Objectives
This course is for those who wish to engage in Postgraduate Education Research and is available on a full-time (one year) or part-time (two years) basis: -to increase your ability to conduct educational research -to critically approach the findings of others -to prepare yourself for further doctoral study (PhD) -It is suitable for teachers and other practitioners, policy makers, educational administrators or social scientists interested in education processes, practices or policies. The Faculty of Education is committed to increasing participation in, and understanding of, educational research. Educational research draws upon a broad range of theoretical and methodological resources including philosophy and social science disciplines. The MA programme has been formally recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It consists of two cross-faculty modules that introduce the broad field of social science research, two modules focused specifically on educational research, and one dissertation module in which you conduct research into an area of individual interest. A personal supervisor will provide support and the opportunity to discuss ways in which module learning relates to your own research interest. There is a choice of pathways through the course, based on different discipline areas: -Built Environment -Business and Management -Education -Health and Social Care This course will help you develop skills and knowledge which can be applied in a range of international contexts. It may therefore be suitable for international students, and there are opportunities for incorporating material and examples from your home country into your studies, especially in the dissertation.
Course description
Content
The course has two core modules which are common to all of the pathways, and which introduce you to the broad field of social science research. The modules are Research Practice and Research Methods.
These are taught by researchers drawn from across the University, and provide an opportunity for contact with students from other social science disciplines at Bristol UWE. The content of the Built Environment routeway is underpinned by the research and consultancy undertaken by the Faculty's research centres.
Research Practice
This module consists of taught sessions and practical workshops, and provides an introduction to the methodological and epistemological base of social science research, its relationship to social theory and its socio-economic contexts. It explores the way in which the construction of sets of knowledge (epistemologies) is the product of methodological approaches to social research, and also the rich contexts within which research takes place. The module emphasises reflexivity within the research process. It recognises that research depends not only on intellectual skills but also on the practical and professional skills essential to the proper and ethical conduct of research. These practical sessions include the development and design of research proposals, management of the research process, approaches to writing and dissemination.
Research Methods
This workshop-based module concentrates on the practical issues surrounding the process of social science research. It aims to sharpen awareness of the quality of evidence deployed in academic debates, to increase understanding of the issues involved in adopting qualitative and quantitative methods of research and to provide students with practical skills of data generation and analysis. Specific analytical workshops deal, for example, with large secondary datasets, multivariate statistical analysis, and computer-based qualitative analysis.
Education pathway
Understanding Education Research
This module is based on the understanding that educational research covers a wide range of enquiries across social contexts that include formal educational settings in compulsory, post-compulsory and higher-educational institutions, as well as industrial, commercial and professional situations or informal contexts. Drawing from both philosophy and the social sciences, the module presents a broad range of theoretical and methodological approaches that can be applied to any of these educational settings.
Philosophical Issues in Educational Research
This module focuses on the philosophies and philosophical issues underpinning educational research and explores the differing philosophical positions of education researchers. It explores the relationship between the philosophical position of the educational researcher, the ontological position, the methodological approach and the epistemological framing of the research. The module considers the position of the researcher within the research process and explores the relationship between the researcher and 'the researched', including questions of morals, ethics, responsibilities and power and their relationship to differing philosophical positions.
Dissertation
This 60 credit module provides the opportunity to engage in an extended research project. Each student is allocated a research supervisor who, in most cases, will be the personal tutor who has supported the student throughout the programme. Research skills acquired in previous modules are practised and applied to individual research interests. Students are supported in conducting their research in a way consistent with both professional practice and research ethics, and to communicate their research findings in written form to both academic and non-academic audiences. Students wishing to apply for future PhD study may wish to use the dissertation to carry out a pilot study, or to explore a specific related area of interest.
Extra information
MA ASR (Education Pathway)
Who would study on the MA ASR programme?
It is suitable for teachers and other practioners, policy makers, educational administrators or social scientists interested in education processes, practices or policies. The Faculty of Education is committed to increasing participation in, and understanding of, educational research. Educational research draws upon a broad range of theoretical and methodological resources including philosophy and social science disciplines.
The MA programme has been designed to meet the training criteria of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and consists of two cross-faculty modules that introduce the broad field of social science research, two modules focused specifically on educational research, and one dissertation in which you conduct research into an area of individual interest. A personal supervisor will provide support and the opportunity to discuss ways in which module learning relates to your own research interest.
What will I be studying?
The following modules lead to the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Social Research, Postgraduate Diploma Applied Social Research (Education), or MA Applied Social Research (Education). The number of credits required at each level, for each award is as follows:
The two social science modules, Research Practice (30 credits) and Research Methods (30 credits) are necessary for the award of PGCert in Applied Social Research.
In addition to these two social science modules, the two educational research modules, Understanding Educational Research (30 credits) and Philosophical Issues in Educational Research (30 credits) are necessary for the award of PGDip Applied Social Research (Education).
In addition to these two social science modules and two educational research modules, the Dissertation module (60 credits) is necessary for the award of MA Applied Social Research (Education).
How do I submit work?
Submission of Coursework (including for resits): Coursework for a module should be submitted to the Faculty in which the Module Leader is located. Resit information should be provided in module guides. The Module Leader will provide information on resit work in their module guides or as supplements to the module guide and pass information to the Faculty contact.
Resit work: Responsibility for circulating work and dealing with submitted work for resits rests with the Module Leader and administrator in the faculty concerned.
Who will teach the MA Applied Social Research (Education)?
Members of the Faculty of Education and contributions from prominent people in the field of educational enquiry. The programme is led by Professors Jacky Brine.
What will my time commitment be?
For each 30 credit module a specified 300 hours of study is expected. For 20 credit modules 200 hours is expected and for each 60 credit module 600 hours of study.
