MY400 Half Unit
Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design
This information is for the 2014/15 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Benjamin Lauderdale Col.8.10
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Social Research Methods. This course is available on the MSc Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in Gender (Research) and MSc in Statistics (Research). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Research students please see MY500.
Course content
Research design necessitates trade offs between the strengths and weaknesses of different feasible options. This course aims to introduce the broad range of design options and to foster an appreciation of these alternatives for particular research objectives. Drawing on a variety of examples from the social scientific literature, this course will explore design considerations and options across quantitative and qualitative research, including issues of data quality, analysis, reporting and reproducibility. At the end of the course, students will be able to read a wide variety of empirical social science with a critical and balanced perspective and will be better equipped to implement and make arguments defending the methods they use in their dissertations.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 7 hours of seminars in the MT.
Indicative reading
Key texts: Robson, Colin (2011, 3rd edition). Real World
Research. London: John Wiley.
Assessment
Research proposal (30%) in the MT.
Research proposal (60%) in the ST.
Class participation (10%).
Provisional Research Design (1000 words), submitted in week 8 MT (30%). Final Outline Research Design (5000 words), submitted in ST (60%).
Key facts
Department: Methodology
Total students 2013/14: 97
Average class size 2013/14: 19
Controlled access 2013/14: No
Lecture capture used 2013/14: Yes (MT)
Value: Half Unit
