Research Skills in the Social Sciences: Data Collection (P00002)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-RSDC

The course aims to train social science postgraduate students in a range of key research skills. In particular it aims to ensure that all students completing the course are able, in the ESRC's phrase, to 'demonstrate proficiency' in certain key methods of data collection. The course will cover all the areas of data collection prescribed in Section E (Framework for Methods Training) in the 2001 edition of the ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, all students taking the course will

o be competent in understanding and applying a range of research methods and tools
o understand the significance of links between theory and method, and the epistemological implications of particular methodological approaches to social research

The range of research methods and tools covered will include the following quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection: questionnaire and survey design, interviewing, focus groups, use of the internet for data gathering

Assessment Information

To complete the course, students will have to successfully complete a range of practical tasks in the following areas: Data collection: interviewing, questionnaire design, survey design, focus groups, data recording and transcription