Introductory description

This module encourages students to critically engage in a variety of research methods software packages, it develops their research skills and allows them to judge their own strengths in order to apply these to their dissertation. It also prepares students for their dissertation through a mini research project. By the end of this module students should be able to have a systematic and critical understanding of: 1) The complexities of research methods 2) The use of three software packages: SPSS, End Note, NVivo 3) The process of writing a research project 4) A range of contemporary research issues 5) The main theoretical perspectives which have influenced these developments. 6) The role of research in generating knowledge.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Using Endnote.
Using NVivo.
Using SPSS.
Seminars will be supporting students with the weekly tasks set, encouraging them to complete and submit tasks week-by-week. Additional support with the use of software will be provided by support team during this term as optional sessions.
Workshops on the research process and journal writing.
Student independent research and one-to-one tutorials.
Student independent research and completion of research methods project. One-to-one tutorials.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To develop a systematic and critical understanding of the complexities of research methods.
• To demonstrate a competent understanding and use of the three software programmes Endnote, NVIVO, and SPSS and their underlying concepts.
• To critically assess and evaluate aspects of the research process, engaging reflectively with the research journey
• To conduct a manageable, rigorous, academic theoretically informed piece of research and write up a report of this

Indicative reading list

Becker, H. S. (1998). Tricks of the Trade: How to Think about Your Research While You're Doing It. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
Billig, M. (2013). Learn to Write Badly: How to Succeed in the Social Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bell, J. (2010). Doing your research project. London, England: Sage.
Braun V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners. London: Sage British. Sociological Association (2002) ‘Statement of Ethical Practice for the British Sociological Association’, available at: http://www.britsoc.co.uk/the-bsa/equality/statement-of-ethical-practice.aspx.
Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods. Oxford: University press.
Bryman, A. and Burgess, R.C. (1994) Analyzing Qualitative Data, London: Routledge.
Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in Education, Oxon, England: Routledge.
Dancy, C.P., & Reidy, J. (2011). Statistics without maths for psychology. New York: Pearson.
Davies, D. and Dodd, J. (2002) ‘Qualitative Research and the Question of Rigor’, Qualitative Health Research, 12(2): 279-289.
Denscombe, M. (2017). The good research guide: for small scale social research projects. London, England: Open University Press.
Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (1998) Collecting and Interpreting Qualitative Materials, London: Sage Pub.
DeVault, M.L. and Gross, M. (2007) ‘Feminist Interviewing: Experience, Talk, and Knowledge’, in Hesse-Biber, S.N. (ed.) Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Practice, London: Sage pub, pp. 173-198.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics. Los Angeles: Sage.
Flick, U. (2014). An introduction to qualitative research (5th Ed.). London, England: Sage.
Kvale, S. (1996) InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing, London: Sage Pub.
Marshall, C. and Rossman, G.B. (2011) Designing Qualitative Research, London: Sage Pub.
Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching, London: Sage Pub.
Matthews, B. & Ross, L. (2010). Research Methods: A practical guide for the social sciences. New York: Pearson. Pallant, J. (2010) SPSS Survival Manual: a Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using SPSS. [online] 4th edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill International (UK) Ltd.,. Available from: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/warw/detail.action?docID=744152.
Robson, C. (2011). Real World Research. London: John Wiley & Sons.
Seale, C (ed) (2003). Social Research Methods: A reader. New York and London: Routledge.
Wang, G.T. & Park, K. (2016). Student research and report writing: from topic selection to the complete paper. Chinchester, England: Wiley Blackwell.

Subject specific skills

• Understand the nature of social research as a reflexive activity, and demonstrate critical awareness of the factors that shape it.
• Understand the principles behind research design using a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and the way that these have informed studies.
• Display competence in core academic, professional and research skills in applying and triangulating a range of qualitative and quantitative research skills and presenting the results orally to peers and in the form of written scholarly work.
• Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues and of how to practically apply ethics to empirical research.

Transferable skills

An understanding of social research methods and their application
An understanding of research software
Experience of designing and running a small research project