Introductory description

This module encourages students to critically engage the research process, by developing their research skills, helping to decide on topics, and write critical literature reviews. Students will explore different types of literature and storage and engage with methodological stances. Students will study different types of data and data collection tools and discuss ethical considerations. This module will enable a smooth transition from level 5 to the CLL level 6 dissertation.

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.

Deciding on topics
Writing a literature review
Types of literature and storage
Methodology stances
Data collection tools, quantitative
Data collection tools, qualitative
Analysis tools: qualitative
Analysis tools: qualitative
Ethics and ethics forms

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate the complexity of the contextual environment of research methods.
• To critically assess and evaluate aspects of the research process
• Critically apply methodological and theoretical stances to the research proposal
• Select and justify appropriate types of data and data collection tools, and types of data analysis for proposed piece of research
• Critically discuss ethical issues raised by the proposed piece of research

Indicative reading list

Bell, J. (2010). Doing your research project.
Braun V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods.
Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in Education
Denscombe, M. (2017). The good research guide: for small scale social research projects.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics
Flick, U. (2014). An introduction to qualitative research (5th Ed.)
Marshall, C. and Rossman, G.B. (2011) Designing Qualitative Research
Matthews, B. & Ross, L. (2010). Research Methods: A practical guide for the social sciences
Robson, C. (2016). Real World Research.
Seale, C (ed) (2004). Social Research Methods: A reader.
Wang, G.T. & Park, K. (2016). Student research and report writing: from topic selection to the complete paper

View reading list on Talis Aspire

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

Intercultural Awareness
Ethical Values
Information Literacy
Critical thinking
Digital Skills
Problem Solving
Communication
Self-awareness