MA Social Research (Interdisciplinary)(part-time)

Year 2

(Award available for year: Master of Arts)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:

- Engage in an interdisciplinary dialogue and be conversant with and sympathetic to approaches used in in other fields and disciplines across the social sciences.
- Understand a philosophy of research methods to inform the principles of research design and strategy, including how to formulate research questions which are amenable to empirical investigation, and design methods of investigation, data collection, analysis and dissemination to address these questions;
- Apply a broad range of research methods, (including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods), and the use of appropriate software for their application);
- Develop advanced research skills and techniques relevant to specific areas of study and specialisation;
- Develop advanced research skills and techniques relevant to interdisciplinary social challenges.
- Consider good ethical practice across the entire research process.

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught), students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self-direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- to engage critically in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms, and of emerging interdisciplinary practices in the context of thematic social challenges.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:

- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
- evaluating received opinion;
- making sound judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.