Advanced Issues in Socio-Cultural Research (P01983)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-P01983

This course will offer advanced training in the ideas, issues and methodologies central to carrying out interdisciplinary socio-cultural research. It will be organised through seminars and workshops. The aims of the course are to:
- enable students to critically evaluate key debates concerning theory and epistemology in interdisciplinary socio-cultural research;
- provide students with an understanding of the possibilities, strengths and also limits of particular methodologies, in relation to the goals and desired outcomes and knowledge-claims intended for pieces of interdisciplinary research;
- engage students in debates concerning the analysis of interdisciplinary research and the epistemological, ethical, political and practical problems entailed;
- enable students to think from interdisciplinary perspectives to design interdisciplinary research projects focused on their own intellectual concerns;
- encourage students to use the course to develop a theoretical and methodological approach for their MSc dissertation and possible PhD research; and
- challenge students to work at an advanced level in a course that will 'join up' theory, methodology and research practice.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Other subject areas

Geography, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 20 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

At successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

- be aware of the changing ideas and 'place' of interdisciplinarity;
- understand the epistemological, ethical, political dimensions of socio-cultural research;
- critically evaluate ideas and debates concerning theory and practice in socio-cultural research;
- understand the strengths and limits of appropriate methodologies;
- design a research project focused on their own socio-cultural concerns;
- present their ideas and research designs in public fora and respond to constructive suggestions about these; and
- work collectively with their peers.

Assessment Information

The course adopts a mixed method of assessment:

➢ Seminar and workshop assignments: these will involve short writing exercises in response to the nominated weekly readings, and will be pre-circulated for co-discussion in the actual meetings.

➢ Presentation: in Semester 2, all participants will give a more formal presentation of one key debate concerning interdisciplinary research matters.

➢ One 3000 word essay: this will be on a topic to be agreed with the course leader, but will be expected to:

• link to their dissertation topic, and
• contain a review of key research literature related to the topic chosen.