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 ...', or 'According to a recent study ...', or 'Studies generally agree that ...'. 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.
