Competences

• a)Design and lead an original research study that strategically address identified research problems and research gaps related to primary education;
• b)Construct and substantiate a coherent and methodologically sound research proposal that demonstrates conceptual clarity and academic rigour;
• c)Critically synthesise theoretical frameworks and contemporary literature to define and justify research areas, questions, and hypotheses relevant to primary education;
• d)Select and operationalise an appropriate philosophical framework and research design to investigate and interpret issues related to teaching and learning practices in primary education;
• e)Implement and evaluate qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research methodology, ensuring methodological coherence and reliability;
• f)Systematically interpret and integrate qualitative and quantitative data, applying analytical frameworks to generate evidence-based insights;
• g)Uphold and monitor ethical integrity, academic responsibility, and researcher reflexivity throughout all the stages of the research process;
• h)Synthesise and translate research findings into actionable recommendations that advance educational practice, innovation, and policy in primary education.

Knowledge

• • a)Critically examine key research concepts, including ontology, epistemology and research paradigms within a philosophical framework;
  • b)Differentiate and appraise between qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research approaches;
  • c)Evaluate a range of research tools and data collection techniques;
  • d)Formulate coherent research questions, problem statements, hypotheses, distinguishing between their roles in research design and rationale;
  • e)Critically evaluate the concepts of validity, reliability and generalisability, and their influence on the quality and credibility of educational research;
  • f)Examine systematically diverse research designs, including sequential designs, case studies and action or reflective research, assessing their methodological strengths and limitations;
  • g)Appraise the principles of correlational research and its applications in education;
  • h)Determine and justify appropriate sampling techniques for various research studies;
  • i)Evaluate the ethical responsibilities of researchers, including informed consent and anonymity;
  • j)Critically analyse the role of researcher reflexivity and positionality in ensuring unbiased and ethical research;
  • k)Define plagiarism and describe strategies to avoid academic misconduct;
  • l)Critically connect theoretical research paradigms with practical classroom inquiry to bridge research and practice.

Skills

• • a)Critically appraise the strengths and limitations of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research;
  • b)Systematically synthesis literature, establishing a clear link between research questions, theoretical frameworks and findings;
  • c)Differentiate between various research methodologies and select the most appropriate one based on research objectives;
  • d)Apply and evaluate ethical principles with scholarly sensitivity, ensuring transparency, participant protection, and research integrity;
  • e)Design and align research tools to specific research questions, ensuring validity, reliability, and methodological congruence;
  • f)Organise and manage a research project efficiently, optimizing time and resources;
  • g)Conduct a comprehensive literature review, establishing a clear link between research questions, theoretical frameworks and findings;
  • h)Pilot a research study to refine methodologies before full implementation;
  • i)Differentiate between various research methodologies and select the most appropriate one based on research objectives;
  • j)Apply a critical and analytical approach to in-depth knowledge of a chosen research topic in primary education;
  • k)Present limitations in research and their impact on findings.