Investigating Social Worlds
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| SOCI1015 | Sociology and Social Policy | 1 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- SOCI1015
- School
- Sociology and Social Policy
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module introduces students to the nature of social research through exploration of the fundamental philosophical, methodological and ethical debates on 'how to think of social research' and 'how to do social research'. The module includes discussions of the primary features, functions and characteristics of social research, the distinctions between social research and other modes of investigating and producing knowledge about the social world and the steps typically involved in conducting social research. Indicative content also includes: social research paradigms methods of data collection in the social sciences such as surveys, social experiments, interviews, visual methods, group discussions and observation and issues of ethics, status, power and reflexivity in social research.
The module presupposes that students will have rudimentary or no prior knowledge and experience of these foundational social research debates, philosophies, traditions and methods. Dialogical and, where feasible, participatory teaching and learning methods will therefore be employed at lectures, seminars and workshops to enhance students' understanding and their capacity to accurately articulate the basics of these topics.
Target Students
Available only to level 1 students on programmes in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, level 1 students on BA Liberal Arts and exchange students.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: 1,500 words.
- 60% Coursework 2: 2,500 words.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The module provides foundational understanding of the nature, logic, functions, features, strengths and limitations of social research. It seeks to equip students with broad understanding of the key debates surrounding how to think about social research and how to do social research. The module will enable students to become more aware of the stages involved in conducting social research, the different research designs and methods employed by social researchers, the interlocking philosophical, ethical and methodological issues underpinning these and the relevance of identity and power in social research. By the end of the module, the diligent student will be equipped with the basic skills and confidence to design or develop their own research project, critically evaluate research projects, to articulate in verbal and written formats an accurate understanding of the areas of social research addressed by the module. The diligent student will have a solid foundational understanding of social research and will be equipped with basic understanding, skills and confidence to prepare them for the design or development of their own research project.Learning Outcomes
Students should develop an ability to:
- Provide fundamental explanations of the nature, functions, features, strengths and limitations of social research.
- Explain different social research traditions and the differences between them.
- Identify appropriate research methods for particular research questions and settings.
- Clearly articulate the stages involved in conducting social research, the different research designs and methods employed by social researchers.
- Show understanding of the major ethical, reflexive and political issues in social research and how they can be addressed.
- Critically assess social research outputs.