Research Philosophy and Methodology: Rigour and Contribution to the Field
6 ECTS
Research Philosophy and Methodology: Rigour and Contribution to the Field
Get 70% back via Tax Credit
Module Description
The aim of this unit is to prepare students to be able to successfully manage the challenges of academic research in Educational Leadership by encompassing aspects of research which are of primary significance to all Master students and with a particular specialisation in Educational Leadership.
The unit will give students a sound understanding of many aspects related to Research and will deal with the varying perspectives such as, amongst others, the significance of Research Philosophy, the Literature Review, the skills required to identify research gaps, how to formulate a Research question, different Research methodologies, research rigour, as well as ethical issues.
The unit will also empower students in the creative and metacognitive dimensional aspects of selecting and combining different styles of research and to design and produce their own Research Methodologies to study an area of interest pertaining to their field of study.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must be in possession of:
- A full MQF Level 6 qualification in Education from an accredited institution, together with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience, or
- Any other degree recognised as equivalent for the purpose together with a recognised teaching or education qualification and a minimum of five years’ teaching experience, or
- A master’s degree that qualifies applicants for a Teacher’s Warrant, together with a minimum of five year’s teaching experience, or
- Any other recognised teaching qualification together with at least five years’ teaching experience.
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate a good level of English proficiency through qualifications such as IELTS level 6.0 or any other qualification which the College deems indicative of a good level of English competency.
For those students who wish to pursue a position within a school, kindly note that they would still need a teacher’s warrant.
Target Audience
This programme targets:
- The target audience for the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Innovation includes educators, administrators, policymakers, and professionals in the field of education who aspire to leadership roles or seek to advance their careers by gaining expertise in educational leadership, organisational change, and innovative practices.
- This programme is designed for individuals who are passionate about transforming education systems, improving teaching and learning outcomes, and driving positive change in educational institutions.
- For individuals wishing to engage in leadership positions in schools or at other further and higher education institutions, as well as the Education Directorates, in mind.
- Students completing this programme would be prepared to take on leadership positions in Malta and/or progress to doctoral studies.
Career Paths
The programme prepares for positions such as, but not limited to:
- Assistant Head of School
- Head of School
- Executive Officer Education Directorate
- Head of Department Education Directorate
- Director Higher/Further Education
- Deputy Director Higher/Further Education
- Educational Advisor
- Educational Consultant
- Training and Development Manager
- Curriculum Development Developer and Designer
- Diversity and Inclusion Manager
- Education and engagement officer (for example, of a museum, etc.)
This programme also provides students with the opportunity to pursue further studies at MQF level 8.
How you’ll be assessed
The module comprises of:
- Evening classes for part-time courses.
- Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
- Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
Assessment
Students are required to complete a mini research study, which includes the following key tasks:
- Identify an Area of Interest – Select a topic relevant to their field of study or professional practice.
- Formulate a Hypothesis or Research Question – Develop a clear research focus.
- Choose a Methodology – Decide on the best methodological approach (e.g., case study, action research, ethnography).
- Select Research Methods – Identify the most effective tools to collect data.
- Analyse Data – Apply appropriate analysis techniques to interpret findings.
- Present Findings – Justify research choices using scholarly literature and demonstrate a strong understanding of research methodologies.
- Poster Presentation – Students must visually present their research project as part of the assessment.
80% – Research Project
20% – Poster Presentation
Module Intake Dates
TBA 2025
Learning Outcomes
Competences
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Argue how and why a sound approach to research methodology is the foundation that leads to contribution to knowledge.
- Appraise past and current academic research to identify research gaps.
- Evaluate different research theories, sampling, and data collection methods.
- Formulate a research question and implement qualitative and/or quantitative methods and data analysis.
- Write a formal proposal.
Knowledge
At the end of the module/unit, the learner will have been exposed to the following:
- Argue how and why a sound approach to research methodology is the foundation that leads to contribution to knowledge.
- Appraise past and current academic research to write a literature review and identify research gaps.
- Evaluate different research theories, sampling, and data collection methods.
- Formulate a research question and implement qualitative and/or quantitative methods and data analysis.
- Write a formal proposal.
Skills
At the end of the module/unit, the learner will have acquired the following skills:
- Analyse and synthesise published research.
- Establish an ontological position.
- Compose a written Literature Review.
- Formulate a research question and to design and define own ontological position.
- Apply research theories, sampling and data collection methods effectively.
- Implement qualitative and/or quantitative data collection methods and data analysis.
Module-Specific Learner Skills
The learner will be able to:
- Devise a communication plan.
- Disseminate information relating to the project itself.
Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences
The learner will be able to:
- Research and access the right academic platforms to find the most up-to-date peer-reviewed materials, legislative documents, international reports etc., required for their studies.
- Use digital software to structure, prepare, and present their work effectively.
- Navigate through the online learning platform to find assignments, discussion boards, literature, tutorials, etc.