Understanding the fundamentals of research and research methods to empower assessment practices

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Are my assessments fit-for-purpose? Can I trust my assessment results for their different uses? Can my assessments be improved? Are the changes to my assessments having the desired outcome?

These are some examples of important questions that research can help you answer.

By understanding what good quality research is and how to conduct it, you will be able to gather and use research evidence effectively to inform decisions about your assessment design, improvements, and redevelopment.

Our new series of three 2 hour interactive workshops will provide you with a balance of theory and practice so you can further empower your assessments.

Over three weeks, researchers from Cambridge University Press & Assessment will share key principles and approaches they follow when carrying out their research.

Throughout this workshop series, you will develop your knowledge of research purposes, methods and good practice that are relevant to the assessment context.

You will also have opportunities to practise applying your research knowledge, helping you to develop your research skills. Each session builds on the learning from the last, with a chance to implement and reflect on the content during the time in between sessions.

The workshops have been designed as an introduction to research and research methods for anyone who has a role in supporting or improving assessment practices. You will explore a broad range of research and data types (including common qualitative and quantitative approaches such as surveys and focus groups), and critically reflect on when and why you would use each one.

This workshop series will give you the understanding and practical skills to plan and conduct your own research and to use research evidence more effectively, whether you’re new to research, or more experienced.

Workshop dates

Course outline

By the end of the three-week training course (three 2-hour workshops), you will be equipped with fundamental principles about research and you will have practised applying your research skills. This will help you to use research to support and improve your assessment practices.

• Session 1 - Explores the different types of research that are relevant to assessment practitioners, and the different ways that research can support assessment practices. You will also consider how to design the research questions to support the purposes of the research.
• Session 2 - Explores the practical aspects of conducting and using research. This will include exploring common research methods useful for the assessment context. You will learn about good practice in various aspects of research, including design, ethics, data management and data analysis.
• Session 3 - Provides opportunities to bring together the content from Session 1 and Session 2 by practising your research skills. This will include activities to practise designing your own study and also to critique published research.

Key learning outcomes

By the end of the three workshops, you will be able to:

1. Distinguish between different purposes and aims of research.
2. Identify ways by which research may support your assessment practices.
3. Recognise a range of research methods that are relevant to assessment practices.
4. Apply good practice when conducting your own research.
5. Critically reflect on your own research activities.
6. Critically evaluate other researchers’ studies.