Overview
This microcredential provides the grounding required for work or study in realist research and evaluation. It introduces key terminology in realist research and differences from common meanings of those terms; assumptions about the nature of reality and knowledge underpinning realist approaches; key differences between realist, empiricist and constructivist philosophies of research; realist understanding of causation and heuristics for causation; differences between realist and other forms of program theory; and the structure of realist research and evaluation questions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the relevance of philosophy of science to research methodology and methods.
- Explain key concepts and terminology in a realist philosophy of science.
- Explain a realist understanding of causation in open systems.
- Apply realist philosophical assumptions to explain, in general terms, how policies and programs contribute to different outcomes in different contexts.
Assessment overview
| Assessment task | Value (of total mark) | Related learning outcome/s |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly assignment 1: 500 words. How would you describe your own 'philosophical' assumptions about research before you began this course? Is there anything you are starting to reconsider as a result of your work in the course so far? If so, what are you reconsidering and why? | 10% |
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| Weekly assignment 2: 500 words. What implications does realist ontology have for your evaluand/object of research? What implications does a realist understanding of causation have for your research or evaluation project? | 10% |
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| Weekly assignment 3: 500 words. What implications does realist epistemology have for the methods you might use in your research project? | 10% |
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| Weekly assignment 4: 500 words. What implications does the structure of realist theory have for how you might go about developing initial program theory for your evaluand/research topic? | 10% |
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| Realist Philosophy essay:1000 word assignment. Explain and justify your choice of a realist approach for your research or evaluation project. Explain the implications of using a realist approach for your proposed methods. Fully referenced in APA style. | 60% |
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Availability options
OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.