EDU 702 COURSE INFO

COURSE INFORMATION

Code : EDU 702
Course : Research Methodology
Level : Masters
Credit Unit : 3
Contact Hour : 3
Course Status : Core
Prerequisite : None
Description
This course introduces learners to the basics of educational research. The course focuses on the concepts and philosophies underlying academic research in the field of education. It aims at developing students' understanding of research methodology with emphasis to aspects such as the identification of the research problem and the formulation of research objectives and research questions. It also involves aspects such as research strategies, research design, data collection and data interpretation techniques. Upon completion of this course, students are required to have the ability to define a research problem and prepare a research proposal. This course is compulsory for all students who intend to undertake a post graduate degree at the Master's level. The learners are expected to do a lot of independent and critical reading of research journals and conducting research.

Course Outcomes:

Upon completion of EDU 702 a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the concepts and philosophies underlining educational research
  
• Make a clear statement of a research issue and justify a research approach, methodology, data collection and analysis techniques appropriate for the specific research issue
  
• Design and develop a research proposal that addresses an appropriate research problem with related literature review and appropriate research methodology
  
• Evaluate and critically review educational research articles and papers.
  

Syllabus Content

1. Introduction to Educational Research
   
   1. Research as a scientific inquiry
      
   2. Nature of research
      
2. Defining the Research Problem
   
   1. Research topic and research problem
      
   2. Research questions
      
   3. Variables and Hypothesis
      
3. Review of Literature
   
   1. Value of a literature review
      
   2. Types of sources
      
   3. Steps involved in a literature review
      
   4. a literature review
      
4. Population and Sampling
   
   1. Differences between population and sample
      
   2. Sampling techniques
      
   3. Validity and reliability
      
5. Types of Educational Research
   
   1. Quantitative Research Methodologies
      
   2. Experimental research
      
   3. Correlational research
      
   4. Causal comparative research
      
   5. Survey research
      

1. Qualitative Research methodologies
   
   1. Case studies
      
   2. Ethnographic research
      
   3. Historical research
      
   4. Phenomenology
      
   1. Mixed Method
      
      1. Action Research
         
      2. Development Research
         
   2. Instrumentation
      
      1. Questionnaires
         
      2. Tests
         
      3. Interviewing
         
      4. Observation
         
      5. Document analysis
         
      6. Content analysis
         
      7. Reliability and validity
         
   3. Analysis of Data
      
      1. Quantitative data analysis
         
      2. Qualitative data analysis
         
   4. Ethics in Research
      
      1. Ethical principles in conducting research
         
      2. Issues in plagiarism
         
   5. Writing a Research Proposal
      
      1. Chapter 1 – The Study
         
      2. Chapter 2 – Review of related literature
         
      3. Chapter 3 – Research methodology
         
      4. Citations and References
         

   
   

   Assessment
   

   Quiz (2) 25%
   

   Article Review 15%
   

   Research Proposal 35%
   

   Presentation 15%
   

   e-portfolio 10%
   

   
   

   TOTAL 100%
   

   References
   

   
   

   Anderson, G. (1998). Fundamentals of educational research. UK: Falmer Press
   

   
   

   Ary, D., Jacobs, L.C., & Razavieh, A. (2002). (6^th. Edition). Introduction to
   

   Research in Education. CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
   

   
   

   Brown, J.D. & Rodgers, T. (2002). Doing Second Language Research. Oxford:
   

   Oxford University Press
   

   
   

   Bryman, A. (2001). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
   

   
   

   Cohen, L. Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2005). (6^th. Edition). Research Methods in
   

   Education. London: Routledge Falmer.
   

   
   

   Fraenkel, J.R. & Wallen, N.E. (2006). How to Design and Evaluate Research in
   

   Education. New York: McGraw Hill Inc.
   

   
   

   Gay, L. R. & Airasian, P. (2003 ) Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications, Upper Saddle River: Merrill Prentice Hall
   

   
   

   Gall, M.D., Gall, J.P. & Borg, W.R. (2003). (7^th. Edition). Educational Research.
   

   New York: Pearson Education Inc.
   

   
   

   Holmes, R., Hazadiah Mohd Dahan & Habibah Ashari (2005). A guide to research in the social sciences. Malaysia: Prentice Hall
   

   
   

   Mertler, C. & Charles, C.M. (2000). Introduction to educational research. 5^th Edition. Boston: Pearson Education
   

   
   

   Murray-Thomas, R. (2005). Teachers doing research: An introductory guidebook. Boston: Pearson Education
   

   
   

   Nunan, D. (1992). Research Methods in Language Learning. Cambridge:
   

   Cambridge University Press.
   

   
   

   Parmjit, S., Chan, Y. F. & Sidhu, G.K. (2006). A comprehensive guide to writing a research proposal. Malaysia: Venton
   

   
   

   Rudestam, K. & Newton, R. (1992). Surviving Your Dissertation. London: Sage
   

   
   

   Selinger, H.W. & Shohamy, E. (2001). Second Language Research Methods.
   

   Oxford: Oxford University Press.
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   EDU 702 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
   

   Scheme of Work
   

   
   

   Week	Topic	Learner Task
   Week 1	Introduction to Course – EDU 702 Introduction to Educational Research	Read Assigned Readings: Fraenkel & Wallen Part 1 - Chpt. 1
   Week 2	Introduction to Writing a Research Proposal	Read Assigned Readings: Fraenkel & Wallen, Part 4 - Chpt. 24
   Week 3	Defining the Research Problem Literature Review	Read Assigned Readings: Fraenkel & Wallen, Part 2 - Chpt. 2,3 & 5
   Week 4	Types of Educational Research Qualitative & Quantitative	Read Assigned Readings Presentation 1
   Week 5	Research Design - Sampling	Submission of 1st. outline of Research Proposal – Ch. 1 Presentation 2
   Week 6	Instrumentation I – Questionnaires &	Presentation 3 Quiz 1
   Week 7	Instrumentation II – Interviews, Checklists, Observations, etc.	Presentation 4 Submission of Article Review
   Week 8	Data Analysis I – Qualitative Data	Presentation 5 Submission of 1st. outline of Research Proposal – Ch. 1&2
   Week 9	Data Analysis II – Qualitative Data	Read assigned materials
   Week 10	Data Analysis I – Quantitative Data	Read assigned materials Quiz 2
   Week 11	Semester break
   Week 12	Data Analysis II – Quantitative Data	Read assigned materials Submission of 1st. outline of Research Pro. – Ch. 1,2&3
   Week 13	Writing a Research Proposal & Research Ethics	Read assigned materials
   Week 14	Presentation of Research Proposal	Presentation of Research Proposal
   Week 15	STUDY LEAVE	Submission of Research Proposal
   Week 16	FINAL EXAMINATION

   
   

   Main Text: Fraenkel, J.R. & Wallen, N.E. (2006) How to Design and Evaluate Research Education. New York: McGraw Hill Inc.