In today's information society, we are constantly exposed to 'research
findings'. Each day when we read the newspapers or listen to the
television news we are told 'Research shows that É', or
'According to a recent study É', or 'Studies
generally agree that É'. It is essential to have a certain degree
of `research literacy' to understand the flood of `facts' we are exposed to on
a daily basis. Postgraduate study in applied social research aims to provide an
understanding of the particular strengths and weaknesses of various research
approaches and methodologies so we can make a critical and informed assessment
of research findings. Research now plays a vital role in the shaping of
community and governmental policies. Applied social research is the application
of the analytical tools of the social sciences to the social, political and
economic policy issues in today's society. In this way, applied social
research aims to develop a practical understanding of the design process,
execution and evaluation of social research projects which focus on immediate
problems and their resolution.
For further information on the following courses, contact the School of
Political and Social Inquiry.
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