This unit introduces students to research in education looking at classical research methods in education as well as more recent approaches to improve educational outcomes. The ethics of research within classrooms will be considered in light of codes of ethics, practice and statements on human research. Students will apply their learning to engage with recent research in their area of specialisation with regards to content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and highly effective teaching practices. Topics: * An introduction to research epistemologies, social constructionist approaches and positivist methods. This introduction includes an overview of the research-practice nexus illustrated through recent examples of emerging educational agendas. * The process of proposal construction and publishing results. * Sampling theories, representativeness, authenticity, reliability and validity, statistical and other forms of significance. * Research tools and aids * Survey instruments * N-Vivo programs * SPSS * R * An introduction to classical and more deliberately educationally focused research methodologies: * Part I: Qualitative Approaches * Part II: Quantitative Approaches * Part III: Mixed Method approaches. * Key indicators of educational effectiveness and school based methodologies for improving educational outcomes. * Participant research, emancipatory research and justice. * The National Statement on human research and the logic of research ethics.