Students

EDST8000 – Educational Research

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convener, Lecturer, Tutor, and Assessor
Rebecca Bull
r.bull@mq.edu.au
Contact via By email
Tutor and Assessor
Sandie Wong
sandie.wong@mq.edu.au
Contact via By email
Lecturer, Tutor, and Assessor
Yihan Sun
yihan.sun@mq.edu.au
Contact via By email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MEd or GradCertEdS or MEdLead or MHEd or GradCertHEd or MEChild or GradCertEChild or MTeach(0-5) or GradCertClinEdSim or MIndigenousEd or GradDipIndigenousEd or GradDipChildLit or MChildLit or MDisabilityStud or MTeach(Sec) or MInc&SpecEd or MSpEd
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Co-taught with EDSX8000
Unit description Unit description

The objective of this unit is to extend student understanding and application of the research methods used to explore contemporary issues in a variety of educational settings. A staff member actively engaged in research will lead the weekly presentations and tutorials to expose students to a range of methodological approaches and to develop their understanding of evidence-based practice. As students proceed through the unit they will consider the application of these research approaches to addressing an educational topic of personal relevance and interest.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge of research methods to critically evaluate evidence and to make evidence-based decisions.
  • ULO2: Generate research questions and critically analyse and evaluate different research methods to address those questions.
  • ULO3: Apply advanced critical thinking skills to generate, evaluate and transform professionally-oriented knowledge and practice
  • ULO4: Synthesise and communicate research and its results to different audiences.

General Assessment Information

General Submission Information

Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.

All assessments must be submitted electronically. Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments. It is the responsibility of all students to ensure that their submitted work is in a format compatible with Turnitin software for plagiarism checking. Submissions must meet the required file type and formatting specifications outlined in the assessment guidelines. Failure to submit work in an acceptable format may result in delays in processing your submission and potential penalties for non-compliance with assessment requirements. If you are unsure about the file format or have technical difficulties, it is your responsibility to seek assistance before the submission deadline. Students should be careful to check that they submit the correct file for an assessment as no re-submissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file. It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assessments. If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to contact the unit convenor.

Students can use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit. Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic integrity (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3). Any student suspected of using unauthorised AI in an assignment will be referred to the Faculty of Arts Discipline Committee. Penalties can include reduced marks for an assessment, being awarded '0' for a task, failing an entire unit, being excluded from a course of study. Please see each assessment task description/rubric for expectations about AI.

Special Consideration / Late Penalties

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends) (see: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration). Applications for extensions must be made via Service Connect. After the 7th day, a mark of 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessments (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special Consideration application. A Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Marking

All assessments are marked using a rubric. Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor.

Quiz

The quiz is an individual assessment task and must be completed by each student individually. Similarities in responses between students will be checked and investigated for possible collusion.

University policy on grading

Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading System and University Assessment Policy. To attain a pass or higher grade in Professional Experience a student must obtain a satisfactory in both the Professional Experience component and a pass or higher grade in the academic component. For Professional Experience units the Professional Experience Evaluation Report is marked as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The Macquarie Teaching Performance Assessment (MQTPA - in final WIL/PEx units) is marked as Not met, Met or Exceeds.

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed because they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit Service Connect.

Withdrawing from this unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via Service Connect before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact on your course progression.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research methods knowledge quiz 20% No 23:55 01/06/2025
Annotated bibliography 30% No 23:55 04/04/2025
Research Plan 50% No 23:55 06/06/2025

Research methods knowledge quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23:55 01/06/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all types of research methods.

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge of research methods to critically evaluate evidence and to make evidence-based decisions.

Annotated bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:55 04/04/2025
Weighting: 30%

Students will identify a research topic of personal interest and conduct a literature search on that topic. This will form the basis for the annotated bibliography where students will produce short summaries (100 words each) of a minimum of 8 pieces of academic research aligned with their chosen research topic. The annotated bibliography will be used to guide the third assessment task where students will develop a research plan around their chosen topic. The annotated bibliography will be a maximum of 1500 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge of research methods to critically evaluate evidence and to make evidence-based decisions.
  • Synthesise and communicate research and its results to different audiences.

Research Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 23:55 06/06/2025
Weighting: 50%

Building on their identified research topic t and annotated bibliography students will use their knowledge of different methodological approaches gained through this unit to develop a research plan for a proposed study. Students will be asked to describe the research aims and rationale for the study, to outline the main research questions, to describe the methodological approach. and methods of data collection, and to evaluate validity, reliability, and trustworthiness of their proposed study. The research plan can propose the use of qualitative, quantitative or mixed method approaches. The assessment has a word limit of 2000 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge of research methods to critically evaluate evidence and to make evidence-based decisions.
  • Generate research questions and critically analyse and evaluate different research methods to address those questions.
  • Apply advanced critical thinking skills to generate, evaluate and transform professionally-oriented knowledge and practice
  • Synthesise and communicate research and its results to different audiences.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required and Recommended Texts

A variety of readings will be used throughout this course, and where possible we aim to ensure that these are freely and electonically available. More information will be provided on the iLearn site.

