Course Resources Archive

This module explores epistemology and theories relating to a range of research methods and reviews critically issues of research design and execution. The module develops the concepts, skills and practices required to conduct research projects appropriate to the student’s course context.

The module is designed to equip students with a broad knowledge and understanding of approaches to research design and the ability to evaluate the usefulness of various techniques for data-gathering and analysis. This knowledge may be used to underpin further study during a student's programme, and in particular, to prepare them for undertaking a dissertation(or equivalent) at Level 6. Topics covered in the module will include: the philosophy and ethics of research design and execution; the uses of qualitative and quantitative research approaches in contexts appropriate to the student’s course; an introduction to specific research methods such as participant observation, interviewing and survey techniques. Students are required to design and execute their own small-scale research project and then to reflect critically on this process.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. define and justify an appropriate research problem to investigate in their course context;
2. review critically published material relevant to the research problem;
3. evaluate and apply an appropriate research methodology and primary data gathering method or methods to address the research problem;
4. evaluate and apply appropriate ethical principles to primary data gathering for the research problem;
5. interpret critically primary data using published material for the research problem;
6. reflect critically on their learning in the research process.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.