Doctor of Education

The module explores the different methodologies used in knowledge synthesis – integrative literature reviews, narrative reviews, systematic reviews (SR), meta-analysis, and scoping reviews – and explores the rationale for these. 

It focuses on meta-analysis and systematic reviews and considers the different types of SR available, and how to read and critically appraise published SR. 

The module will enable students to critically appraise published evidence-synthesis studies and equip them with tools to independently conduct systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis.

The module examines the evolution of epistemology and critical perspectives in research, exploring their interconnections with educational theory and practice. 

It traces key philosophical influences and, through these lenses, enables students to critically analyse how shifting epistemological paradigms have shaped educational thought, policy, and practice over time.

The module provides students with an in-depth understanding of traditional and emerging methods of educational research. 

It encourages students to critique and adapt inquiry strategies based on their own research context. Students will develop the knowledge and skills to engage intrinsically in inquiry and critical thinking, emphasising the importance of evidence in their area of practice. In addition, the module cultivates proficiency in research appraisal and synthesis. 

Students have the opportunity to consolidate their prior knowledge and appreciation of research and inquiry and apply this understanding to addressing a targeted research question.

The primary purpose of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of educational policy, the policymaking and development process. 

The module explores the importance of policy analysis in education, including the interaction between policy and politics, education legislation, and policy and democracy. It provides students with a deep understanding of how international educational movements can influence change at both national and local school levels. Particular attention is given to the role of international elites in effecting educational change (OECD via PISA) and the impact of the global educational reform movement, etc. The module draws on current policy developments in Initial Teacher Education Early Years Education, Primary and Post-primary curriculum policy, and inclusion, diversity and equity.

The module explores creative and alternative research methodologies, encouraging students to move beyond traditional approaches. Key themes include creative and arts-based research (e.g. visual methods, performance-based inquiry); autoethnography and narrative enquiry; participatory and co-created research (e.g. activist research); and digital and technology-enhanced research. 

Through hands-on workshops, students will experiment with methodological bricolage techniques, such as a/r/tography, visual storytelling, digital ethnography, and play methodologies, including game-based approaches.

The module fosters methodological creativity and critical reflection, equipping students with a diverse research toolkit.

Upon completion of the module, students will have expanded their methodological repertoire and ethical considerations, enabling them to start planning their creative and interdisciplinary research study with confidence.

In this module students will identify an area of practitioner inquiry together with a clear rationale for choosing their area of inquiry from a practice, research and policy perspectives. Students will present their research area to a panel and justify their study and identify areas for further enhancement.

The module guides students in designing ethically sound qualitative research studies, preparing them to identify ethical considerations, navigate ethical challenges and understand research responsibilities. 

Through case studies, virtual discussions, and peer exchanges, students will explore ethical frameworks, informed consent and assent, researcher positionality, conflict of interest, and data sensitivity in diverse contexts, as well as issues of research reliability and trustworthiness.

The purpose of the module is to equip researchers with the skills and knowledge to conduct research that has quantitative methodological rigour and is also ethically responsible. 

While ethical considerations are emphasised throughout the entire research process, the module aims to aid researchers in designing studies that demonstrate a deep awareness of established ethical principles and guidelines. 

Key topics include research quality and ethics, ethical principles, research integrity, and the responsible conduct of quantitative research. Methodological approaches are examined for their ethical implications. The module also addresses data handling and analysis, objectivity, informed consent, data privacy, minimising harm to participants, avoiding bias, ensuring transparency and accuracy in reporting quantitative results, and maintaining respect. The module will enable students to critically examine ethical guidelines and codes of conduct relevant to quantitative research and to explore new ways to conduct quantitative research that considers ethics.

The module equips students with the theoretical foundations and practical skills for collecting and analysing qualitative data within interpretive and critical traditions. 

It explores diverse methodologies, including ethnography, narrative enquiry, action research, and discourse analysis. It also examines the connection between data collection, analysis, theory generation, and representation. 

The module emphasises researcher reflexivity, ethical considerations, and credibility in qualitative research. It prepares students to sufficiently understand and/or conduct qualitative research as appropriate for doctoral research.

The module equips students with skills in collecting, managing, analysing, and interpreting quantitative data in educational settings. It explores key research paradigms in quantitative educational research, emphasising the role of positivism and post-positivism in shaping quantitative inquiry. 

The module will scaffold understanding of empirical reasoning using quantitative data in educational settings. It builds capacity in quantitative data collection methods that gather numerical data through structured and systematic approaches, with particular emphasis on survey design and administration, experimental research (true experiments, quasi-experiments, and correlational studies) and direct measurement and structured observations. 

Students will develop proficiency in handling quantitative data, including coding, organising, and presenting data and findings using statistical software. The module also focuses on statistical analysis, enabling students to derive and support meaningful claims and inferences, apply descriptive and inferential statistics, summarise variables, test hypotheses, and examine relationships within educational datasets.

Students will engage critically with published quantitative evidence and the practical implications of quantitative research that are aligned with personal research projects, while addressing key methodological considerations such as research questions, validity, reliability, and reflexivity.

The module prepares students to analyse, present, and defend their research findings in both academic and public contexts. It equips the students with strategies for effective dissemination, exploring traditional and creative methods such as journal articles, conferences, podcasts, and visual storytelling. 

Through workshops and conference-style forums, the students will refine their arguments, engage with feedback, and develop confidence in articulating their research, ensuring there are well-prepared for their doctoral viva voce examination, and beyond.

In this module students will reflect on their own area of practice, critically engage with the literature with regard to their area of practice and identify areas for practitioner inquiry for their studies.   Students will reflect on the work completed in previous modules over the academic year and apply it to their practice and will consider the impact of the broader environment on their practice.

Students will reflect on the work completed in previous modules over the academic year and apply it to their area of inquiry to ethically, collect data and demonstrate their skills as a researcher.

In this module students will appraise the data gathered over the academic year and critically consider how it will impact practice in the future

In this module the student will appraise their findings in the context of existing theory and practice in their area of inquiry. They will rigorously critique how their findings in their area of inquiry impact on educational theory and practice.