Course Catalogue

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This course is designed to help students progress in their use of data and understanding of research tools, building confidence in negotiating research related decisions from their disciplinary roots within the social sciences. With a strong emphasis on rigour, the course will dive into practical understanding of theory, ethics, integrity and constructions of reality as they become more familiar in handling different forms of data.

Weeks 7- 11 (block taught course, aligning with Understanding Society: Critical Social Research 1), weekly:

■ 2 x 2hour lecture

■ 1 x 2hour tutorial

Students will be enrolled on the MSc Social Science Research Methods, and will have completed the core methods courses:

■ SPS5070/ EXT51555(ESRC funded students, only. Need to have audited SPS5070)

■ SPS5071

None

None

4500-word portfolio consisting of three components (1500-word each, equally weighted, 33%).

This course continues the 'spine' established by 'Understanding Society' and the closer focus on data aims to help students focus more on working with the kind of data they may want to use in their dissertation and PhD research. 

■ The first aim is for students to reflect critically on their positionality, ontologies and epistemologies, informed by their disciplines and research agenda as they consolidate earlier learning and build towards an advanced understanding of method.

■ The second aim is for students to give students a broader choice of data collection and analysis methods to answer their research questions. This will include digitally located data and non-traditional forms of knowledge and knowledge production (e.g. community-held and indigenous knowledge; art and photography; non-academic literatures)

■ Finally, the course aims to expand students' knowledge and ability to critically reflect on research integrity and rigour

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Work with multiple forms of data, and able to rationalise how chosen data makes a good fit within a research design using methods following from one's theory and/or research question.

■ Develop an understanding of establishing research integrity in all aspects of researcher practice.

■ Critically evaluate the 'reality' afforded by different forms of digital data, drawing on disciplinary and interdisciplinary frameworks to help negotiated situatedness.

■ Demonstrate an awareness of approaching a range of data analysis tools.

■ Critically compare and assess strengths and limitations of less traditional forms of knowledge such as community-based and indigenous knowledges; art-based approaches such as photo elicitation or zines; non-academic literatures and as means to learn more about society and culture.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.