Core module MA Drama and Theatre Education

This module, which involves a taught element and individual research supervision, provides students with an opportunity for in-depth enquiry into an aspect of drama and theatre education of personal interest to them. Students will produce at the end of the module a dissertation demonstrating their ability to analyse and synthesise relevant literature; to design and implement an appropriate research strategy; and to analyse, reflect upon and report their findings in line with best academic practice within the field. Students will be required to present coherent arguments supported by relevant theoretical evidence.

The module will provide students with training in research methodologies appropriate to the aims and practices of practical and scholarly research in drama education and will support them in carrying out in-depth investigations. The module will:

• Enable students to engage in a critical reading and analysis of research accounts within the field of drama education;
• Introduce students to relevant research paradigms and related ethical issues;
• Equip students with basic skills in a range of established research strategies and techniques, including questionnaires, interviews, and observation of live and recorded classroom practice;
• Prepare students to frame and refine research questions and to design and execute a research project;
• Introduce students to best academic practice in presenting findings that result from scholarship and research.