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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Research Methods 2 |
| Unit code |
ACHSD0006 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
D/8
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Johnson |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Research Methods 1
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit builds on the content and skills acquired in Research Methods 1. It focuses on the meaning of data, and data collection itself. It is designed to support students who have begun the process of research planning and are working towards a doctoral level dissertation in the field. The Unit content includes research management, the conduct of qualitative and quantitative studies, ethical procedures, sampling, measurement tools, and data preparation.
Aims:
- To introduce principles of data gathering and analysis, with particular reference to the selection, use, reliability and validity of a selection of qualitative and quantitative methods.
- To provide the rational basis for research project design and selection of methods to meet the needs of the research question.
- To present in detail the principles of selection of participants, data sampling, data collection methods and means of recording such data.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- To be able to describe and implement studies in the field of educational psychology by choosing methods appropriate to the research question
- To demonstrate the different nature of data collection for specific purposes and to demonstrate the rational choice in regard to major divisions of research practice.
- To demonstrate awareness of the procedures for dealing with participants both ethically and practically
- To be able to set out in detail a data collection workplan
Teaching Information
Lectures, tutorials and on-line resource materials.
Assessment Information
Completion of a 4000 word assignment dealing with principles of data collection, research methodology and design, as applied to particular research questions.
Reading and References
- Berg BL (2004) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, London: Pearson (Allyn & Bacon)
- Bryman A (2002) Social Research Methods, Oxford: OUP
- Cohen L, Manion L & Morrison K (2000) Research Methods in Education, London: Routledge
- Salkind NJ (2004) Statistics for people who think they hate statistics, London: Sage
- Williams M (2003) Making Sense of Social Research. London: Sage
