6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4021591DNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Department
Educatiewetenschappen
Educational team
Chang Zhu (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

In this course, students learn different methods and procedures of designing and conducting scientific research as applied in educational sciences. The following main content will be introduced:

  •  Research methodology
  •  Types of research methods
  •  Research designs
  •  Research questions and hypotheses
  •  Literature review
  •  Surveys and instruments
  •  Qualitative research
  •  Quantitative research 
  •  Mixed-methods research

In this course, the students develop their competencies in educational research theories, designs, and approaches using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research.

The students will learn the up-to-date research methods for educational sciences; the nature of quantitative research, qualitative research and mixed methods research. The students shall be able to understand and make critical analyses of the most important theories, designs and approaches in educational research.

Group work, authentic research tasks, and literature review will be conducted for this course.

 

Course material
Digital course material (Recommended) : Course content, slides and reading materials, Canvas
Additional info

The course will follow a blended-learning approach. Next to face-to-face sessions, students will follow online and work on tasks individually or through online collaboration.
As part of the WPO, the various contents will be learned in practical sessions, and
complemented with discussions and group work.
Course content, reading materials and assignments will be available online via VUB Canvas platform.

The course book "Research seminar in Educational sciences" is a required learning material of this course. 

Reference books: (students can choose one of the following books as a reference book)
1. Educational Research, Competencies for Analysis and Applications, ninth edition, Pearson International Edition. L.R. Gay, G.E. Mills & P. Airasian. 2009.
2. Research methods in Education: An Introduction. William Wiersma, Seventh Edition,
published by Allyn and Bacon. 2000.
3. Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative
Research. John W. Creswell, Third Edition, published by Pearson Education International.
2008.
4. Applying Educational Research. How to read, do, and use research to solve problems of
practice. Sixth Edition. M.D. Gall, J.P. Gall & W. R. Borg. Pearson International Edition. 2010.
5. Research methods in education and psychology. Integrating diversity with qualitative and quantitative approaches. D.M. Mertens. Thousand Oaks, Sage publications, 1997.
6. Research Methods for Education. Peter Newby, published by Pearson Education. 2010.
7. Educational Research: an introduction. Eighth Edition. M.D. Gall, J.P. Gall & W. R. Borg. Pearson International Edition. 2007.
8. Practical Research: Planning and Design. Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Ninth
Edition, published by Pearson Education International. 2010.
9. Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research. A. Tashakkori & C. Teddue.
SAGE publications. 2003.
10. How to design and evaluate research in education. Fraenkel J. and Wallen N. Boston, Mc
Graw Hill, 2000.
11. Primer of Educational Research. W. Newton Suter, published by Allyn and Bacon. 1998.
12. Educational Research: A Guide to the process. Norman E. Wallen & Jack R. Fraenkel.
McGraw-Hill, inc. 1991.

 

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

  • The ability to understand different research methods and research design.
  • The ability to design scientific research in the field of educational sciences.
  • The ability to analyse and assess existing research in a critical manner.
  • The ability to conduct a literature review for an aimed research.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 20% of the final mark.
LEC Teamwork determines 30% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 40% of the final mark.
SELF Presentation determines 10% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral exam with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Within the LEC Teamwork category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Group work with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Assignment with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Presentation category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Presentation with a relative weight of 10 which comprises 10% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation will include two main components:

  1. process evaluation, including assignments, group work and student presentation;
  2. oral exam at the end of the semester


 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject