Conducting Educational Research

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Pre-teaching period:

During the pre-teaching period students are required to access the subject LMS site and familiarise themselves with the curriculum, readings and assessment.

Students completing a research proposal are required to meet regularly with their supervisor during the pre-teaching period to finalise their topic and commence work on the proposal.

170 hours

It is expected that MEd (research) students will have already initiated and attended meetings with their supervisor before commencing this subject.

Candidates in the MEd (research) must be enrolled in their thesis at the same time as this subject is undertaken.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

In this subject, students will study an area of research methodology relevant to their proposed thesis. Modules will be presented on Qualitative Methods and Quantitative Methods. There may be additional workshops on particular aspects of research methodology, and students will be encouraged to attend classes in modules other than the one they are doing if the topic is relevant to their thesis. Students should consult with their proposed supervisor to discuss which module they should take.

On completion of the subject, students will have a detailed understanding of a particular methodological approach relevant to their proposed thesis.

• 10 minute oral presentation and literature search (1,500 words) due mid-way through the teaching period, 40%
• Research proposal or critical assessment of an area of research methodology relevant to the student’s thesis (3,500 words) due end of semester, 60%

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.