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Module Details for SOU33012 Researching Society (Part 2 HT) PREREQUISITE FOR SOCIOLOGY CAPSTONE


Module Code

SOU33012


Module Name

Researching Society


Module Short Title

Qualitative Research


ECTS weighting

5 ECTS


Semester/term taught

Term 2


Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:
Design a social research project;
Understand the principles and assumptions associated with Qualitative research;
Select and justify the most appropriate research method to answer particular research questions;
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various research methods;
Distinguish and apply suitable types of analysis to varying research designs;
Apply appropriate ethical standards to research design;
Understand issues of power, inequality and exploitation in qualitative research.


Module Content

Part I of the module builds on the broad introduction to social research in second year, which explored the range of techniques employed in qualitative methods, overviewed basic methods of qualitative analysis and began the process of developing written arguments. In particular the module will focus on designing and formulating a research project with corresponding sampling, data collection and analysis methods. This part of the module will also particularly focus on research proposal requirements.


Recommended Reading List

    Gilbert, N. (ed) (2008) Researching Social Life, London: Sage.
    Hammersley, M. and Atkinson, P. (2007) Ethnography: principles in practice, Routledge.
    Seale, C. (ed) (2004) Researching Society and Culture, London: Sage.
    Yin, R.K. (2009) Case Study Research, London: Sage

    Other useful texts:
    Richards, L. (2006) Handling Qualitative Data. London: Sage (http://www.sagepub.co.uk/richards)
    Denzin, N. and Y. Lincoln (2005) Handling Qualitative Data. London: Sage.


Module Co Requisite

SOU22011/SOU22012


Assessment Details

Data Analysis 1- 40% , Data Analysis 2 - 60%