EUQ661 Introduction to Education Research
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | EUQ661 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | EUN691, EUZ691, EUN672, EUZ672 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $592 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,468 |
| International unit fee | $4,740 |
Unit Outline: Session 1 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | EUQ661 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | EUN691, EUZ691, EUN672, EUZ672 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the foundations of research in education including qualitative, quantitative and mixed research approaches. It will cover empirical research, the concepts of research design, common methods, trustworthiness and validity and ethical considerations in education research. This unit will strengthen your understanding of research in education and your ability to assess the quality and trustworthiness of research in terms of design, methodology, rigour and ethical approach. This unit is designed to support you to be a critical consumer of research, enabling you to determine the value, relevance and implications of research for your professional practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Discuss and integrate research methods, principles and scholarly literature and apply it to educational contexts and scenarios.
- Source and evaluate scholarly and professional literature related to professional educational practice and research.
- Plan for and reflect on ethical research and inquiry related to educational issues, practices and emerging technologies.
Content
The content covered within this unit includes:
- introduction to qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research
- Introduction to research conceptualisation and design
- introduction to a variety of methods commonly used in social research such as case studies, surveys and experimental and quasi-experimental designs
- ethical considerations in research in education
- evaluating the quality and trustworthiness of research, including research sourced through GenAI
- research protocols (research ethics, integrity, and GenAI)
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Learning activities
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- opportunity for formative feedback in this unit will include feedback on a learning activity related to assessment task 1
- self-reflection on learning and personal and professional experiences
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- collaboration with professional colleagues
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
Assessment
Overview
There are two pieces of assessment for this foundation research unit:
1. Sourcing and evaluating quality literature - this task draws on research principles to evaluate the quality of research in an education context and reflect on the use of GenAI in education research.
2. Critique - You will select from a range of educational research projects. You will present a critical appraisal of this project according to a set of research principles based on unit content and in relation to your own context.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Prompting Copilot to review research
This task involves the use of Microsoft Copilot to generate a critique of selected research articles, followed by an essay in which you analyse and critique Copilot’s output. Use the content from this unit for this assignment, which assesses your learning from Modules 1-4. The essay forms the assessable component.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Critique
You will choose a real-life educational research project from a selected list and critically appraise your selected literature. You will pay special attention to the project features you consider important for the proposed research to take place in your own context, including identifying any challenges or opportunities that might emerge, and provide advice on the feasibility of the research in your context.
You will record a 10-minute professional conversation with a colleague or stakeholder, and then deliver a 10-minute live presentation as verified identity assessment (VIA) including a Q&A session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
The following prescribed text is available online through the QUT library and for purchase in the QUT Book Shop. Other resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Creswell, J. W. (2021). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Sydney: Pearson Australia.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EQ71 Master of Education
- Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of education (CLO1.2).
Relates to: ULO1 - Demonstrate cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesize complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice in education (CLO2.2).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret educational theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences (CLO2.3).
Relates to: ULO3
EQ74 Master of Education
- Discuss, evaluate, and integrate advanced discipline-specific knowledge related to professional educational practice and research.
Relates to: ULO1, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique - Reflect on and reflexively analyse own practice, integrating theoretical frameworks to improve professional knowledge and practice.
Relates to: ULO3, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique - Apply theories and research methods to ethically explore educational issues/phenomena and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique
Unit Outline: Session 3 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | EUQ661 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | EUN691, EUZ691, EUN672, EUZ672 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the foundations of research in education including qualitative, quantitative and mixed research approaches. It will cover empirical research, the concepts of research design, common methods, trustworthiness and validity and ethical considerations in education research. This unit will strengthen your understanding of research in education and your ability to assess the quality and trustworthiness of research in terms of design, methodology, rigour and ethical approach. This unit is designed to support you to be a critical consumer of research, enabling you to determine the value, relevance and implications of research for your professional practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Discuss and integrate research methods, principles and scholarly literature and apply it to educational contexts and scenarios.
- Source and evaluate scholarly and professional literature related to professional educational practice and research.
- Plan for and reflect on ethical research and inquiry related to educational issues, practices and emerging technologies.
Content
The content covered within this unit includes:
- introduction to qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research
- Introduction to research conceptualisation and design
- introduction to a variety of methods commonly used in social research such as case studies, surveys and experimental and quasi-experimental designs
- ethical considerations in research in education
- evaluating the quality and trustworthiness of research, including research sourced through GenAI
- research protocols (research ethics, integrity, and GenAI)
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Learning activities
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- opportunity for formative feedback in this unit will include feedback on a learning activity related to assessment task 1
- self-reflection on learning and personal and professional experiences
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- collaboration with professional colleagues
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
Assessment
Overview
There are two pieces of assessment for this foundation research unit:
1. Sourcing and evaluating quality literature - this task draws on research principles to evaluate the quality of research in an education context and reflect on the use of GenAI in education research.
2. Critique - You will select from a range of educational research projects. You will present a critical appraisal of this project according to a set of research principles based on unit content and in relation to your own context.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Prompting Copilot to review research
This task involves the use of Microsoft Copilot to generate a critique of selected research articles, followed by an essay in which you analyse and critique Copilot’s output. Use the content from this unit for this assignment, which assesses your learning from Modules 1-4. The essay forms the assessable component.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Critique
You will choose a real-life educational research project from a selected list and critically appraise your selected literature. You will pay special attention to the project features you consider important for the proposed research to take place in your own context, including identifying any challenges or opportunities that might emerge, and provide advice on the feasibility of the research in your context.
You will record a 10-minute professional conversation with a colleague or stakeholder, and then deliver a 10-minute live presentation as verified identity assessment (VIA) including a Q&A session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
The following prescribed text is available online through the QUT library and for purchase in the QUT Book Shop. Other resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Creswell, J. W. (2021). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Sydney: Pearson Australia.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EQ71 Master of Education
- Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of education (CLO1.2).
Relates to: ULO1 - Demonstrate cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesize complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice in education (CLO2.2).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret educational theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences (CLO2.3).
Relates to: ULO3
EQ74 Master of Education
- Discuss, evaluate, and integrate advanced discipline-specific knowledge related to professional educational practice and research.
Relates to: ULO1, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique - Reflect on and reflexively analyse own practice, integrating theoretical frameworks to improve professional knowledge and practice.
Relates to: ULO3, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique - Apply theories and research methods to ethically explore educational issues/phenomena and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Prompting Copilot to review research , Critique