Module Information
Module Identifier
GS17100
Module Title
Researching the Social World
Academic Year
2020/2021
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Mutually Exclusive
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Written project report (1500 words plus supplementary material) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Written project report (1500 words plus supplementary material) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written project report (1500 words plus supplementary material) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written project report (1500 words plus supplementary material) | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
2. Demonstrate analytical capacities, through generating a wide range of datasets.
3. Exhibit the ability to work independently and in groups.
4. Demonstrate a more nuanced grasp of what constitutes data within Sociology and related disciplines.
5. Integrate skills in data acquisition, analysis and interpretation to undertake effective research in Sociology and related disciplines.
6. Demonstrate an appreciation of mixed research methods.
7. Organise and synthesise research findings effectively in a written report.
Brief description
This module is designed to provide students with the fundamental skills and techniques required for the acquisition, analysis and presentation of data about the social world.
The module comprises five research projects which are intended to give students practical and applied experience of generating and analysing a wide range of both primary and secondary data sets. These projects are prescribed, giving students experience of data collection and analysis from a breadth of topics in Sociology related disciplines.
The first project provides students with direct experience of independent field work whereby they must collect observation data about the social world and begin to use basic descriptive statistical analysis. The second project introduces students to secondary data analysis and data presentation. The third project develops students mapping skills. The fourth project will introduce students to more complex statistical methods, issues of sampling and the use of quantitative and qualitative data. The final project will require students to synthesise the research skills they have developed through the module.
The aim of the module is to give students a firm grounding in research about the social world conducted in Sociology and related disciplines, but without the pressure of having to devise a research question which will be advanced in year 2 through practical modules and dissertation preparation.
The module comprises five research projects which are intended to give students practical and applied experience of generating and analysing a wide range of both primary and secondary data sets. These projects are prescribed, giving students experience of data collection and analysis from a breadth of topics in Sociology related disciplines.
The first project provides students with direct experience of independent field work whereby they must collect observation data about the social world and begin to use basic descriptive statistical analysis. The second project introduces students to secondary data analysis and data presentation. The third project develops students mapping skills. The fourth project will introduce students to more complex statistical methods, issues of sampling and the use of quantitative and qualitative data. The final project will require students to synthesise the research skills they have developed through the module.
The aim of the module is to give students a firm grounding in research about the social world conducted in Sociology and related disciplines, but without the pressure of having to devise a research question which will be advanced in year 2 through practical modules and dissertation preparation.
Content
The module is organised around five research projects, each designed to progressively advance students' research skills.
Project 1: An introduction to observation and field work concerning the social world. Observation data will be collected and analysed using basic descriptive statistics.
Project 2: An introduction to using secondary data sources. This will develop students' graph-making abilities and their capacity to produce clear and effective visualisation of data.
Project 3: This project will advance students' skills and knowledge through incorporating a wider set of both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as statistical testing.
Project 4: Students will be provided with a dataset from which they will have to choose the most appropriate method of analysis, interpretation and presentation. This will involve presenting this evidence in the form of a project report, situating their methods and conclusions within wider academic debated and providing them with the necessary skills to effectively undertake independent research on the social world.
Project 5: An introduction to ethics, positionality and self-reflexivity. Students will be encouraged to reflect on how their own identity as researchers impinges on all aspects of the research process. Students will write a brief report evaluating how their approach to project 4 was influenced by these kinds of considerations.
Project 1: An introduction to observation and field work concerning the social world. Observation data will be collected and analysed using basic descriptive statistics.
Project 2: An introduction to using secondary data sources. This will develop students' graph-making abilities and their capacity to produce clear and effective visualisation of data.
Project 3: This project will advance students' skills and knowledge through incorporating a wider set of both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as statistical testing.
Project 4: Students will be provided with a dataset from which they will have to choose the most appropriate method of analysis, interpretation and presentation. This will involve presenting this evidence in the form of a project report, situating their methods and conclusions within wider academic debated and providing them with the necessary skills to effectively undertake independent research on the social world.
Project 5: An introduction to ethics, positionality and self-reflexivity. Students will be encouraged to reflect on how their own identity as researchers impinges on all aspects of the research process. Students will write a brief report evaluating how their approach to project 4 was influenced by these kinds of considerations.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | The use of statistical analysis, including discriptive statistics, quantifying sampling error and introductory inferential statistics. |
| Communication | Students will be required to present written work in an appropriate academic register. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Independent reading, self-directed learning and independent project work. |
| Information Technology | Compentency in using the internet for sources of information, word processing, data analysis and presentation in Excel. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Many of the skills developed through this module are transferable to non-academic contexts and students are made aware of their wider applicability. |
| Problem solving | The ability to identify and locate appropriate information sources about the social world. Statistical treatment and interpretation of data. |
| Research skills | Compentency in using the internet for sources of information, word processing, data analysis and presentation in Excel. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The context and process of sociological research, the aquisition, analysis and presentation of data about the social world, key concepts in Sociology. |
| Team work | While not assessed, students will undertake projects in groups and group discussion will be a key feature of practicals and workshops. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4