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Sociology & Research Methods

Core Courses

Social Science Statistics 1 (taught at College-level, semester 1)

This is the core quantitative element in the MRes in Sociology and Research Methods course.  Students are expected to understand computing operations designed for social scientists, such as the SPSS, and will learn the necessary statistical skills for interpreting large-scale data (eg criminal statistics, census findings and large-scale social mobility surveys).  They will focus in the second half of the semester on preparing an assessment in the lab. Tutorial assistance is given to students in this course as well as the weekly lectures.

Topics include: 

  • Units and Variables
  • Describing Variables 
  • Introduction to Hypothesis Testing
  • Sampling
  • Sample Statistics and Parameters
  • Statistical Significance
  • Research Design
  • Introduction to Regression Analysis

Qualitative Research Methods (taught at college-level, semester 1)

Qualitative research includes a broad range of approaches and research techniques.  The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a number of the most commonly used approaches and research techniques.  These tools include in-depth interviews, focus groups and content analysis as well as the gathering of data based on observation and textual information. The course aims to develop a practical understanding of the philosophical underpinnings, application and analysis of qualitative methodology for those working in social research.

 The lectures are designed to give students grounding in why we use particular methodologies and how they may fit into a broader examination of society. The tutorials are designed to give students time to try out and critically examine how qualitative methods work in practice. The goal of the course is to give students a) robust introductory knowledge of a range of qualitative methods; b) the ability to build a solid research design; c) the skill to find appropriate qualitative methods that relate to their inquiries and d) the tools and experience to start to implement qualitative research methods such as interviewing, focus groups, context analysis, broadcast analysis with skill and confidence.  Once again, students are given tutorials as well as weekly lectures.

Topics include:

  • Qualitative Research Traditions
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Document and archive research
  • Content analysis and Discourse analysis
  • Focus groups
  • Participant observation
  • Research Ethics


Social Science Statistics 2 (taught at college level, semester 2)

This is a more advanced level of statistics for social scientists, and is taught  through lab tutorials as well as weekly lectures. The focus of the whole module is regression analysis. 

Topics include:

  • Regression for a Single Variable
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Multivariate Regression
  • Interaction Terms
  • Regression Diagnostics
  • Criteria for Estimators
  • Consequences of Violating Regression Assumptions I and II
  • Categorical Dependent Variables

Advanced Qualitative Methods (taught at college level, semester 2) 

Advanced Qualitative methods is intended as a lively, challenging and interactive forum for learning and critically thinking about qualitative methods. The course is designed to push students' analytical thinking with respect to the role of qualitative enquiry and the need to pursue rigour in its implementation. The course is designed to follow on from the Qualitative Research Methods Module, and to suit the training needs of those students for whom qualitative methods or ethnography are likely to be central to their research.
 The Advanced Qualitative Methods course aims to bring a stronger critical focus to (i) the processes of designing, gathering and analysing qualitative materials and (ii) the socio-political and ethical issues which arise as part of these processes. In particular the course stresses the personal  skills required to become an adept qualitative researcher, skills that will be developed through exercises during the course and through the course assessment. The course also aims to provide students with hands-on experience of using different approaches in order to both generate and analyse qualitative data and will allow for critical self-reflection on the qualities required for conducting effective qualitative research.
 The course will be delivered in a weekly two-hour workshop format and it is hoped that a small class size will facilitate in-class discussion and practical exercises. The course is specifically designed to be responsive to students’ own research interests and to draw general issues for the class out of these.

Topics include:

  • Ethnography, Fieldwork and Participant Observation
  • Depth interviews and interviewer skills
  • Focus groups in practice
  • Ethics of qualitative research and the role of the researcher
  • Analysing qualitative data
  • Grounding theory and writing qualitative research
  • Computer assisted analysis of qualitative data: Nvivo


Core course (subject-area level)

Current Issues in Social Theory (semester 1)

Students come to the course with very different backgrounds as far as their knowledge of the subject is concerned.  Students are encouraged to develop their own interests within the field of social theory in dialogue with the tutor. Meetings involve small group discussions and seminars. A number of general themes or topics are explored:

  • What is social theory? What is the relationship between epistemology/ the philosophy of social science and substantive social theory?
  • What is the nature of society?
  • Are theories of identity important for sociological thought?
  • What is the relevance of social theory to global society (world-systems’ theory, globalisation)?
  • What is the nature of power? Is it best thought of in terms of governmentality?
  • What is the challenge of the post-colonial condition to social theory?
  • In what different ways have social theorists defined the concepts of agency and practice?
  • Should social science be critical?

Students will debate these issues in the seminars and write on topics chosen from this list for their essays.

Dissertation

The MRes in Sociology and Research Methods degree is designed to culminate in a dissertation (12-15,000 words) that makes an original contribution to knowledge. All students progress to this stage, unless they fail to meet the requisite standard in the combined essay/exam assessment.
The dissertation is normally an empirical study based on research involving human subjects; for this reason, it requires permission from the College Ethics Committee before the student is allowed to start the interviews, or any other techniques of data-gathering. The process of gaining ethical consent is sometimes lengthy and for this reason students are required to present an initial dissertation proposal of 1000 words, by Feb 7th. They will then be allocated a supervisor who will assist them with the review of the literature, the appropriate method and the request for ethics permission.
Students may opt for a purely theoretical dissertation if they can show their supervisor that they have sufficient library/archival materials and ideas to contribute an original piece of work.