A bridge to educational research

Fiona McMullen

The Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Research Methods provides a bridge for students who wish to undertake higher degree programs in Special Education.

Typically, the majority of students who undertake the certificate are looking for entry to the Master of Special Education by thesis. Admission to this program is subject to performance in the Certificate. Students with an existing coursework Masters program who complete the Certificate with a high standard of performance, may be eligible for direct entry into a doctoral program.

“The certificate is a sampler, it gives students the chance to put their toes in the water and find out if research is really for them, work out what commitments are involved and perhaps even develop a topic,” says Postgraduate Coordinator, Dr Mark Carter. “If they find they are performing well and it suits them, they can go on to the research degree.”

The Certificate takes the form of one coursework unit and two project units, taking an average of 12–18 months to complete.

“The primary function is to provide students with a background in research methods and its application specifically to special education,” says Carter. “The course parallels that which is offered by the other departments in the Australian Centre for Educational Studies, but allows students to focus on relevant methodology and its application, through the project they undertake.”

During the coursework unit, students learn library and database search methods, writing style, referencing and research methodology. Where possible, the assignments in the coursework unit are geared to the student’s specific area of interest.

The two project units give students an introduction to the supervisory process. They learn what it is like to be supervised, but the scale of the projects is small and manageable. Students are required to negotiate with an academic staff member who can provide supervision for these independent units before applying to undertake the Certificate.

A literature review and pilot study that is in line with the student’s future research, form the basis of the project units. At the end of each unit students must also submit a publication-ready journal article.

“We aim for students to produce papers that are of a quality where it would be acceptable for a journal,” explains Carter. “The reason we use this format is that a lot of material that comes out of these two units is published.”

Fiona McMullen commenced her Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods in mid-2004 with the aim of doing her Masters by thesis. McMullen works at MULTILIT (Making Up Lost Time in Literacy), based in Macquarie’s Special Education Centre, which conducts a number or programs for low progress readers.

“I am in a really fortunate position in that I’m working in the area that I’m studying,” says McMullen. “I’m undertaking this certificate to further my knowledge professionally and personally which will ensure what I am doing is best practice.”

As a full time worker, McMullen particularly likes the flexibility of the course, much of which is delivered on-line. “If you want to get into a research area I would recommend this certificate,” says McMullen. “The knowledge that I have gained has been invaluable.”

Final applications for the Postgraduate Certificate in Special Education close at the end of December. For further information contact Mark Carter: mark.carter@mq.edu.au or Sharyn Gilkes: Sharyn.Gilkes@mq.edu.au

December 2004