Research in Education I: Epistemology and Foundations
Code: 45003 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Research in Education | OB | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- David Rodriguez Gomez
- Email:
- david.rodriguez.gomez@uab.cat
Teachers
- Gustavo Alonso Gonzalez Valencia
- Carmen Ruiz Bueno
- Laura Arnau Sabates
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
This module is mandatory within the master program.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This module introduces students to epistemology, foundations and design of research in the field of education.
Learning Outcomes
- CA01 (Competence) Formulate a research problem, justify its relevance and define the research questions and goals.
- CA02 (Competence) Defend criteria of methodological quality.
- CA03 (Competence) Propose innovative designs that are aimed at improvement and based on evidence obtained from research.
- KA01 (Knowledge) Describe the paradigms, approaches and methodological designs of education research, assessing how suited they are to the nature of the research goals and questions.
- KA02 (Knowledge) Understand and appreciate the ethical principles of education research.
- SA01 (Skill) Produce a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, selecting databases and methodologies on the basis of the subject of study and the purpose of the review.
Content
• Introduction to research in education: meaning, contexts and objects
- Epistemological/philosophical framework for educational research
- The nature of scientific knowledge
- Research paradigms. Emerging paradigms
• Statement of the problem, theoretical and contextual frameworks of reference
- Delimitation of the problem. From the identification of the topic to the research question
- The problem in its theoretical context. The literature review: sources of information and theoretical references.
• The research design: the research project
- Decision making: design and completion of the proposal
- Phases of the research process.
• Ethical and deontological aspects in the educational research process
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures | 20 | 0.8 | |
| Public oral presentation | 4 | 0.16 | |
| Workshops / Class exercises | 12 | 0.48 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Final Module paper (readings, final written paper) | 16 | 0.64 | |
| One-to-one and group tutorials | 4 | 0.16 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Personal study activities: supplementary reading, case studies, information research | 94 | 3.76 |
The methodology is consistent with the competences of the MURE, the learning outcomes linked to this module and the evaluation system designed.
It allows the implementation of different types of activities such as debates, research analysis, exhibitions, expert visits, case studies, etc.
Each of the sessions allows combining different types of activities to ensure a competency and global approach to the teaching and learning process.:
The attendance of all the students in the group, involvement, good attitude and participation are elements that ensure a good methodological development.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
The recommendations on gender perspective and inclusion will be pursued.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance and participation in sessions | 10% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, CA03, KA01, KA02, SA01 |
| Classroom activities | 20% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, CA03, KA01, KA02, SA01 |
| Final report | 40% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, CA03, KA01, KA02, SA01 |
| Presentation and monitoring of work | 30% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, CA03, KA01, KA02, SA01 |
The evaluation of the module will be carried out through the activities indicated.
The final grade will be the weighted average of the planned activities. In order to apply this criterion, it will be an essential requirement to obtain at least 5 in each one of the planned evaluation activities.
The oral presentation of the research project will take place during the two sessions prior to the completion of Module 1. The development of the Final Project will be delivered, via Moodle, once the module is finished. The rest of the classroom activities will be distributed throughout the entire module, timed on the start and delivery dates; these dates will appear in the course program that will be accessible on the first day of class.
If a student wants to undertake the Single Assessment modality, they must present, via Moodle, a PORTFOLIO with the set of evidence established as assessment activities, and also make the face-to-face oral presentation of the research project in the two previous sessions at the end of Module 1. The oral presentation will be videotaped.
The return and follow-up of the activities that are part of the qualification will be given in less than 20 days. The student who wants to review the mark must do so within 15 days of its publication in the tutoring schedule that the teaching staff has established for this subject and that is part of the program of this module. Class attendance is mandatory. In order to obtain a positive final assessment, students must have attended a minimum of 80% of the classes.
The recovery of the Final Work of the Module and/or of some classroom activities (in the case of the students who are assessed continuously) or of the Portfolio (in the case of the students who are undertaking the Single Assessment) it is planned to be carried out within a maximum period of one month after the end of the module. The oral presentation (both if it is the continuous evaluation or the Single one) will not be recoverable.
The copy or plagiarism in the case of the final work and/or class assigments, is a crime that involves suspending the subject. An activity will be considered "copied" when reproduces all or part of the work of one / another partner. It will be considered that a work or activity is "plagiarized" when a part of a text by an author is presented as its own without citing the sources, regardless of whether the original sources are paper or digital.
It’s necessary for the student to show a good general communicative competence, both orally and in writing, and a good command of thevehicular language or languages that appear in the teaching guide. Therefore, in all activities (individual or in group), linguistic correction, writing and formal aspects of presentation will be taken into account. Students must be able to express themselves fluently and correctly and must show a high degree of understanding of academic texts.An activity can be returned (not evaluated) or failed if the teaching staff considers that it does not meet these requirements. In addition, before submitting any activity or exam, the student must verify that he or she has correctly written the sources, notes, citations and bibliographic references following the APA regulations.
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the development of the work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution by the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may result in a penalty on the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases. Specific checks may be carried out to ensure authorship and the acquisition of skills in cases of suspected academic fraud.
From the second enrolment onwards, the assessment of the module may consist, if the student so requests, of a synthesis test (in accordance with point 2 of Article 267 of the Academic Regulations of the UAB).
Bibliography
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Arnau, L., & Sala, J. (2023). La construcción de un redactado científico: normas de estilo, pasos a seguir y checklist de autocorrección. https://ddd.uab.cat/record/274378
Arnau, L., & Sala, J. (2020). La revisión de la literatura científica: pautas, procedimientos y criterios de calidad. https://ddd.uab.cat/record/222109
Bisquerra, R. (coord.) (2004). Metodología de la investigación educativa. La Muralla.
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Software
No software is used
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAULm) Classroom practices (master) | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | afternoon |
| (PAULm) Classroom practices (master) | 2 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | afternoon |