The Nature of Enquiry (ED0720)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : EDU-P-ED0720

The aim of this course is to introduce philosophical and epistemological perspectives that inform research practice in the social sciences in an educational context. The course provides an essential introduction to the issue of values and ethical problems in educational research. It discusses conceptions of education and their implications for educational research processes. Within MSc by Research (Education).

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Research (EDU), (The Moray House School of Education, Schedule C)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
20/09/2007	14:00	16:30	Room 1.5, Simon Laurie House	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	14:00	17:00	Other

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:
1 identify the main traditions/paradigms of social and education research;
2 analyse the ways in which the different methodological positions affect research questions, research design and the choice of data collection instruments and analysis techniques;
3 discuss the contribution of systematic enquiry to understanding social and educational issues and developing public policies to address these issues; and
4 demonstrate an awareness of the values and ethical debates inherent in social and educational research.