Republic of the Philippines
Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University
GRADUATE SCHOOL
RT Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Title: Advanced Research in Education
Program: Master of Arts in Teaching Vocational Education (MATVE)
Credit Hours: 3
Course Duration: 54 hours
Course Professor: Vanny D. Cornelio, Ph. D
Course Description:
This course focuses on developing advanced research skills specifically for teaching
professionals in vocational education. It emphasizes classroom-based, action-oriented,
and applied research approaches that address teaching and learning challenges in
vocational and technical settings. Students will learn to conduct rigorous research to
improve instruction, curriculum, assessment practices, and learner outcomes. The course
covers the design and implementation of educational research studies, data collection
and analysis, and ethical considerations, culminating in a research proposal directly
connected to the student's teaching practice or school context.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze current research in vocational teaching and learning.
2. Identify instructional problems and formulate relevant research questions.
3. Design and implement appropriate classroom-based research studies.
4. Apply advanced techniques for data collection and analysis in teaching
environments.
5. Produce a well-structured research proposal that addresses instructional
improvement in vocational education.
Course Outline:
Topic Key Activities
Introduction to Practitioner and Identifying problems in teaching practice; course
1
Classroom-Based Research overview
Positivist, interpretivist, and action research
2 Research Paradigms and Approaches
paradigms
Reviewing Literature with a Teaching Locating and critiquing research related to
3
Lens pedagogy and instruction
Writing research problems that stem from classroom
4 Framing the Research Problem
experience
Action research, case studies, experimental and
5 Research Designs for Teaching Contexts
quasi-experimental designs
Topic Key Activities
Qualitative Approaches in Classroom
6 Classroom observation, interviews, focus groups
Research
Quantitative Methods in Teaching
7 Pre/post-tests, surveys, classroom assessments
Research
8 Mixed Methods in Instructional Settings Combining data types to inform teaching decisions
Selecting students, classes, or programs for research
9 Sampling in Educational Settings
participation
Designing effective surveys, interview guides, rubrics,
Data Collection Tools
10 and observation protocols
Using basic statistics and qualitative coding to
Analyzing Data
11 interpret classroom data
Consent from students and parents; institutional
Research Ethics Procedure
12 review processes
Writing the Research Proposal Structuring proposals for classroom-based projects
13
Proposal Peer Review Feedback and refinement of proposals
14
Final Proposal Submission and Presentation and justification of proposed research
15 Presentation study
Assessment Methods:
Assessment Weight
Class Participation and Reflection Logs 10%
Literature Review Summary 15%
Research Design Assignment 15%
Draft Research Proposal 20%
Final Research Proposal 30%
Proposal Presentation 10%
References:
• Mertler, C. A. (2020). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering
Educators.
• Creswell, J. W. & Guetterman, T. (2020). Educational Research: Planning,
Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
• Cochran-Smith, M. & Lytle, S. (2009). Inquiry as Stance: Practitioner Research for the
Next Generation.
Supplementary Readings and Resources:
• Case studies in vocational education from UNESCO-UNEVOC and ILO
• Sample teacher research reports
• Institutional research ethics guidelines
Prepared by:
Vanny D. Cornelio, LPT, Ph.D in TM
Associate Professor 5
