Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP50122 Comparative research methods |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aims of the teaching sessions are to:
* review, explain and evaluate the key paradigms and methodologies of comparative social research. * explain the key methodological questions which arise in comparative social research. * introduce and evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques designed to address methodological issues arising from comparative social research. * explain, review and evaluate the adoption of particular research techniques and methods in comparative social research. * explore the relationship of paradigms and methodological debates to application and adoption of particular research techniques. * introduce the key international data sources available for comparative social research. * assess the impact of practical issues in comparative research on the methodological robustness of research. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students will have: * In-depth knowledge of the major methodological approaches and debates in comparative social research. * In-depth knowledge of a number of research methods and techniques used to conduct comparative social research, and their strengths and weaknesses. * Critical awareness of the major established studies in comparative social research and the strengths and weaknesses of their methodologies. * Detailed and critical knowledge of one major established piece of comparative social research. * Familiarity with the major international data sources for comparative social policy research. * Critical awareness of the impact of the specific practical constraints that arise in comparative social research. Skills: By the end of the unit, students will be able to: * Explain and evaluate the main methodological and paradigmatic debates in comparative social research, and the methodological questions they address. * Explain the significance of these debates for informing methodological choices when conducting comparative research. * Evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative comparative research techniques, and their suitability for addressing different research questions. * Evaluate established studies in comparative research and their methodological techniques, taking account of the particular practical difficulties attached to comparative social research. * Access and use appropriate international data sources when undertaking comparative social research. * Make appropriate methodological choices when designing a comparative research project. Content: This unit deals with the rationale for comparative social policy research, the data sources available and problems of comparability. It provides students with the relevant techniques, it enables them to apply these techniques to empirical data and its reviews the use of these techniques in major established studies. |