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    Overview

    Provides training in the methods necessary for understanding and conducting quantitative research in education.

    This paper is designed to help master's and doctoral students acquire the necessary quantitative skills to design studies and analyse the data gathered. We take a very hands-on approach, working from examples and focusing on using statistical computer packages in addition to statistical techniques.

    About this paper

    Paper title Quantitative Research Methods in Education
    Subject Education
    EFTS 0.1667
    Points 20 points
    Teaching period Not offered in 2024 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,240.75
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Limited to
    PGCertEdLn, PGDipEdLn, MEdLn, BA(Hons), PGDipArts, MA(Coursework), MA(Thesis)
    Notes
    Students outside of the approved programmes, with 54 300-level EDUC points, may be admitted with approval from the Dean of the College of Education.
    Eligibility
    No prior quantitative background is required for the paper, just a willingness to work hard in the paper.
    Contact

    postgrad.education@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff
    Professor Jeffrey Smith
    Professor Lisa Smith
    Paper Structure
    The paper is taught in a small class/workshop fashion. We work together on analysing real data sets, using data collected through the class when possible.
    Textbooks
    Pedhazur, E. J., and Schmelkin, L. P. (2013). Measurement, design, and analysis: An integrated approach. Psychology Press.
    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Scholarship, Communication, Information literacy, Research.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Generic attributes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will be able to:

    • Understand the role of quantitative research in education and how it relates to other approaches to research
    • Design research studies that provide powerful tests of underlying hypotheses and are resistant to alternative interpretations
    • Determine the appropriate statistical analysis and execute it using statistical packages for the computer
    • Appropriately interpret and present findings based on their analysis
    • Read the research literature concerning quantitative studies in education

    Specific attributes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will:

    • Learn to critically examine the ethical issues underlying various approaches to quantitative research, particularly in working with schoolchildren
    • Be able to choose among various research designs in terms of which will provide the strongest test of a given hypothesis and which will be the most reasonable to actually execute
    • Understand the process through which observations are turned into quantifiable variables, including various approaches to establishing measurement reliability and validity
    • Calculate various statistical analyses using the computer
    • Understand the process of re-analysing data based upon preliminary results
    • Be able to present findings in a fashion appropriate for professional presentation and publication

    Timetable

    Not offered in 2024

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard
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