Education Research Perspectives PG (9087.3)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Education Research Perspectives PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Intensive
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 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 2025 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
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 Intensive Dr Jenny Dean
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 On-Campus Dr Jenny Dean
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 29 July 2024 On-Campus Dr Will Brehm
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Intensive Dr Jenny Dean
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-Campus Dr Jenny Dean
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-Campus Dr Will Brehm
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

Required text

Robson, C., & McCartan, K. (2016). 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.

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.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Moderation AND Provision of valid documentation

Moderation of Assessments

Moderation is used in PG Courses to maintain agreed standards in the assessment of student work through a valid, consistent and transparent process, in line with the UC Assessment policy. Sample assignments at different grade levels will be moderated for each assessment item in each unit. All assignments that receive a FAIL grade will be moderated. 

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.

Learner engagement

Notional distribution of workload:

On campus seminars: 24 hours

Assessment work: 56 hours

Individual study: 70 hours

Participation requirements

On-Campus Attendance (Expected) 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.

Artificial intelligence services must not to be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, an artificial intelligence service may only be used if:

  • its use is authorised by the unit convener as part of a specified assessment task, and
  • it is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit outline, and
  • its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that students must reference the use of AI in their assessment in the same way as they reference other source material.

In-unit costs

The required text for this unit is available from the UC Library at no cost to students.

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.

Next step

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