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Overview

This will act as formal preparation for the 60-credit Research Project: Music Education, which can take a range of forms, including: dissertation; portfolio of educational materials; series of demonstration lessons (online content).

The module will explore current research methodologies and methods and prepare students to undertake the extended summer project.

Students will be introduced to research techniques and methodologies in preparation for the extended summer project. This will include topics such as: research essentials; reviewing literature; replicating studies; finding data; methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed); methods of data acquisition; research ethics; conducting interviews; compiling questionnaires; planning an extended project; academic writing style and scholarly conventions.

As part of the module students will submit their project proposal for the extended project (core 60-credit Research Project: Music Education), as well as any necessary ethical approval.

Assessment Strategy

Pass: C– to C+ (50% to 59%) The crucial achievement is demonstration of a sound grasp of issues relating to music education. However, the mark will be limited to this level by such things as: unoriginal application of a pre-defined methodology, which results in a failure to address its limitations with regard to the subject matter concerned; heavy reliance on and unquestioned use of secondary literature; inability to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant; poor expression; incompetent bibliographical and footnoting skills. In relevant assignments the lack of a bibliography will merit an automatic fail.

Merit: B– to B+ (60%-69%) The distinguishing quality is the demonstration of a robust understanding of issues relating to music education. The work will therefore demonstrate the ability to develop an original and sophisticated argument without intrinsic contradictions and inconsistencies; the application of a robust methodology, ability to diagnose and remedy problems and contradictions within established approaches to teaching music performance; effective communication of ideas and argument.

Distinction: A– and A (70%-83%) The distinguishing quality is the demonstration of novel and original insights into music education. Work of this category will typically result from: the aggregation of a sizeable body of previously unresearched information; the application of a range of methodologies; the solution of challenging problems or identification of hidden flaws in established approaches in music education; excellent skills of communication.

Distinction: A+ to A** (84%-100%) Work at this level is of a standard that attains or closely approaches professional standards and has the potential to re-define the area or methodological debate. The work will demonstrate in a consistent manner all of the features listed in the 70%-84% category, and will be of such a quality that it either stands up to publication in a scholarly journal in its submitted state, or demonstrates skills of model professional quality.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate awareness of methodological and ethical issues pertaining to data collection and analysis.

• Demonstrate the ability to critique research questions and the methodologies and methods used to address them.

• Demonstrate the ability to produce work written and structured in an appropriate academic style.

• Generate research questions and hypotheses relevant to issues in music education research.