M Phil in Research Methodology

This programme is designed for anyone, from any field, who wishes to learn about social/educational research, enhance their proficiency in carrying out research projects, make a career in social, educational or policy research and/or undertake research as part of professional practice. It is particularly relevant for professionals in nursing, nurse training, health service, administration and policy making, training and personnel management as well as education.

The MPhil in Research Methodology is a modularised course which allows you to obtain a higher research degree by both programme work and dissertation to gain knowledge of and competence in doing research through a study of research methodology and through application in practice and to design, and conduct and write-up your own research project for publication or other purposes. The programme involves six taught core units, two taught elective units and a dissertation based on your own professional needs/interests. As part of a flourishing research community you will be in a stimulating environment for conducting your own research including seminars, workshops, one-to-one supervision and peer involvement.

Dr Kalwant Bhopal

Dr Gill Clarke
Professor Anthony Kelly

Studying for the MPhil in Research Methodology provides an opportunity for you to:

• understand the fundamental philosophy and methodology of social and educational research
• experience critiquing different research methodologies and techniques
• gain the skills for conducting and analysing research
• to design, conduct and write-up your own research project for publication or other purposes
• acquire new skills in presenting and communicating research to different audiences

Core Units

Research Skills and Processes
This unit provides you with an introduction to a range of research skills, processes and issues that you will need to be aware of when designing, conducting and managing your own research.

Philosophical Issues in Educational Research
The focus of this unit is an exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of research. The unit thus provides an introduction to epistemological issues in the philosophy of social science, including an introduction to philosophical assumptions underlying different approaches to educational enquiry.

Data Collection
The purpose of this unit is to offer you the opportunity of gaining familiarity with a broad range of Data Collection approaches beyond the needs of their immediate research project. This unit will also provide an introduction to ethical issues in data collection, and to issues in the choice, design, effective use and validity of a range of approaches.

Data Analysis
The focus of this unit is to consider research data from a qualitative analytical approach. It examines what we mean by qualitative analysis and the meanings you acquire. Your own data collected data will be used to apply and explore a range of qualitative analytical techniques.

Communicating and Disseminating Research
This practical workshop based unit focuses on the development of research findings for publication and dissemination to a variety of audiences, in both national and international contexts. Particular attention is paid to considering ways in which the evidence base of research can be clarified and the impact of research on practice improved. ESRC and BERA guidance in disseminating research will be integrated into the course.

Quantitative Methods
The focus of this unit is the analysis of quantitative data. The emphasis is on understanding the underlying principles of data analysis and what can be achieved by employing statistical processes. A secondary focus is the critical reading of statistically based research texts.

Elective Units

Action Research
This unit explores action research as a mode of investigation aimed at changing practice through reflective analysis and understanding. It aims to give you an appreciation of the relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge and the contribution action research can make to both. The unit explores some of the ongoing debates about action research, as well as some of the practical challenges, that any student contemplating the approach should be aware of.

Policy and Programme Evaluation Research
The focus of this unit is on the theory and practice of evaluation research as it has come to be understood and practiced over the past thirty years in different local and national policy contexts. While the main focus is on and policy evaluation, for those who have responsibilities for evaluation in their workplace institutional self-evaluation will also be explored.

Case Study Research
The focus of this unit is the characteristics and types of case study research. It is an introduction to the different ways in which case studies are conceptualized and conducted. We will discuss the background and status of case study as an approach and what it has to offer.

Qualitative Analysis
The focus of this unit is to consider research data from a qualitative analytical approach. It examines what we mean by qualitative analysis and the meanings you acquire. It will use two perspectives to explore the techniques of qualitative analysis: documentary analysis; use of computer assisted qualitative analysis packages.

You will also complete a dissertation based on your own professional needs/interests and informed by your studies on the taught units.

Full-time students take all eight units in one year, four units each semester.

For Course Specs, please click here.

Assessment consists of related coursework for the units plus a dissertation of 20,000-30,000 words. Your dissertation will be based on research following your own professional interests and/or in your workplace. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor with appropriate academic expertise.

The minimum entry requirement is a first degree.

Apply online, download or print the Postgraduate Application Form

Download or print the Research Fees Information

Download or print the Research Insert Form

Download or print PhD Guide

Details on how to apply for the Research Degrees are available here...

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