EDUC7120 Approaches to Research (Honours)

2020

4.5

1 x 2-hour intensive workshop weekly

1 Admission into HBED-Bachelor of Education (Honours)
1a Admission into HBSHPA-Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Activity (Honours)
1b Admission into HBSAR-Bachelor of Sport and Active Recreation (Honours)
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b))

This topic introduces students to some of the major approaches to research in the broad field of education. Students will examine the key steps in the process of conducting research including identifying research problems, reviewing the literature, developing research questions, collecting and analysing data, and reporting and evaluating research. Students will be asked to consider the context, nature and purposes of educational research. Current problems and issues in educational research will be discussed. In this topic students will be encouraged to integrate their learning within their own research context.

To develop students' background knowledge about educational research. In particular:

• the context, nature and purposes of educational research
• key elements of the research process, e.g., research questions, designs, methods, ethics, literature reviews, planning and reporting
• engagement of students in a critical examination of a range of approaches to research in education

By the end of this topic students will be able to:

• identify and describe a variety of approaches to research, their similarities and differences, and arguments for and against the use of each approach
• develop a researchable and educationally relevant question for investigation, locate it within an approach to research and demonstrate how this question can make an original contribution to the particular research field
• critique at least two published articles that address an area of research from different philosophical perspectives
• identify and discuss contextual factors impacting on contemporary educational research