Undergraduate - UnitATS2723 - Social research methods

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Sociology
Monash Passport category	Research Challenge (Investigate Program)
Offered	Clayton First semester 2014 (Day) Caulfield Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Dharma Arunachalam (Semester 1); Dr RoseAnne Misajon (Semester 2)

Notes

Previously coded SCY2261

Synopsis

Doing social science research requires us to think conceptually, to systematically plan how we might obtain valid information relevant to the research questions we are asking, and to analyse information. Because social science research draws on people's experiences, its conduct inevitably raises ethical and political questions. In this unit, we will discuss these issues. We will also consider various qualitative and quantitative research strategies and data gathering techniques available to us when we seek to document the social world.

Outcomes

On completion of the unit, students will have:

An understanding of the strengths, limitations and appropriate applications of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research;
Knowledge of methods commonly used in both quantitative and qualitative research;
Understanding of the theoretical, practical and ethical considerations in research;
Knowledge of issues related to the design and implementation of social science research.

Assessment

Written work 60%
Tests 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Dharma Arunachalam (Semester 1); Dr RoseAnne Misajon (Semester 2)

Workload requirements

One 1-hour lecture and
One 1-hour tutorial per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Sociology
Behavioural studies
Criminology

Prerequisites

Two gateway units in a related discipline

Prohibitions

AZA2490, AZA3723, ATS2723, ATS3723