SCY3262

Social research methods

Bernard Daly

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Peninsula
* Prerequisites: First-year SCY sequence or equivalent

Objectives On completion of this subject, students should have a critical appreciation of the ethical dimensions, practical limitations and philosophical status of the knowledge that accrues from social research; developed a facility for utilising a range of social research methods; experience in linking the process of theorising with methods appropriate to testing hypotheses; achieved sufficient methodological competence to design a social research project for subsequent formulation and execution.

Synopsis Social research in its historical, social and sociological contexts; different theoretical perspectives and their significance for methods used; the objectives of social research. The methods of social research: an overview of the research process; selecting and formulating a research problem; designing and administering a study; research strategies; techniques for the collection and measurement of data; recording, coding, processing, analysing and presenting data; interpreting results; writing reports. Ethical considerations in social research.

Assessment Five workbook exercises and three tests (2500 words in total): 40%
* Research proposal (2500 words): 40%
* Test (1 hour): 20%

Prescribed texts

Neuman W L Social research methods 2nd edn, Allyn and Bacon, 1997