University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Module Code: SOC1025 Module Title: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS
Module Provider: Sociology Short Name: SOC1025
Level: HE1 Module Co-ordinator: BURNINGHAM KA Dr (Sociology)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Semester 1
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment  

 
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)

 

1000 word research proposal

 

75%

 

1500 word review of a piece of research

 

25%

 

Qualifying Condition(s) 

 

A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module.

 
Module Overview

This module provides an overview and tasters of the diversity of methods used by researchers in sociology, media studies and criminology. We begin by considering the philosophical underpinnings of alternative approaches to social research and exploring the relationship between theory and data. The course then moves on to introduce and present examples of research using an array of different approaches.

 
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
None
Module Aims

·      To provide an overview of the diverse research methods used within sociology, media studies and criminology

·      To familiarise students with examples of research carried out using different methods

 

  • To introduce the basics of research design
Learning Outcomes

·         Have an understanding of the diversity of methods used for research in sociology, criminology and media studies

 

·         Be able to formulate a research question and develop an appropriate research design for addressing it

 

·         Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of alternative methodological approaches

 
Module Content

Introduction to philosophy of social science

 

Developing research questions

 

Linking theory and data

 

Ethics in social research

 

Survey research

 

Ethnography

 

Interviews

 

Secondary analysis

 

Documentary methods

 

Visual methods

 

Mixed methods

 
Methods of Teaching/Learning
11 lectures and 11 classes
Selected Texts/Journals

Bryman, A. (2001/2008) Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford UP

Gilbert, N. (ed) (2008) Researching Social Life, London: Sage.

 

Seale C (ed)  (2004) Researching Society and Culture: 2nd edition London: Sage

Hansen, A. Cottle, S. , Negrine, R. & Newbold, C (eds) (1998) Mass Communication Research Methods  Basingstoke: Macmillan 

O'Sullivan, T., Dutton, B. and Rayner, P. (1998/2003) Studying the Media, 2nd Edition, Arnold.  

Rose, G. (2001) Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials.  London: Sage.

Silverman, D. (2007) A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about qualitative research London: Sage

 
Last Updated
April 2011