Module Information

Module Identifier
PGM4940
Module Title
Work Based Research in Professional Contexts
Academic Year
2018/2019
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Also available in

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles of work-based research.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of practitioner-led enquiry, action research methodologies, and the ethical position of the practitioner-researcher;
3. Integrate theoretical perspectives in the delivery of professional practice and work-based research;
4. Critically evaluate the nature, quality and validity of evidence and its application to practice;
5. Consider and evaluate implications of research findings for future development both personally and within their profession;

Brief description

Students will be required to undertake an action research project or practitioner-led inquiry project, based in their professional setting. Content for this module will be structured around the key processes students will go through whilst conducting their inquiry, including reconnaissance, literature review, implementation, data collection, analysis, review and reflection.
The modules aims are:
1. To prepare students for MProf dissertation by means of conducting a pilot study inquiry project.
2 To ensure that students are able to apply in practice key
models of work-based research frameworks.
3. To challenge students to examine their professional context and own practice, using data from a wide range of sources, and to challenge them to reflect on their development as a practitioner, and a researcher / inquirer.

Aims

This module requires students to develop a critical understanding of their professional context, as a precursor to their pilot doctoral study. This module takes work developed in PGM3020 and rigorously applies it to the appropriate critical literature.
During this module students will be assigned a supervisor, and will begin the early stages of scoping their doctoral study area.

Content

Content will include:
1. Forms of useful knowledge: professional knowledge and research evidence.
2. Power, positionality and ethics in work-based research.
3. Preparing assignment 1 (Scoping Study).
4. From methodology to methods.
5. Qualitative and quantitative approaches in Action Research.
6. Preparing Assignment 2 (Proposal for Implementation Plan and information gathering process).

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Quantitative approaches to collecting and analyzing data will be addressed in the module, and students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of these in their data analysis for their project.
Communication Communication is core to effective completion of the module. Spoken communication throughout face-to-face elements. Written communication throughout written assessments, and online discussion board activities.
Improving own Learning and Performance This is core to the module, and will be achieved through a systematic evaluation of the student’s professional experience.
Information Technology Much of the academic content of the module will be accessed using ICT, as will many of the seminar discussions, and supervision sessions. Written assignments will be word-processed. Management and protection of data will also be addressed during the module.
Personal Development and Career planning This is core to the module and will be achieved through a systematic evaluation of the student’s professional experience.
Problem solving Through undertaking a workable pilot study inquiry project.
Research skills Students will be expected to access and retrieve information from a variety of different sources (books, journals, online). Bibliographic skills, data analysis, critical reading of research literature and analytical methods all play an integral part in this module.
Team work This skill-set will inevitably developed during seminars, but will not be assessed.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7