This unit deepens students' understanding of the logic of social research inquiry, strategies of research design, and quantitative and qualitative research. Students will learn practical research methods by conducting and comparing various approaches in terms of their epistemologies, their research design strategies, data collection and analyses. In doing research, students will be able to frame the right research questions, compare paradigms and theories that inform the research process, develop research designs, and interpret data.

The methods will be taught in separate modules. The modules include survey research, interviewing and digital content analysis, or variations of those methods. Students will learn how to select the appropriate tool for a given project. This will give an opportunity to decipher the theoretical assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the different methods.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Formulate and justify empirical research question(s);
2. Critically analyse and apply social research methods with an in-depth understanding of how social scientists generate our knowledge about the social world, and why we do it the ways we do;
3. Select and apply a variety of tools and approaches to assist in research;
4. Independently conduct both quantitative and qualitative research, using appropriate methods; and
5. Demonstrate a high-level awareness of the constraints on human ethics in research practice.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

11636 Social Research PG

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.