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UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS REKA BENTUK KURIKULUM KURSUS DAN RANCANGAN INSTRUKSIONAL

COURSE NAME COURSE CODE CREDIT SLT PREREQUISITE SEMESTER LEARNING OUTCOMES

: : : : : : :

Fundamentals of Research Methods in Education UKP 6013 3 120 hours None 1/2 1. Elaborate on the basic concepts and the main research processes involved in educational research. (C1) (C3) 2. Apply knowledge of research in evaluating research reports and articles. (C5) 3. Select and utilize appropriate methods in obtaining valid and reliable data. (C4) 4. Discuss issues in educational research. (C3) 5. Elaborate on the appropriate format in the writing of research proposals (C3, P3) 6. Develop interest in increasing knowledge and skills in educational research for ongoing development. (A3, EM2)

COURSE

This introductory course provides an overview of essential

SYNOPSIS

ideas and concepts in educational research. It elaborates the definitions, concepts and the characteristics of the major types of research in education. It will also look briefly at the processes and procedures of research covering aspects such as identifying and formulating research questions, choosing appropriate data collecting methods, data analysis and interpretation and writing of research reports based on the APA documentation style. At the end of the course, students will be expected to plan and write a research proposal in the field of education.

JAM CONTENTS : 1. Essential concepts in research What is research? Why carry out research in education? Research process Review of past research. Why? Constructing research questions. 2. Writing of research proposals Format of proposals Generic steps in planning a proposal: Statement of the problem Research questions Selection of appropriate design and data collection methods Data Analysis Time frame (Gantt chart etc) 3 3 3

3. Research designs and data collection methods 3.1 Research designs: identifying research designs Appropriate to the research questions

Various data collection methods and related issues: Issues of validity and reliability Variable types and definitions

Types of research, E.g a) b) c) d) e) survey research historical research experimental research ethnographic research action research

3.2

Ways of recording data using the various methods: journal entries, diaries, audio-video recording etc. Data Analyses: Giving meaning to data a) Reading numerical data (e.g SPSS output) Parametric statistics mean, standard deviation, comparison of means, regression, Pearson R correlation, t-test, F-test. Non-parametric statistics frequencies, crosstabs, chi-square, correlations etc. b) Non-numerical data analyses (data obtained through observations, interviews, documents etc) classification basis and criteria, interpreting data etc.

3.3

3.4

Process in making inferences and conclusions based on results of analysis: inductive and deductive Answering research questions - interpretations and conclusions. Conclusions and recommendations (where necessary or relevant) Writing of research report

3.5 3.6

Following APA documentation style: Format of report Writing style Citing sources

Tables and figures References Total 36 60% 40%

COURSE ASSESSMENT REFERENCES

Coursework Final examination

APA. (2000). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.). Washington, DC. Ary, D., Jacobs, L.C., Razavieh, A., and Sorenson, C. (2006). Introduction to Research in Education (7th. ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Creswell, J.W. (2005). Educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Gay, L.R. (1992), Educational Research: Competencies for analysis and Application (4th Edition), New York, Macmillan Publishing Company. Leech, N.L., Barrett, K.C., and Morgan, G.A. (2005). SPSS for Intermediate Statistics (2nd ed.). Mahweh, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

* Students also need to read a few selected articles from journal of various educational research.