Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP20138 Social research: sources, presentation and communication |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: OR 80%, OT 20% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aims of the unit are:
1. To introduce students to the range of official and other descriptive statistics produced in the UK (and EU), and the advantages of these as tools for social research. 2. To introduce students to skills in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of material from secondary sources. 3. To prepare students to make use of such material in other courses, placements and in the final year dissertation. Objectives: By the end of the course, students will have: * critically assessed the main sources of official statistics; * applied research skills to analyse secondary data relevant to a specific research problem; * presented the research and its findings in the format of a group presentation; * completed a report based on re-analysis of descriptive statistical data. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students should be able to: * identify a research problem and question; * identify and use existing data sources appropriately to the research question; * make effective presentations of complex information using appropriate visual materials; * work in a team write clear reports in an appropriate format. Skills: * To develop research skills with particular reference to those skills relating to investigation and analysis. * To provide the student with opportunities for collaborative learning with others. * To assist the student to develop the skills required for both autonomous and team work. * To think creatively and analytically. * To communicate an argument. * To evaluate others' arguments and research. * To learn independently and be able to assess own learning needs. * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. * To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources. * To select appropriate and relevant information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. * To utilise problem solving skills. * To develop time-management and administrative skills. * To develop presentation skills and verbal communication. * To develop advanced information and computing technology skills. * To develop team and group working skills. Content: Official statistics, production and use; main sources of UK data (the Census, the General Household Survey, the Family Expenditure Survey) analysing specific topics (e.g. unemployment, family trends, crime, gender, poverty), statistics on the Internet; the ESRC data archive. Use of PowerPoint. |