Research methodology units 2008

You are invited to choose a unit from the suite below that focuses on a particular kind of inquiry, including reading and evaluating research literature, quantitative research, qualitative research, and research which pushes the boundaries of the way we think (or theorise) about the world. You should consult your supervisor or Course Adviser if you are uncertain about which unit will best serve your purposes.

• EDF6005 Reading, interpreting and communicating research
• EDF6006 Introduction to quantitative research methods
• EDF6007 Qualitative approaches to research
• EDF6008 Working with theory in research
• EDF6009 Special topic in research (Only offered to cohorts and off-shore students)
• EDF6012 Specific focus on research A and EDF6013 Specific focus on research B

It is possible to complete more than one unit from the suite (you may, for example, wish to develop an understanding of both quantitative and qualitative forms of inquiry) - please consult with your supervisor or your Course Adviser to see whether this is feasible.

This suite of units gives you an opportunity to develop an overview of educational research culture and the kind of work in which researchers in this field engage. You will be able to develop an understanding of research as a distinct kind of work, including certain protocols for arriving at valid or reliable claims about the nature of society and human relationships. You will be given insight into the pleasures, passions and challenges of pursuing research, the (sometimes fierce) debates within the field, and the politics of inquiry.

Research plays a key role in a variety of settings beyond the university, and you will be invited to reflect on the ethical dimensions of any inquiry, including its impact on particular communities, organisations or individuals that might be its focus. You will consider why you might wish to engage in research, the kind research that you would like to do, and the differences between research and the kinds of reflection in which you engage in your everyday life.

All units have a common core module that is designed to introduce you to the world of research in the way described above. Here the aim is to give you an opportunity to explore the understandings of research that you bring to your chosen unit, how these understandings are situated by your own experiences and how these sit in relation to a range of other understandings about research. What we research, how we research and who we would like our research to influence are considered as interrelated. This forms a basis for exploring:

1. The ethics of research (both the formalities and the underlying values that influence our relations with people as researchers).
2. What distinguishes research from other forms of knowledge.
3. How you can begin to conceptualise your own research project.

This module is a beginning point for exploring various ways of researching, developing your own research priorities and considering the place of research within a range of settings including professional settings concerned with education, understood broadly. You can then pursue your particular interests by completing the second module of your chosen unit.

Students are advised that, while the Faculty will endeavour to provide comprehensive assistance and advice about unit choice, the onus is on the student to ensure that units selected meet the regulations and requirements for their course. The Faculty does not take responsibility for errors in unit selection.

The Faculty reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes if necessary. For timetable details you can access the current year Timetable online or log into your my.monash portal and click on the timetable link.

Please note that all postgraduate evening options commence at 5.00pm.