Unit information: Research Methods 2 in 2022/23

Unit name	Research Methods 2
Unit code	ACHSD0006
Credit points	20
Level of study	D/8
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Dowling
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	Research Methods 1
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

This unit builds on the content and skills acquired in Research Methods 1. It focuses on the meaning of data, and data collection itself. It is designed to support students who have begun the process of research planning and are working towards a doctoral level dissertation in the field. The Unit content includes research management, the conduct of qualitative and quantitative studies, ethical procedures, sampling, measurement tools, and data preparation.

Aims:

• To introduce principles of data gathering and analysis, with particular reference to the selection, use, reliability and validity of a selection of qualitative and quantitative methods.

• To provide the rational basis for research project design and selection of methods to meet the needs of the research question.

• To present in detail the principles of selection of participants, data sampling, data collection methods and means of recording such data.

Your learning on this unit

• To be able to describe and implement studies in the field of educational psychology by choosing methods appropriate to the research question

• To demonstrate the different nature of data collection for specific purposes and to demonstrate the rational choice in regard to major divisions of research practice.

• To demonstrate awareness of the procedures for dealing with participants both ethically and practically

• To be able to set out in detail a data collection workplan

How you will learn

Blended learning to include lectures, tutorials and on-line resource materials.

How you will be assessed

Completion of a 4000 word assignment dealing with principles of data collection, research methodology and design, as applied to particular research questions.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACHSD0006).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.