| CODE | ACA5057 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods II for Open and Networked Higher Education | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides an opportunity for participants to develop a core base of knowledge that will serve to closely engage doing, reviewing, appraising and synthesizing reported literature and to conduct first-hand research in the field of open and networked higher education (teaching and learning). It will provide an opportunity for participants to establish and advance their understanding of research through a critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. The course continues to build upon the skills mastered in Research Methods I and introduces “new” language of research, ethical principles and challenges, as well as the elements of the research process within specific methodological disciplines. The study-unit will provide opportunities for participants to develop practical research skills that will serve to critically consider reported field-work and become adept conducting research in the study area. It serves participants to make informed decisions for delineating and sketching out their dissertation research in the field of open and networked higher education. The study-unit is comprised of two main parts. One part of the study unit introduces participants to a selection of theoretical frameworks and research approaches prevailing in the area of open and networked higher education such as activity theory, actor network theory (ANT), phenomenography, phenomenology, social network analysis, grounded theory methods and ethnographical methods. This part of the study-unit is envisaged to engage participants in seminar-based interactions with leading experts, peers and tutors. The other part of the study-unit will provide participants with further training and practical knowledge for carrying out quality research in the field of open and higher education. Course participants will have the opportunity to (re)develop a research proposal potentially the first steps working towards the dissertation. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - introduce participants to theoretical frameworks and research approaches popularly used for conducting research in the open and networked higher education area; - support participants develop knowledge that will serve to closely engage reviewing, appraising and synthesizing reported literature and to conduct first hand research in the field of open and networked higher education (teaching and learning); - support participants develop practical research skills that will serve to critically consider reported field-work and become adept conducting research in the study area; - provide training and support for participants to plan and do research in the field of open and networked higher education (in particular the self-directed dissertation research work as part of the encompassing study programme). Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically consider and discuss theoretical frameworks used to structure research in the field of open and networked higher education; - Discerningly consider and discuss different qualitative and quantitative research approaches used to explore, measure, appraise and evaluate alternative strategies for conducting research in the area of open and networked higher education; - Critically consider and discuss contemporary research in the open and networked higher education area; - Discuss different research designs and methodologies such as ANT, activity theory, action research, phenomenography, phenomenology, design-based research, social network analysis, ethnographic methods, grounded theory, and narrative inquiry. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss and develop quality research in the area of open and networked learning which is informed by field principles and theoretical conceptualizations and other research-backed evidence - Discerningly consider and discuss learning and teaching issues and perspectives of contemporary HE and other adult learning settings (and other situations generally) - Communicate and discuss ideas and perspectives including listening and articulation, discussion and debating, reading, presentation and writing skills - Develop autonomy in doing research by designing a feasible and ethical research study that can appropriately address a given research question pertaining to the area of Open and Networked Higher Education - Develop and strengthen capacity to put into practice a diverse range of research skills - Identify strengths and limits within methodological literature and designs - Collaborate with others for knowledge building, value creation, creative innovation development, and supporting personal and collective development Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford: UK: Oxford university press. - Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Oxon: UK: Routledge. - Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks: US: Sage Publications Supplementary Readings: - Bakker, A. (2018). Design Research in Education: A Practical Guide for Early Career Researcher. Routledge. Oxon:UK. - Bogatti, S. P., Everett, M. G., Johnson, J. C. (2018). Analyzing Social Networks. SAGE Publications. - Clandinin, J. D. (2013). Engaging in Narrative Inquiry (Developing Qualitative Inquiry). Routledge. - Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory (2nd. Ed.). SAGE Publications. - Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2014). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory: Sage publications. - Fenwick, T. & Edwards, T. (2010). Actor-Network Theory in Education. Routledge. - Marton, F., & Booth, S. (1997). Learning and awareness. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. - Mertler, C. (2019). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering. SAGE Publications. - O’Reilly, K. (2012). Ethnographic Methods (2nd ed.). Routledge. - Prell, C. (2011). Social Network Analysis: History, Theory and Methodology. SAGE Publications. - Reinking, D. & Bradley, B. A. (2007). On Formative and Design Experiments. Teachers College Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: First Degree (MQF 6) at Second Upper Level or better (as per requirements of the postgraduate study programmes it relates to). Pre-requisite Study-unit: Research Methods I (dicussing the philosophical and epistemological underpinning of doing research, mainstream research paradigms (including qualitative and quantitivative research methods) and the research process (including aspects of rigour, validity, reliability and ethical conduct). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Online Learning | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Maria Cutajar (Co-ord.) Milosh Raykov |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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