BSc Education / Course details

This core Educational Research planning unit, exclusively for BSc Education students, is your gateway to success. It fosters research planning and ethical project proposals featuring a host organisation placement opportunity.

Building upon the solid foundation of knowledge and skills acquired in your first year, this unit is your essential bridge to the final year dissertation and beyond. With a focus on aligning with our program's overarching objectives, it's crafted to encourage development of your research skills and academic exploration of contemporary education topics. You will further develop your professional mindset, and enhance the transferable employability skills you'll need in real workplace settings through your placement.

Throughout this unit, you'll have the opportunity to identify a captivating topic for your small-scale Education research project. You'll learn how to develop research methods including data collection and analysis skills to create a feasible small scale research proposal that adheres to the University of Manchester’s ethical approval procedures.

This unit will empower you to practice organising and presenting your research project proposal effectively using the host organisation as a stimulus for your project design.  You'll gain practical, real-world skills to support your small-scale research project and have the chance to critically evaluate and showcase and your project plans with a wider community during the BSc Education UG research conference. 

The unit aims to: 
This unit aims to provide BSc Education students with an introduction to the research planning process and the preparation of an ethical small-scale project proposal within a host organisation placement. The unit builds on year 1 knowledge of contemporary research and employability skills and prepares students for the final year dissertation and beyond. In line with the programme aims it is intended to foster enthusiasm for academic enquiry, to engender a professional approach and to further develop transferable employability skills required in a work place setting. 
 

In completing this unit students will practise organising and discussing a proposed research project within a host organisation. They will develop practical transferable skills to small scale research project and present and evaluate their project plans with the wider community during the UG Education research conference.

Tutor facilitated sessions (whole group) 
Weekly sessions will involve tutor presentations, discussions and group work to support students in identifying a suitable topic area for a research proposal, negotiating with their host organisation and completing the required paperwork. Students are expected to be prepared for the sessions, attend all sessions except when emergency prevents, and take an active part in discussions and group work.

Supervision Seminar sessions
Students will have two three small group seminar sessions per semester or individual meetings to discuss their placement and research proposals and suggested data collection instruments with their seminar tutor.

Online sessions and UG conference presentation preparations 
Students are required to prepare and attend the practice online presentation sessions and attend and participate in the UG Education research conference. In order to comply with DASS requirements, students will be given the opportunity to opt for online presentations rather than in-person.

Directed reading 
To prepare for and review the tutor facilitated sessions, students review the materials provided on BlackBoard and read from the recommended reading list for the unit and for the sessions.

Independent study and negotiations with host
Students carry out independent study to identify and read materials related to their proposed specific research topic. They prepare a working summary of their project to discuss with their host organisation.  Time will need to be allocated to discuss the proposed project with the host. As part of the proposal students also prepare a draft literature review to inform their decisions about research methods and the production of data collection instruments.  

Tutor office hours
Students may attend office hours and/or book a tutorial to discuss their draft work with the tutor.

During semester two students will deliver individual presentations at the UG Education research conference introducing their host organisation and its role within education, summarising their proposed research and critically evaluating the proposal and the potential value of the research to the organisation. Using the conference presentation as a formative feedback opportunity, students will then submit their final research proposal.

• Identify the processes involved in developing a proposal for a small scale research project including the ethical approval requirements for academic research.
• Understand the value of networking and inter-personal skills and the educational relevance of their selected professional setting that provides context for the proposal.  
• Explain in detail the professional setting that provides context for the proposal
  identify research methods used in educational research including data analysis techniques for example statistical analysis for quantitative research or coding and thematic analysis for qualitative research.
   

• Produce a research proposal that includes a workable research plan and draft data collection tools
• Identify and critique relevant concepts and skills for theorising research
  Evaluate the proposal and its potential value to the organisation
   

• Plan a small-scale research project
• Design appropriate research tools to support the design of their project e.g. surveys, interviewing and observation
• Practice presentation and report writing skills
  Produce a C.V.

• Generate ideas for research to address complex problems in education
• Use digital literacy and engage in independent self-study o produce a research proposal, and presentation a poster at the UG Education Research conference.   and reflective portfolio
• Use inter-personal skills to access and maintain goodwill in a host organisation 

Available online via Blackboard

This is an indicative list of some recommended sources providing guidance on planning for a research project and employability. You will need to carry out required and wider reading relevant to specific content in each semester to inform your research focus and host organisation. Further advice and guidance for your reading will be provided via BlackBoard.

Alderson P. and Morrow V. (2011) The ethics of research with children and young people: a practical handbook. London: SAGE. 
Bell, Judith (2010) Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science. Maidenhead: Open University Press / McGraw Hill. 
Blaxter, Loraine, Hughes, Christina and Tight, Malcolm (2006) How to research. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. 
Denscombe, Martyn (2010) The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Open University Press. 
Punch, Keith (2005) Introduction to social research: quantitative and qualitative approaches. London: SAGE. 
Ridley D. (2012) The literature review: a step-by-step guide for students. London: SAGE.

Tutor-led sessions   30 
Directed reading (preparing and reviewing session materials on VLE) 20
Self-directed activities (background reading; planning and preparing for your proposed study)
Networking and identifying a host organisation 50
Preparation, attendance and participation in UG Educational Research conference  10
Time spent with host organisation placement  40
Formative and summative assessment tasks including Proposal, Literature Review, Poster Presentation and Reflective Portfolio 50