465-407 Special Research Study

Enrolment in or completion of at least 350 points of the degree, including credit, or equivalent.

An introduction to the ethics of human research, research methodology and design and its application to research in the early childhood field. Students will implement a small research project. The topic for this research will be drawn from the major strands of the degree program and may reflect issues in child development, curriculum theory and practice or management and leadership issues concerning the role of the early childhood professional. The project will enable students to work independently or conjointly in small groups and with guidance from a lecturer with expertise in the selected area, develop a research project. Students will identify an aspect of research and undertake a literature review with the view to developing a research question and choosing an appropriate research methodology. In the case of group projects each student will be required to present an independent literature review in order to develop an integrated set of research questions. Students will examine the collection and analysis of data and present a research report in which they demonstrate the ability to interpret and discuss the findings.

A research project report of 5000 words, or equivalent.