HLST N8160 - Early Years Evidence Based Project

Module Details

Module Code: HLST N8160
Full Title: Early Years Evidence Based Project
Valid From:: Semester 1 - 2018/19 ( September 2018 )
Language of Instruction:English
Duration: 2 Semesters
Credits:: 30
Module Owner:: Myles Hackett
Departments: Unknown
Module Description: This year-long module will equip students with meaningful research knowledge and skills, which are integral to leadership and management within the early years' sector. Students will actively engage in the research process by designing and conducting a relevant research study. The research studies undertaken by students will be of particular relevance to leadership and management within the early years. The student will be supported by a research supervisor for the duration of the module. Students will develop an appreciation of the value of practitioner research in the early years' sector and develop the skills to enable them to confidently engage with practitioner research beyond the module.
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Appraise the various theoretical/conceptual frameworks and paradigms in early educational research.
MLO2 Evaluate the literature to develop a meaningful research question in the discipline of early years education with particular focus on leadership and management.
MLO3 Plan and design a study to address their research question demonstrating an understanding of the most appropriate research methodologies.
MLO4 Apply ethical principles in the design of this study.
MLO5 Gather and analyse data using appropriate techniques. Interpret findings and relate them to their research question.
MLO6 Construct a dissertation based on this work.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
 
Module Indicative Content
Introduction to Research
Overview of research in early years' care and education and its importance; qualitative and quantitative research paradigms; the relationship between research question, methodology and analysis. Action research as a meaningful methodology in early years research.
Research Process
Reviewing the literature; developing a rationale; formulating a research question; drawing on appropriate methodology; developing a research proposal, collecting data and interpreting findings; writing up research.
Research Ethics
Ethical principles in research; ethics through the project's lifecycle; managing informed consent and assent, anonymity, confidentiality, the right of withdrawal; research with vulnerable groups especially working with children, managing risk.
Quantitative Methodologies and Analyses
Review of descriptive, correlational and experimental designs; surveys; observations, time and event sampling, checklists; sampling/ sample size. Review of descriptive statistics; basic inferential statistics (tests if associations, correlation, and chi-square); using SPSS to analyse data.
Qualitative Data Methodologies
Review of ethnography, phenomenology, qualitative descriptive designs; interviews, focus groups, and observations as data gathering tools; analysis of documents; consideration of qualitative methods for use with adults and children; managing data, transcribing; content analysis; thematic analysis as a foundational method.
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work100.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Part Time On Campus

Course Work
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 100
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5,6
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Research Profile to include ethics application, research proposal, and the research dissertation.
No Project
No Practical
No Final Examination

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

This module has no Full Time On Campus workload.
Workload: Part Time On Campus
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures will be a combination of face to face and on-line delivery in Semester 1 and 2 Every Week 3.00 3
Lecturer Supervised Learning Contact Research Supervision Semester 1 will equate to 2.5 throughout semester 13th Week 0.19 2.5
Lecturer Supervised Learning Contact Research Supervision Semester 2 Every Week 0.50 0.5
Directed Reading Non Contact No Description Once per semester 11.07 166
Independent Study Non Contact Active Research Once per semester 11.07 166
Total Weekly Learner Workload 25.83
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.69
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Martyn Denscombe. (2010), The Good Research Guide. For small-scale social research projects, 4th. McGraw-Hill Education/ Open University Press, England, [ISBN: 978 0 335 241].
  • Guy Roberts-Holmes. (2018), Doing Your Early Years Research Project. A Step by Step Guide., 4th. Sage Publishing, [ISBN: 9781526424259].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
This module does not have any other resources