BASS Politics and Sociology

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Engaging With Social Research

Course unit fact file
Unit code SOCS10111
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Disciplined enquiry: the range of approaches to researching a social problem (in particular social inequality) in the social sciences.

Pre/co-requisites

SOCS10111 pre-reqs

THIS COURSE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO BA (Hons) SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS.

Aims

  • to introduce students to a variety of different kinds of social science research
  • to equip students with the skills to summarise and critically evaluate empirical social research
  • to develop students' skills to use the resources of the library to identify research literature relevant to a particular topic
  • to examine the research process, from problem formulation to disseminating results
  • to gain a comparative understanding of different disciplinary approaches to a particular social problem

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, successful students will be able to:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Student are expected to:

  • gain a greater awareness of the range of social science approaches, including their strengths and limitations
  • identify some of the multiple ways that social scientists construct theoretical arguments
  • understand how social science research is both used and misused
  • gain knowledge on the various theoretical and methodological approaches social scientists have in relation to the specific theme of 'social inequality'.

PRACTICAL SKILLS

Students are expected to:

  • construct a bibliography
  • reference written work appropriately
  • use library resources effectively
  • construct an argument in written form

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES

Students are expected to:

  • communicate effectively both in writing and orally when summarising arguments
  • differentiate between strong and weak arguments
  • work effectively in small groups in tutorials
  • learn to read critically

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures - including Study Skills classes in the first half of the course - and tutorials.

Assessment methods

2 x 400 Word tutorial tasks (25%)

1 x 1,500 Word final essay (75%)

Feedback methods

You will receive informal verbal feedback continuously throughout the course from your tutor within tutorials. Written feedback will be given on your un-assessed formative essay. Students are also invited to make office hour appointments with their lecturers to receive feedback and discuss their progress.

Recommended reading

Bryman, Alan (2008) (3rd edition) Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gilbert, Nigel, ed. (2008) Researching Social Life, (3rd edition), London: Sage

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 25
Tutorials 9
Independent study hours
Independent study 166

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Katherine Smith Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Information
Length of Course: 10 weeks

 

 

Return to course details