Postgraduate Course: Social and Political Science Research Training Workshops (PGSP11399)
Course Outline
School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 5 |
Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area | None |
Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
Course description | This course gives you the opportunity to select from a range of half-day research training workshops covering advanced issues in social sciences that are of cross-disciplinary interest and relevance. The workshops cover advanced methods and public engagement. They give you hands-on experience with some methods which are covered elsewhere in the curriculum. Some will be directly useful for developing your research proposal into a PhD. You will be able to discuss with other research students taking the same approach or tackling the same problem. Overall, what we want you to get from them is the ability to engage confidently in discussion about advanced issues and problems in social science with experts from a range of backgrounds, and link these issues to your own research practice and experience.
To receive 5 credits students must attend one workshop with follow-up and submit a report. Approval for MSc by Research students must be obtained from the Postgraduate Advisor or supervisor. Students taking this as part of the MSc by Research will typically take two workshops for 10 credits.
STRUCTURE
A typical workshop will consist of a 3 hour workshop session with a follow up. The latter may be conducted online or via email.
The usual structure will consist of:
- An introduction by an expert in the area, which will outline core themes and debates.
- A hands-on workshop session with students. Students will be expected to come prepared to work and contribute.
- A report-back and review.
The follow-up will be for students taking the workshop for credit. It will consist of: a set of reflections by the student on the themes and questions relevant to them that emerged from the workshop; and commentary by the workshop leader. The workshop leader will advise on relevant literature for the student to review before completing their final report. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2014/15 Flexible, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
Course Start Date |
01/09/2014 |
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
50
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Online Activities 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 1,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
44 )
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Additional Notes |
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Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Develop advanced research skills
- Engage with other researchers and experts in the topic of the workshop
- Receive commentary from peers and workshop leaders on your project and problems or challenges you are facing
- Demonstrate the contribution of the workshop to your research, learning and professional development.
- Link the workshop theme to wider theoretical, methodological, substantive or other relevant topics in your discipline or field.
- Develop your research project and apply the knowledge gained in the workshop to it |
Assessment Information
The assessment is a pass/fail exercise, to be reviewed by the course organiser. You must complete a 1000 word report describing the relationship of the workshops to your research project. This could cover some or all of:
- Relevant literature on the workshops' themes summarised by you
- The relationship of the workshops' themes and problems to your discipline. Is anything more or less salient to your own discipline or field? In what ways?
- How do they link with theoretical and epistemological topics that you are addressing in your project?
- How have the workshops affected your research practice, your aims or another aspect of your current or planned research? |
Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
SEMESTER ONE
- Discourse analysis
This workshop is for students to discuss and share problems and ideas concerning the use of discourse analysis in their research projects, and who are curious to explore a wide range of different discourse analysis approaches. It will cover choice of approach, collection and analysis of discursive data in a flexible and personalised way.
- An Introduction to Statistical Modelling for Qualitative Researchers
Statistical models are increasingly common in social science research. Many researchers whose interests are substantive rather than methodological struggle to understand these techniques and are disinclined to engage with research that employs these approaches. This workshop is designed for researchers who would like to learn about statistical modelling. The workshop will be orientated towards researchers who do not normally use statistical methods but would like to be introduced to statistical modelling.
- Participatory Visual Methods
This workshop will provide an introduction to using visual methods in participatory research. Through a range of group activities it will facilitate an exploration of some of the different methods and raise key issues to be considered when undertaking a participatory visual project.
- Research in Context
This is for students interested in knowledge exchange and impact. It will cover what impact means and how it is achieved, and how to define and address different audiences.
SEMESTER TWO
- Conducting Research Interviews
This workshop gives students practical experience with interviewing and discussed the epistemological and methodological challenges of interview research.
- Action Research
This workshop will introduce students to action research. Action research supports processes of ongoing individual and wider organisational learning in ways that are critical, creative and collaborative and which bring practical results that are immediately applicable to the specific situation or problem
- Arts-informed research methods
Social sciences make increasing use of the range of artistic production practices in their research. This workshop introduces students to the variety of ways this can be done and shows how to apply it to their own research.
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Transferable skills |
Students will gain skills in:
Problem defining and solving
Project development and reflection |
Reading list |
There is no reading list but readings may be suggested by individual workshop organisers when students register. |
Study Abroad |
Not entered |
Study Pattern |
Not entered |
Keywords | research workshop |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Angus Bancroft
Tel: (0131 6)50 6642
Email: Angus.Bancroft@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Macaulay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5067
Email: Andrew.Macaulay@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 29 August 2014 4:34 am
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