Research Skills in Practice

SOST70083 Research Skills in Practice 20 Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Myong Sook Kim Unit coordinator Social Statistics 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 This course unit will provide students with the opportunity to strengthen their research skills in preparation for the 40-credit dissertation component of the MSc Programme.  This course unit is comprised of two topics. Topic 1 will prepare students to develop theory-driven research hypotheses. Topic 2 will comprise of approaches to producing an effective and impactful review of the literature in the social sciences.    The two topics will run in two blocks of 4 weeks and will be assessed independently.   This course unit will provide students with the opportunity to strengthen their research skills in preparation for the 40-credit dissertation component of the MSc Programme.  This course unit is comprised of two topics. Topic 1 will prepare students to develop theory-driven research hypotheses. Topic 2 will comprise of approaches to producing an effective and impactful review of the literature in the social sciences.    The two topics will run in two blocks of 4 weeks and will be assessed independently.   The unit aims to: Provide guidance and instruction, and consolidate skills acquired in previous course units to prepare students to confidently plan, design, and complete the dissertation component of the MSc programme.  <ul> <li>Demonstrate in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge and critical awareness of current topics of interest and debate in data analytics and social statistics; </li> <li>Recognise the importance of a robust research framework in drawing valid, data-driven conclusions.  </li></ul> <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":360,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"singleLevel"}" data-listid="4" role="listitem">Identify and evaluate various statistical methods for addressing different research topics;  </li></ul><ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":360,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"singleLevel"}" data-listid="4" role="listitem">Apply critical appraisal skills to real world situations pertinent to the social sciences.  </li></ul> <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":360,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"singleLevel"}" data-listid="4" role="listitem">Find, evaluate, and synthesise information from scholarly journals and other sources of information; </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":360,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"singleLevel"}" data-listid="4" role="listitem">Develop theory-driven research questions in the social science context. </li></ul> <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">Develop a research proposal;  </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">Conduct critique of academic literature and evaluate various information sources;  </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">Formulate, organise, express, and communicate evidence-based opinions effectively. </li></ul> Each topic of this course unit will consist of asynchronous videos, interactive activities, and guided online readings. In addition, there will be frequent synchronous sessions such as seminars, and tutorials.  For Topic 1, students will be required to design a research proposal describing a topic from the social sciences that is of importance to professional practice. For Topic 2, students will be asked to produce an essay-based critical appraisal of the literature surround a topic of interest. Throughout the course unit, the students will also complete two formative quizzes.   Students will also be provided with additional materials such as assigned readings, video demonstrations, and various other individual and group activities to supplement their learning.  0 Other 100% One :  Research Proposal (2,000 words, 50%) Quiz (10 questions,  formative)  Two:  Literature  Critique (2,000 words, 50%) Quiz (10 questions formative)  Automatic feedback for formative assessments, Online feedback within 15 working days on assessed coursework.   N The following research methods texts are recommended for this course unit: Gilbert, N.  and  Stoneman, P. (eds.) (2015) Researching Social Life. 4th edn. London: Sage.   Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L. and Bryman, A (2021). Bryman’s Social Research Methods. 6th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  0 0 173 There will be no on-campus contact hours and learning will take place fully online.  Contact Time – 27 hours