Module: Research Thesis in Early Childhood Education

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Research Thesis in Early Childhood Education
Module Code	EDU1159 (ITS: EC913)
Faculty	Language, Literacy & ECE	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	30

Description

In this module students undertake supervised, independent research within the broad field of early childhood education. Students apply the full range of associated research skills required to produce a thesis. Specifically, students develop and pursue a set of research questions into a topic of their choice, write a literature review leading to a refined research focus and purpose, prepare a thesis proposal, apply for and secure ethical approval leading to the design, conducting and reporting of a small scale research study relating to ECE. This module imparts important transferable, research and academic writing skills: an ability to evaluate critically the significance and utility of a large body of theoretical models of early childhood, including evidence from contemporary sources and wide ranging perspectives; the ability to engage directly with research questions and present independent opinions, supported by evidence from the literature, about them in arguments that are coherent, logical, relevant and clearly expressed. Dialogic discussion, sharing of professional practice and reflection on application to practice will be central to student engagement and participation in the module as a means of promoting communities of practice across early childhood education and professional contexts.

Learning Outcomes

1. Provide a rationale to conduct a feasible research study in the field of early childhood education and develop a research proposal.
2. Adhere to ethical principles and practice in educational research.
3. Identify and review a relevant body of literature critically analysing and synthesizing the key evidence and concepts therein to underpin the research study.
4. Choose an appropriate research methodology relevant to the research question(s) to collect data using research methods.
5. Present an analysis of data, findings and discussion in a critical and reflexive manner to the improvement of and leadership in early childhood education.
6. Communicate their research, presenting coherent, logical and relevant arguments in an academic style, using appropriate forms of presentation, drawing appropriate and relevant conclusions.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	3	Participation in traditional lecture on proposal and thesis preparation and process
Report	25	Development and submission of research proposal whereby leading to the allocation of supervisors to students based on research topic
Lecture	3	Presentation of research proposals to peers and supervisors
Online activity	15	Completion of online asynchronous task for University Ethical Approval and applying for ethical approval
Tutorial	14	Individual tutorials with supervisors and group tutorials for peer review and feedback on research process
Independent Study	690	Conduction of research and writing thesis
Total Workload: 750

Section Breakdown
CRN	11330	Part of Term	Semester 1, 2 & 3
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiona Giblin	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Presentation	Peer oral presentation of research proposal report	10%	n/a
Thesis	20000 words: Thesis presenting the rationale, research question(s), literature review, the methodology, findings, implications and conclusions on the research study conducted	90%	n/a

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

Early Childhood Research Thesis
Writing a thesis proposal; Ethics and Integrity; Literature Review; Research Design, Methodology; Presentation and Analysis of Findings; Context and Conclusions; Thesis conventions and presentation; Dissemination.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None