Session 1 introduction to the module

1. Nottingham Trent University
Institute of Education
Session One: Module Introduction

2. Aims of Session
Module Overview:
• Introduction to NOW
• Assignment Requirements
• Research Area
• What is Educational Research

3. Aims of Research in a Professional Context
RiPC (20 credits)
This module will:
• extend your knowledge and critical understanding of research and
of research strategies, methods and techniques;
• enable you to extend your competence in reading critically and
appraising published research;
• prepare you to complete a dissertation;
• help you to develop a critical appreciation of the ethical and
professional issues which attend investigation in professional
contexts

4. Aims of the Research Skills (30 credits)
This module will equip you with two sets of skills. One consists of the practical
skills needed to carry out research, and includes an understanding of the
specialised vocabulary of research, as well as applied knowledge and
understanding of the following. By studying this module you will:
• extend your knowledge and critical understanding of research and of
research strategies, methods and techniques;
• enable you to extend your competence in reading critically and appraising
published research;
• enable you to gain a confident grasp of methodological and epistemological
issues;
• enable you to undertake relevant and focused research at postgraduate
level
• enable you to develop a critical appreciation of the ethical and professional
issues which attend investigation in professional contexts
• The second set of skills are about critical analysis and synthesis of research
carried out by others.

5. Assignment guidance
• Assessment: Research in a Professional Context RiPC (20
credits)
• A written assignment of 4,000 words which takes the form of a
proposal and plan for your Dissertation, including references to
relevant literature.
• Assessment: Research Skills (30 credits)
• Written assignment 5,000 words or equivalent which takes the form
of a focused piece of research into a professionally relevant issue
and includes a rationale and evaluation of methods used to collect,
select and present data.

6. Assignment guidance
• This guidance is provided to support you in producing your
assignment. The word counts given are not prescriptive, but give
you an idea of the relative significance of each of the sections. You
are expected to use reference material and to make sure your work
is referenced accurately. Further guidance on referencing can be
found on NOW and from the library staff.

7. Assignment guidance
Section 20 Credit Module 4000 words 30 Credit Module 5000 words
Introduction 600 500
Literature Review 1600 1500
Methodology 1400 1250
Findings and Analysis of Findings 0 1000
Conclusion 400 750

8. Assignment guidance
• Introduction – All work should begin with some sort of
introduction. It maps out the scope of your work. Say what your
research question is, why you are interested, what you hope your
research will add to your and others’ understanding. You need to
say enough so your reader knows what they are going to read
about.
• Literature Review – This is the largest section of your work. This
is important as it demonstrates you know what already exists in the
field. Your literature review must be linked to your research area.

9. Assignment guidance
• Methodology – This is the next largest section of your work. You
need to explain where your methodology is located – is it in the
positivist paradigm or the interpretivist paradigm? Or a mixture?
Why does your research question fit this paradigm? What will you
actually do to explore your question? What research tools will you
use?
• Findings and Analysis of Findings – (not required for 20 credits)
In this section you state what you found and your interpretation of
these findings. It may include tables and charts, or direct quotes,
but should only include data where this aids understanding. A pie-
chart showing 100% is meaningless. Aim to link this section back
to the literature.
• Conclusions - Summarise the main features of your work and
state what will be different as a result of your work. Develop a
critical approach to your research design.

10. Assignment handing in date
• Assessment submission date: Friday 5th January 2018 by 2 p.m.
• All assignments must be submitted through the Dropbox in the
learning room

11. Grading
Distinction
• This represents excellent work
Commendation
• This represents good work
Clear Pass
• This represents sufficient work
Fail
• This represents insufficient work (If you fail you will be offered a
referral, this is generally capped at a low pass)
(Assignments are generally returned within three weeks)

12. Discussion Points
•What is Educational Research?
•How relevant is educational research to
teachers/lecturers?
•What makes it unique or distinguishable from
other forms of research?
•Why should we engage in educational research?
•What is the function of educational research?

13. An Education Research Definition….
Educational research involves the rigorous and
ethically appropriate process of arriving at
dependable answers to questions and solutions to
problems of an education nature through the
systematic collection and critical analysis,
interpretation and presentation of relevant data
and other forms of information.
(Sharp 2012, p.3)

14. Nature of Education Research
• Scientific:
– Aims to understand the world, ‘a search for new knowledge’.
• Political:
– Aims to change the world.
• Therapeutic:
– Aims to help individuals (usually participants)
• Aesthetic:
– Attempts to ‘communicate something unsayable’ (Saunders in Coe 2017,
p.9)
(Based on Coe (2017), p.9)

15. Considered
•Introduction to Module
•Module Assignment
•What is Educational Research

16. References
• Coe, R., 2017. The nature of educational research. In: R. Coe, M.
Waring, L.V. Hedges, and J. Arthur, ed. Research methods and
methodologies in education. London: Sage, 2017, pp. 5-14
• Sharp, J., 2012. Success with Your Education Research Project
[eBook]. 2nd ed. London: Sage. Available via:
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/nottinghamtrent/detail.action?docID=110
50433 [Accessed 5 October 2017].