468-407 Research Methods

Credit Points:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• conduct a literature search on a selected topic;

• explain issues in and epistemological and ontological assumptions associated with naturalistic and positivist research;

• demonstrate an understanding of selected research methodologies such as quasi-experimental designs and statistical research, ethnography and action research and explain the reasons for adopting a particular methodological approach in relation to research focus and research questions developed;

• design a plan to implement one of these approaches in relation to a chosen research project; and

• demonstrate the capacity to carry out a number of research methods, such as surveys, interviews, participant observation and document analysis, and acquire an understanding of the analytical and statistical processes involved in making sense of the data acquired.

Content:

A critical study of different methodological approaches, associated research methods and selected qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. Each student would be expected to study a particular method in depth in order to generate a research proposal on a selected research topic.

Assessment: