Course description and learning outcomes

This 3-credit, one semester course prepares students for post-graduate research through surveying a variety of designs, methods, and questions, and by exposing students to critical approaches to research design assessment.

1. Determine a research question related to a problem in an applied educational setting. 
2. Survey, weigh, and select research methodologies best suited for examining given research questions.  
3. Demonstrate enhanced critical thinking skills and engage in reflective dialogue.
4. Develop a broad and informed understanding of the research topic, incorporating scholarly literature, practitioner perspectives, and lived experience.

During this 6-credit, two semester course, students conduct a research study, write a thesis, and defend it in front of a thesis examination committee, in a public forum. Students complete this course independently, under the guidance of their supervisor(s) and thesis committee members.

1. Rigorously adhere to specific research methodology and methods relevant to the research question.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the content and intent of ethics in professional educational research endeavours. 
3. Follow the ethical guidelines relevant to the research context.
4. Write a thesis manuscript that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of the literature, methods and procedures for data collection and analyses, results, discussion, conclusions, and list of references following APA 7th edition formatting. 
5. Defend the thesis in front of a thesis examination committee in a public forum.