AC6762 - Fundamentals of research methodology

You will experience a variety of teaching and learning methods on this module which you can use to link theory to your practice. Your learning will occur through lectures, seminars and independent study. However, the range of methods will also include online learning, group work and discussion including campus delivery. The assessment will be bring together the knowledge and skills learned in order to justify the use of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research approaches in real-world research.

You will be supported through regular feedback from your tutor and peers, within the seminar and discussion format of specific teaching sessions and in tutorials. Peer review and formative feedback will be utilised throughout the delivery and during formative assessment. In addition, a discussion board for your module will be established on Northumbria University’s eLearning platform ‘Blackboard Ultra’ (BBU), BBU also allows remote access to materials and aids for module students to access (populated, managed and kept up to date by your module tutor). You will be supported throughout the programme by your personal tutor.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Critically examine quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method theories, approaches, and methodologies.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of research theories, approaches, and methodologies in real-world research studies.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Articulate skills necessary to recognise and justify research theories, approaches, and methodologies.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate research methodologies to real-world research scenarios.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Critically reflect on your own learning, ethical and legal frameworks and the contribution of research to knowledge in your field.

Formative Assessment:
10-minute group oral presentation (3 slides total), 5 minutes Q&A session.
You will be asked to choose a real-world research topic. Using this research topic, your group will develop three potential research methodologies to apply to the research topic: one quantitative, one qualitative, one mixed methods.
For each approach you will provide a:
Research aim
Research approach
Justification of choice (i.e., its relevance to the area, and the anticipated outcomes)

Summative Assessment:
You will choose one real-world research topic and from this, you will develop one research study methodology which will be either quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods in a 3000wd essay (MLO 1-5)

For this study you will need to provide an aim and an approach, with a justification of your choice (i.e., its relevance to the area, and the anticipated outcomes). In addition, you will critically reflect on the decisions you have made and examine the contribution to your related field.

Summative tutor feedback will be provided with the final assignment mark.

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This module will develop your knowledge to recognise and justify the use of multiple research theories, approaches, and methodologies. The module offers a flexible, blended-learning approach, and you will participate in both face-to-face seminars and lectures.
Being research-rich, you will engage with, and learn from, research experts at the forefront of academia and practice. Tutor and peer feedback will be given throughout the sessions, and through our e-learning portal (Blackboard Ultra).

The module covers:

• Quantitative approaches and research design
• Qualitative methodologies and research design
• Mixed-method approaches and research design

By the end of this module, you will have developed the necessary skills to allow you to recognise and justify the fundamentals of different research approaches, methodologies, and designs.