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FET8801 Research Methods in Education

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
FET 8801 84094 3, 2008 WEB Research Methods in Education 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOEDU
Academic org: FOE003
Student contribution band: National Priority Teaching
ASCED code: 070303

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Patrick Danaher
Moderator: Barry Fields


OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html


RATIONALE

The expectation that educators should be able to apply the findings of current and recent rigorous and systematic research studies to the formation of educational policy and practice requires that such professionals should have a sound understanding of the principles and practices of research design and methodology. Further, those who are to be involved in any of the various approaches to research in education must be cognisant of appropriate procedures for effective, efficient and equitable research programs. This course is intended to provide those involved in education with the basic competencies to generate, analyse, and evaluate research programs through the development of an understanding of the characteristics and components of educational research.



SYNOPSIS

This course will expose students to the basic philosophy and practice of educational research. It is intended as an introductory course in research methods in education with particular attention given to developing an understanding of the major approaches to research in education, basic research design and procedures, and research evaluation.



OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. Upon the completion of this course, it is intended that students will be able to:

1.
understand the principles underlying educational research (Essay)
2.
describe appropriate steps in conducting educational research (Essay)
3.
develop a viewpoint about links between research and researcher identity (Essay)
4.
choose and/or develop a research method appropriate to a particular problem or question/s (Proposal)
5.
select appropriate techniques for data collection (Proposal)
6.
identify appropriate procedures for the analysis of data (Proposal)
7.
design ethically appropriate research activities. (Proposal)
8.
demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing. (Essay and Proposal)


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Principles of educational research
 20.00
2. Steps in conducting research
 20.00
3. Types of research methods
 20.00
4. Data collection techniques
 20.00
5. Data analysis
 20.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Somekh, B & Lewin, C (eds) 2005, Research methods in the social sciences, Sage Publications, London.



REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library/. The gateway to education resources is here: http://use.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

Wiersma, W & Jurs, SR 2005, Research methods in education: an introduction, 8th edn, Allyn & Bacon, Boston MA.



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessments 60.00
Directed Study 60.00
Private Study 45.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAY 50.00 50.00 19 Dec 2008
RESEARCH PROPOSAL 50.00 50.00 30 Jan 2009

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them, or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chances of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. This web course contains a number of discussion forums designed to assist students in successfully completing the course. Students are not obliged to participate in the forums, but they are advised to do so.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grade for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the grades obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    There is no examination in this course.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. Letter grades will be used for summative assessment items in this course.
2. Marking criteria for the two assignments are provided in the course material.
3. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced if required by the examiner.
4. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner.
5. The Faculty will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. The Philosophical Essay and the Research Proposal necessitate a literature review that will require students to be able to access libraries or online articles/books.
  2. Students enrolling in WEB courses MUST have ongoing convenient and reliable access to the Internet in order to access course materials and participate in activities that will affect assessment. The levels of equipment required may change from time to time, with the most recent specification listed at http://www.usq.edu.au/currentstudents/computingstandards/default.htm. You can check whether your computer system meets these requirements from USQAssist (http://usqassist.usq.edu.au/).
  3. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc..) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.
  4. IMPORTANT NOTE: You are not required to collect data for the assessment requirements for this course. Moreover, you may NOT collect data for your project or dissertation unless you are doing so under the supervision of your supervisor and, if such data gathering involves human participants, unless you have the prior written approval to do so from the Faculty of Education Ethics Reference Group.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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