7/27/2019 Likely Sections for Your Research Methods
Assignment4(1)
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Likely Sections for your Research
Methods Assignment (5,000 Words)
This sheet is to offer you guidance on what might be included in
the different sections of your Research Methods
assignment. You do not have to address these in this structure
or order, but it is important to cover the topicssomewhere within
the assignment.
Cover SheetTitle, Student Number etc (please refer to the MA
Handbookfor correct format)
Contentspage with page numbers including a list of
appendices
1. Introduction Reason for choosing this focus e.g. personal,
professional Value of focus to pupils, department and school?
General introduction of the themes mentioning the sub-headings
below National Context Local Context (School and Community) Initial
Research Questions
You might like to refer to some of the academic literature in
this section, and / or to articles in the press, to
illustrate the need for research in your area.
2. Annotated Bibliography or mini-review
This section should be divided into Sub-Headings of
literature.
These sub-headings will depend on your particular topic an
example here is used for a study in
Behaviour Management
(with thanks to Carol Scott for some of the ideas)
a.
Social Modellingb. Peer Mentoringc. Conceptual understandingsd.
Behaviour Managemente. Genderf. Learning to learn
As much as possible, make it clear how what you have read in the
literature supports your choice of ResearchQuestions.
3. Methodology
a) Philosophical research approach (which paradigm? Positivism /
Interpretivism?)b) Research Approach / design (e.g. Case study,
experimental, etc)c) Methods (e.g. semi-structured
interviews/questionnaires/observations)d) Sampling (How many,
why?)e) Validity and reliability of the data you will collect (or
it's qualitative equivalent)f) Ethical Considerations (remember to
read and refer to BERA,2011)
Reference List (Following UoB guidelines)
PLEASE TURN OVER
Formatted: Font: Times New Roman, 16 pt,
Bold
7/27/2019 Likely Sections for Your Research Methods
Assignment4(1)
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Appendices Contents
Ethics form (this is essential and your assignment cannot pass
without it)
You may also like to include in your appendices:
a) Draft research instruments to pilot (note that this cannot be
done until you have started the Dissertation unit)
b) Contextual evidence e.g. page of the Behaviour
Policy/articles/other evidence cited in the main text; extra
statistics, etc
The Dissertation
Remember that the unit will not officially begin until November,
and that you will need to spend the first month or
two discussing your design with your supervisor and updating the
literature review. Most students with a
November start do not begin data collection before Jan / Feb
(and often afterwards).
Version: 29/2/12
The MA (Education) Research Team
