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Unit of Study SOCI2006 - Doing Social Research (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

Unit description

Introduces students to the principles, objectives and methods of social research. Develops practical skills in reviewing literature, constructing research questions and writing up research for publication. Students practice reading published research and analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data. They will conduct a small piece of research of their own design.

Unit content

Module 1: Starting your Research Journey

Module 2:  Constructing your Research Agenda: Research Methods, Research Questions and Objectives

Module 3:  Instrumentation and Collection: Ethics, Questionnaire and Interview Process

Module 4: Making sense of your Data

Module 5:  Presenting your Findings

Module 6: Completing your Research Journey: Publishing

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2
Term2
Online
Term2
N/A

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

recognise the importance of Research Ethics in social science research

use appropriate social science research design, tools and methods to develop a research proposal

analyse qualitative data meaningfully and discuss findings in a well-developed academic writing format.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • It is essential that you acquire a copy of this text to be able to complete the practical tasks in this unit. If you have the 2004 version of Bouma and Ling's 'The research process' that will be fine (you won't need the 2016 version as well): Bouma, G & Carland, S, 2016, The research process, 6th edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. ISBN: 9780190304621.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Computer with Blackboard Collaborate installed (see instructions under 'Unit Overview' > 'Essential Software'), reliable and regular access to the Internet, headphones.

  • Nine (9) of the 12 compulsory readings are available in the Library's myReadings which you may access from the unit website. Your Unit Assessor will email Readings I, J, & K to you in Week 4.

  • Study Guide

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.