Foundations of Educational Research

Gain an overview of educational and social research. Learn how to interpret, conduct and communicate research. Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research, the social and political practice, and design and presentation of educational research.

From

$2,200 $2,450

Your upfront cost: $0

International student?

Duration

13 weeks

Student rating

N/A

Study method

100% online

Available loans

FEE-HELP

Assessments

100% online

Prior study

Not required

Study terms

28 May 2018
26 Nov 2018

Curtin University, the largest university in Western Australia, is a world-class leader in education and research. With an international focus and 52,000 students across 16 locations, including Sydney, Malaysia and Singapore, Curtin ensures its graduates are skilled and prepared to make a positive contribution in the global environment. Open Universities Australia is proud to offer their degrees and subjects online.

University ranking

2018

Subject details

What you'll learn

At the completion of this subject students will be able to:

independently access, interpret and synthesise research
evaluate educational research design, methodologies, methods and findings from different perspectives
communicate research findings using appropriate scholarly conventions
demonstrate an understanding of plagiarism, paraphrasing and the principles of Academic Integrity.

Topics covered

Topics
- An introduction to educational and social research: different perspectives
- The context of research: use and abuse
- Knowing a field of inquiry: the literature and literature reviews
- What's the problem? Research design and the qualitative-quantitative approaches
- Ethics in research
- Can quantitative research tell the whole story?
- How credible is qualitative research?
- Interpreting and evaluating education research
- Content/thematic analysis and analytical perspectives
- Communicating research
- So, what is research?
- Review
Study resources
- Instructional Methods
  - Audio/Video conferencing
  - Disscusion forum/Discussion Board
  - Embedded Multimedia
  - Online assignment submission
  - Podcasting/Leacture capture
  - Standard Media
  - Streaming Multimedia
  - Web links
- Online Materials
  - Online Assessment
  - FAQs
  - Audio-Video streaming
  - Resources and Links

Entry requirements

No eligibility requirements

Special requirements

EquipmentDetails - Audio/Visual equipment
OtherDetails -
- Additional materials

Description

This subject provides an introduction to educational and social research. Students will examine and evaluate: research as a social, cultural and political practice, qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, and approaches to the design and presentation of educational research. Students will learn ways to interpret, evaluate, conduct and communicate research.

Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.

Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.

Assessments

Assignment 1 - Literature Review (50%)
Assignment 2 - Research evaluation (50%)

Textbooks

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

View textbooks

Related degrees

Postgraduate

Master of Education

Postgraduate

Postgraduate Single Subjects