The following textbook covers most of the content discussed in this unit. A new copy of the 7th edition is expensive, but you may be able to find a cheaper second hand version. Alternatively, an earlier edition is fine and you may find a freely available copy with a quick search of the internet.

Johnson, B., and Christensen, L. (2019). Educational Research: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Approaches. (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks California: Sage.

Note that there are many textbooks on educational research methods that contain the same information. We will try and provide alternative resources in case you have difficulty accessing this textbook.

Information about the unit iLearn site

This unit has a full web presence through iLearn.

Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php. You will need to enter your student username and password.

Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical help. Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk: via email onehelp@mq.edu.au or Ph: 9850 4357 or 1800 67 4357. On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk.

Unit Schedule

This unit comprises 2 core research blocks - qualitative methods and quantitative methods. Within each block multiple staff members with expertise in a particular methdology will lead each week. This unit follows a flipped delivery - while there may be some differences from week to week depending on the lecturer, generally you will be provided with content presentations to listen to in your own time, along with some additional tasks to develop your understanding or apply your knowledge.

In the scheduled tutorials we will provide opportunities to apply and develop your newly learned knowledge - more details will be provided on the iLearn site ahead of the tutorial. During the tutorial some time will be set aside to address any questions you have about the presentations from that week, and to think about development of your own research topic and research plan. 

The following table gives an overview of topics covered in each each week.

Week and staff member Topic
1. Rebecca Bull Introduction to the unit; Overview of Research Methods
2. Sandie Wong/Yihan Sun Introduction of qualitative methods
3. Sandie Wong/Yihan Sun Qualitative data collection methods
4. Sandie Wong/Yihan Sun Phenomenonlogy, Ethnography, and Grounded Theory
5. Sandie Wong/Yihan Sun Narrative Inquiry, Case Study, and qualitative data analysis methods
6. Sandie Wong/Yihan Sun Participatory methods and Indigenous Methodology
7. Rebecca Bull/Emma Burns Transition from qualitative to quantiative methods; Measurement and Sampling in quantitative methods
8. Emma Burns Non-experimental methods
9. Rebecca Bull Experimental methods
10. Rebecca Bull Quasi-Experimental and Single subject experimental designs
11. Emma Burns Mixed Methods
12.  Completion of Research Plan
13.  Completion of Research Plan

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

School of Education Procedures 

Academic Progression Policy (only for students undertaking an MTeach)

This unit is a part of a professional course listed on Schedules 2 and 3 of the Academic Progression Policy. This course has additional requirements that are applicable for the full duration of the course, including course-specific Inherent Requirements, Fitness to Practice requirements and other compulsory course requirements. It also has rigorous academic progression standards. Inability to meet these requirements may result in a withdrawal of offer of admission and/or permanent exclusion from the course in accordance with the General Coursework Rules.

Attendance and Participation [for students undertaking MTeach]

See the University timetable for information about when classes begin in this unit. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au)

Attendance at all synchronous activities, completion of non-synchronous formative/diagnostic class tasks and involvement in professional forums is expected as the MTeach is a professional qualification. Activities completed during weekly tutorials (DAY or ONLINE DAY mode) are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards and/or ACECQA requirements. Attendance at all tutorials and/or on campus days is expected and will be recorded. Make up tasks may be given if attendance is missed to ensure all content is covered to meet accreditation requirements.

Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-Student. Please do not contact the unit convenor to request a change.

Communication

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a weekly basis. Communication may occur via:

● Official MQ Student Email Address

● The Dialogue function on iLearn

● Other iLearn communication functions

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

5Rs Framework

The 5Rs Framework, developed by the School of Education at Macquarie University, is embedded throughout your teacher education course. Your use of the 5Rs Framework will help you develop the capabilities that will make your teaching career sustainable and fulfilling. In this unit, you will learn using the 5Rs framework in the following important ways:

RESILIENT: For many students, the content of this unit will be completely new and may seem daunting and challenging. Students are encouraged to seek support from, and provide support to, other students in the unit. Students are also encouraged to plan ahead and manage their workload.

REFLEXIVE: Students engage critically with research evidence and the methodological rigor of that evidence. They are expected to make meaningful links between the research, their own professional context and experience, and their own research ideas.

RESPONSIVE: Research methods highlight the communities that impact on practice - students, families, educators, cultures, and systems. This unit requires students to identify an educational issue and to develop a research plan to examine that issue. The ultimate aim of the unit is to develop teachers as researchers who can identify important educational issues, and who will be able to evaluate and conduct research that impacts at all levels of the community.

READY TO LEARN: Students identify their own research topic (of personal and professional interest to them) that will be the focus of their research plan and to which they will apply their newly acquired knowledge of methodological approaches.

RESEARCH ENGAGED: Students are exposed to various research approaches and complete assignments which assess their research knowledge and their ability to critically evaluate research studies. The final assignment draws together their learning in the submission of a research plan for a study.

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook