Educational Research Foundation PG (11973.1)

The importance of grounding research in authentic practice is well established, though it can be more challenging to see the benefits of theorising practice through research. This subject provides students with a critical overview of research perspectives and practices, with particular emphasis on reading and critiquing research reports, communicating the results of research, and conducting ethical research in teaching and learning environments. Various perspectives on research are considered, including empiricist, interpretive and critical methodologies. Students are also introduced to a variety of research practices, such as survey research, case study, data analysis, discourse analysis and ethnography.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Critically appraise existing research in education;
2. Assess the interdependence of theories of knowledge, research methodologies and research techniques;
3. Demonstrate understanding of the methodological options available to researchers in education;
4. Formulate relevant research questions within different methodological frameworks; and
5. Articulate a position as a researcher within existing methodologies.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
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
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
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

None.

Corequisites

Students must be enrolled in the EDM102 Master of Education.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.