Module: Developing a Research Perspective

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Developing a Research Perspective
Module Code	EDU1067 (ITS: ES323)
Faculty	Policy & Professional Practice	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce participants to research perspectives in the humanities and social science context, with a special focus on educational research. Through lectures, group work and independent study the students will develop a perspective on the nature and scope of differing research traditions and philosophies. This context and theory will enable them to begin to apply some of this knowledge in work based and case study situations The range of theories that are introduced are expected to be expanded upon by the students during independent learning periods.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop a more informed perspective to bear on the reading and interpretation of research.
2. 1D646D28-F90D-0001-B384-48FFBA301DBF
3. Identify a range of research methodologies and instruments.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Online activity	40	No Description
Independent Study	20	No Description
Assignment Completion	26	No Description
Independent Study	15	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10536	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Jane O'Kelly	Module Teacher	Justin Rami, Peter Tiernan

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	n/a	100%	Week 1
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	100%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

': 0, Bell, J 1999, Essential: Bell, J. (1999) Doing your Research Project. 3rd Edition O.U. PressSilverman, D (ed) (1997) Qualitative Research: Theory, Methods and Practice. London: SageMayut, P. and Moorehouse,R. (1994) Beginning Qualitative Research: A Philo,
Denzin, Norman K; Lincoln, Yvonna S: 2000, The SAGE handbook of qualitative research, 0761927573, 9780761927570
Michael Quinn Patton: 2002, Qualitative research & evaluation methods, Sage Publications, London, 0761919716, 9780761919711
Pugsley, Lesley; Welland, Trevor: 0, Ethical dilemmas in qualitative research, 75461350X, 9780754613503
Uwe Flick: 2009, An introduction to qualitative research, 1847873243, 1847873235, 9781847873231
Yin, Robert: 1993, Applications of case study research, 0803951191, 0803951183, 9780803951198
Creswell, John W: 2009, Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, Sage, 41296556X, 1412965578, 9781412965569
Margaret Farren, Jack Whitehead, Branko Bognar: 0, Action research in the educational workplace, 1936320053, 9781936320059
McNiff, Jean; Whitehead, Jack: 2009, Doing and writing action research, 1847871747, 1847871755, 9781847871756
Fetterman, David M: 1984, Ethnography in educational evaluation, 0803922531, 0803922523, 9780803922532
Robert E Stake: 1995, The art of case study research, 0803957661, 9780803957664
heodore Abramson, Carol Kehr Tittle, Lee Cohen: 0, Handbook of vocational education evaluation, 0803910789, 9780803910782
Aspinwall, Kath: 1992, Managing evaluation in education: a developmental approach, 0415080436, 9780415080439
William Wiersma: 2000, Research methods in education: an introduction, 0205284922, 9780205284924
John A; Howard, Keith: 1996, The management of a student research project, 056607706X, 9780566077067
O'Leary, Zina: 2009, The essential guide to doing your research project, 1848600119, 9781848600119
Schostak, John F: 2002, Understanding, designing, and conducting qualitative research in education: framing the project, 0335205100, 0335205097, 9780335205097
Walliman, Nicholas; Baiche, Bousmaha: 2001, Your research project: a step-by-step guide for the first-time researcher, 0761965386, 0761965394, 9780761965381

Articles:
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Other Resources

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