets for analysis and feedback will be provided directly on success. This will be supported by lectures and tutorials.
Completion of a 4000 word assignment. – Consisting of the analysis of two data sets – one qualitative and the other quantitative and a comparative discussion of their effectiveness for the respective research questions.
