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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


SP50125: Social research (dissertation) project 2

Click here for further information Credits: 45
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims & Learning Objectives:
Aims:
By using a contrasting method to that employed in Social Research Project 1 (i.e. either quantitative or qualitative), a process of supervised research study will be used aimed at refining and further developing understanding of:
* how to define a research question
* make methodological choices
* design a research inquiry
* operationalise at least one quantitative or qualitative method
* analyse data
* write a project report. Students will become familiar with the practicalities of undertaking these activities within limited time and other resource constraints. Learning
Objectives: By the end of the course the students should have further advanced: Knowledge and understanding of
* the kinds of constraints under which research is carried out
* the connectedness of different stages of the research process
* the importance of selecting methods of data collection and analysis that are appropriate to a topic and the practical constraints of the investigation
* organising findings and other materials in a systematic and readable form. Intellectual skills
* Ability to recognise and select research strategies in a relevant branch of the social sciences
* Ability to recognise and take account of relevant philosophical and methodological issues associated with particular methods
* Ability to identify how aspects of methods contribute to validation of results
* Ability to identify features of methods that might weaken validity of results
* Familiarity with the arguments, state of research and key concepts in the topic area of their research
* Ability to interpret the significance of findings from relevant sources of quantitative or qualitative evidence. Professional practice skills
* Understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different methods and the need to report these
* Awareness of the types of skills needed to access different sources of data and the activities necessary to access these.
* Ability to produce written reports to optimal standards of clarity, economy, and comprehensability
* Understanding of relationships between nature of methods and the kinds of results and discourse arising.

Content:
Any social research area for which adequate levels of supervision can be offered.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

SP50125 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.