Education Research Perspectives PG (9087.3)

Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
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Education Research Perspectives PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Intensive
 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 provides a critical overview of research perspectives and practices in the social sciences and humanities, with particular reference to education and communication, and to such generic practices as reading and critiquing research reports, communicating the results of research, and conducting ethical research. Various perspectives on research will be considered, including empiricist, interpretive, critical and poststructuralist methodologies. Students will also be introduced to a variety of research practices, such as survey research, case study, discourse analysis and ethnography.
In the delivery of this unit opportunities will include on-campus and off-campus options.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Critically appraise reports of inquiry in education and communication;
2. Demonstrate understanding of the interdependence of theories of knowledge, research methodologies and research techniques;
3. Demonstrate understanding of the methodological options available to researchers in education, communication and related fields;
4. Formulate research questions relevant to their topic area within different methodological frameworks; and
5. Articulate their own position as a researcher within the range of methodologies.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
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 - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
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 - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

8099 Introduction to Research PG

Equivalent units

11389 Research Methods in Education PG, 9630 Research Methods in Language Teaching and Learning PG

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 1 03 February 2025 Intensive 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 1 16 February 2026 Intensive Dr Jenny Dean
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Jenny Dean
Not available

Required texts

Robson, C., & McCartan, K. (2015). Real World Research (4th ed.). Wiley.

This book is available as an e-book in the UC Library Catalogue. To find the e-book, click here

Limited hard copies are available in the UC Library Catalogue. To find a hard copy, click here

Recommended text

Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. B. (2019). Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches (7th ed.). SAGE.

This book is available as an e-book in the UC Library Catalogue. To find the e-book, click here

Required texts are also available from the UC supplier: The School Locker.

Additional resources will be made available via the Reading List on your Canvas Site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

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 permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in most 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 GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students 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.

Moderation AND Provision of valid documentation

Moderation of Assessments

Sample assignments at different grade levels will be moderated for each assessment item in each unit. All assignments that receive a mark of 45 or more but less than 50 percent will also be moderated. In addition, if a student receives an overall mark close to a grade boundary, their assignments will be moderated before their final result is released.

Provision of Valid Documentation

Please note that the University takes student misconduct 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.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) is a mandatory (non-assessable) requirement in this unit. You must complete this module and upload your completion certificate to the AIM Drop Box by 30 September, 2025 at 23:59PM. Students who do not submit their AIM certificate will be given a withheld (WH) grade until such time as they upload it to this DropBox.

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

Notional distribution of workload:

On campus seminars: 24 hours

Assessment work: 56 hours

Individual study: 70 hours

Participation requirements

On-Campus Attendance and Online Content 

Your participation in both class and 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

Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint (or equivalent), email, Canvas, the library catalogue and research databases. Use of the Microsoft suite of products (Word, Powerpoint) or Google Docs and Google Slides is expected.

In-unit costs

The required texts for this unit are available from the UC Library. Students who wish to purchase copies may do so from The School Locker or other online providers.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

Research Led Education

The unit addresses 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.