Quantitative Research PG (10441.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Quantitative Research PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Education
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Education Post Graduate Level Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit aims to provide an introduction to quantitative analysis approaches in educational research settings. The unit focuses on providing students with practical abilities and skills in analysing quantitative data. Specifically, it will offer foundational knowledge of quantitative survey research. It will also introduce core parts of quantitative analyses, including group comparisons, prediction and factor analysis. The unit will offer opportunities for students to learn how to interpret and critique results of analyses and understand statistical write-ups. The unit combines a variety of teaching and learning activities including lectures, practical analyses, independent study, and group discussions.

Important Note: This unit is taught with the assumption that students have foundational knowledge of research methods and perspectives. All students will be required to enrol for this unit manually through the waiver process, specifying any past foundational research units they have completed to underpin their ability to understand and assimilate the content of this unit.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of foundational knowledge of quantitative research;
2. Demonstrate ability to design a quantitative survey study;
3. Demonstrate practical skills of core parts of statistical analyses; and
4. Demonstrate ability to review quantitative research papers critically.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

11389 Research Methods in Education PG OR 9087 Education Research Perspectives PG

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Jenny Dean
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Jenny Dean
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Jenny Dean
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Jenny Dean
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Field, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics: 5th Edition. SAGE Publications Ltd.

Muijs, D. (2011). Doing quantitative research in education with SPSS: 2nd Edition. SAGE Publications Ltd.

(E-books are available through the University of Canberra library website: https://www.canberra.edu.au/library). Purchase is not required. Additional resources will be made available on the unit Canvas site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Submission of assessment items

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, or if no submission has been made by the due date and time, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day, for three days, after which the submission will receive a score of ‘0' in keeping with UC's Assessment Policy.

Artificial Intelligence

Students are not allowed to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

1. The Unit Convener has authorised its use for that assessment;
2. The student uses it in the way that the assessment instructions allow for;
3. The student fully acknowledges its use, with appropriate citations and references. Each referencing guide provided by the Library provides advice on how to appropriately reference the use of GenAI in-text.
 
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not allowed for that assessment. If students are unsure, they should seek advice from the Unit Convener.
 
Students should be aware that the University of Canberra utilises GenAI detection software. Suspected instances of unauthorised GenAI use may lead to a Learning Validation Conversation' designed to provide assurance that a student is able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills to meet required learning outcomes. Students who are suspected of having misused GenAI in assessment may be required to attend a summary inquiry for suspected misconduct.
 
It is strongly recommended that students keep records of the development process for all works submitted for assessment, or drafts of work submitted for a work-in-progress review, in a learning portfolio or equivalent. Failure to provide evidence of the development process for assessment may influence a suspicion of GenAI misuse or other forms of academic misconduct. 
 
The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.
 

Special assessment requirements

Students must complete and submit all assessments to pass the unit. An aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

This unit will require students to engage in independent learning. Course materials, powerpoint slides, readings, and other resources will be made available on the Canvas site. Face-to-face lectures and workshops will be conducted on a weekly basis to provide an opportunity for students to pose any questions, and for the lecturer to to go through examples as well as provide additional content and clarification. Completion of course activities may be undertaken virtually and/or online as an alternative to face-to-face engagement.  

Notional distribution of workload:

Lecture/workshop participation:         40 hours

Assessment work:         50 hours

Private study:                60 hours

Participation requirements

Your engagement with course materials and participation in face-to-face and/or online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

Command of the Microsoft Office suite of products, including Excel, is a definite advantage for this unit.

Students will also need to access and have a basic command of SPSS and Qualtrics.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

The unit involves research-led education. There are active researchers teaching the unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

Next step

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