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Module Coursework Guidelines
Module Code and Title: Research Methods in Education
Module Leader:
Assignment:
Word Count Equivalent: Min 2000- max 2500 words (excluding references and appendices)

Submission date:
Formative: Friday, May 3rd at noon (worth 0% of module mark)
Summative (full proposal): Friday, May 17th at noon (worth 40% of module mark)
Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research design for education;
Learning Outcome 2: Develop a research proposal from initial research question to research design, data collection and data analysis and methods;
Learning Outcome 3: Design research tools and select appropriate data analysis methods for qualitative or quantitative empirical data;
Specific guidelines relating to this learning outcome: Each student will produce a research proposal, thinking of a topic, forming a research question(s), decide on a design that is appropriate to the paradigm and approach and introduce the methods to collect data and analysis.

FURTHER GUIDANCE FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL
This is an individual essay describing a research design to study a particular educational question. The Research Proposal will include these five elements:
1.Formulate a suitable research question, ideally one that might eventually lead to your dissertation project. This can be any question related to education but must be researchable. Examples would be: ‘Does the teaching of synthetic phonics improve pupils’ reading acquisition ’ or ‘How do young people in Hampshire feel about the increase in university tuition fees ’. You will be expected to provide a reason why you have chosen this topic and explain its background in the research literature.
2.Decide on a suitable research design to study the question and suitable research methods. You will need to justify why you have chosen this design and these methods, and what the possible advantages and disadvantages may result from these choices when used to answer your research question.
3.Decide on key elements of your research design, such as how you would sample participants and what your research methods would be (for example, a questionnaire or interviews), and explain why you have made these choices.
4.Discuss how you would try to ensure accuracy, consistency and trustworthiness in your research findings (make sure to use appropriate terminology according to the approach).
5.Discuss what ethical considerations would need to be taken into account for this research project.

The key to the research proposal is to give reasons for all the decisions you have made (research method, sampling method and so on), and relate these reasons clearly to your research question. What we are looking for is that you can demonstrate:
The ability to formulate a research question that is practical
That you can develop a research design that is suitable to find an answer to that research question
The ability to justify your choices and decisions, with appropriate attention to weaknesses as well as strengths of different research designs

Formative assessment – approximately 200-250 words – 0%
In the formative assessment, you will get feedback from tutors about specific aspects of the research proposal. This should include:
1. Title of the proposal (the title should be formed as a sentence, not one of the research questions)
2. Research question(s)
3. Outline of the design – briefly describe the participants, how you recruit or sample them, what methods you will use and why they are appropriate and how you will analyse the data.
4. Only if you have space, describe the rationale in 3 sentences.
Submissions longer than suggested word count will be read until the max words permitted (250 words).
No late submissions!

Summative assessment – 2000-2500 words – 40%
YOUR RESEARCH PROPOSAL WILL TYPICALLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS

1.INTRODUCTION / RATIONALE – approximately 500 words
Provide a general overview of your chosen topic area (this should contain your personal observations and be backed up by theory/research) and state EXPLICITLY your rationale for the proposal. You must have an academic reason for proposing your study. It is insufficient to say that, for example, it interests you and you have easy access to a sample population. You need to show that you have read the relevant literature and that your reading leads you to believe that this topic is worth exploring because either a) there is not much already published, or b) research has been done with one sample group but not the group you are proposing to work with, or c) research on a particular topic is all pre 1990 and you wish to discover if things have changed now or that d) you are looking to extend knowledge in that field because your reading leads you to believe something has been left unexplored.
It is recommended to write the research question(s)/aim at the end of this section.
2.LITERATURE REVIEW – approximately 500-700 words
This relates to literature that you have already read not literature that you intend to read. This should cover key concepts related to the area of study and key authors should emerge. Original research from journal articles should be reviewed, making links between past work and the purpose of your study. Any criticisms of these research designs should be included – can you see flaws in them Do they have limitations (for example a limited participant group) It should be clear how these papers have informed your own choice of methodology.
Subsections (use subheadings) can be used throughout for clarity but do make smooth transitions between them.
Don’t waste a lot of space defining the discipline or spend a lot of time on the history of the idea.
3.METHODOLOGY – approximately 1000-1200 words
Type of study (3-4 sentences) – describes/defines the type and research design of the study you are proposing (e.g. qualitative v quantitative, between or within subjects, focus groups, case study, survey, etc.)
Participants (age, gender, sampling procedure, inclusion criteria). You need to state how you intend to recruit participants, clearly showing that coercion will not be an issue.
Methods – must provide (in an appendix) an example questionnaire / interview schedule/observation scheme – whatever is relevant to your study.
Procedure/data collection – what are you doing and how are you doing it. Describe participant experience from start to finish (make sure to use appropriate terminology according to the approach).
Data analysis – you will need to know data level in order to state which statistical test(s) will be used for quantitative data. For qualitative data are you using thematic analysis Are there set themes that you are looking for, or will themes emerge from your data
Ethical Considerations – refer to ethical issues that might arise from this research. It is not enough to just follow the mechanical procedures of ethics; you must also demonstrate a full understanding of why these procedures are in place.
4.REFERENCES (should be single line spaced with a single blank line between each entry) List all references used.
5.APPENDICES (should be single line spaced) – Interview schedule, observation sheet, questionnaire – whatever is relevant to your study – include in full in appendix.

What would an outstanding piece of work look like
Exceptional systematic knowledge of key aspects of area of study and conceptual understanding of ideas and methods of discipline; evidence of extensive reading.
Very high degree of competence in evaluating and making judgements and appreciating limits of knowledge; clear evidence of independent thought.
Very high degree of competence in communicating information, ideas problems and solutions, contextualising knowledge and structuring/sustaining arguments.
No evidence of any errors within English grammar, punctuation and spelling.
An exemplar will be provided – please note difference in word count
Notes:
These assignments must be uploaded to the module Blackboard by 16:00 on the due date or a penalty may be applied (see “FSSHUB: Faculty Student Hub” Blackboard for details);
This work is expected to adhere to the following Programme requirements for submission. Marks may be deducted for not following these requirements.