2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SLSP3095 Research Skills for your Dissertation

20 creditsClass Size: 200

Module manager: Dr Carly O'Neill-Barrett
Email: C.ONeill.Barrett@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

To do the quantitative or qualitative pathways, students must had taken module SLSP2010 SLSP Research Methods or GEOG2000 Research Approaches in Human Geography module. There are no pre-requisites required for the library pathway.

Co-requisites

SLSP3041	Sociology Dissertation
SLSP3051	Social Policy Dissertation
SLSP3200	Dissertation in Crime

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In this online module students will focus on the question of how to find a topic and how to translate that topic into a researchable question. They will then choose one of five pathways through the module based upon their chosen methodological approach (1) Qualitative data collection and analysis; (2) Qualitative secondary data analysis; (3) Quantitative secondary data analysis; (4) Media analysis; (5) Desk based research. Students will only be required to follow one of these journeys through the module. Each journey will be constituted by a variety of online content including - quizzes, guided reading, short videos on key concepts and problems, and a discussion board moderated by experts. The module will therefore guide students through the defining of a researchable problem and will then develop the expert skills needed to deploy their chosen methodology.

Objectives

This module equips students to excel in the independent research in sociology, social policy or social policy crime that they will carry out in their dissertation It will equip students with the skills necessary to define a researchable problem for their dissertation. They will then move to develop advanced skills in either quantitative methods, qualitative methods or desk based investigations to support their dissertation research.

Learning outcomes
1. independently formulate and research a sociology/ social policy and/or crime question(s);
2. draw on relevant subject and methodological knowledge to justify the choice of research question(s)
3. independently select an appropriate research strategy to answer the question
4. draw on relevant subject and methodological knowledge to justify the choice of research strategy

Skills outcomes
Advanced research methods and research problem generation.

Syllabus

This module will be delivered as an Online Module through Minerva. The first section of the module will be taken by all students and will teach students how to develop and define a research problem appropriate for their undergraduate dissertation.
Students will then pick one of five pathways for study
(1) Qualitative data collection and analysis;
(2) Qualitative secondary data analysis;
(3) Quantitative secondary data analysis;
(4) Media analysis;
(5) Desk based research

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	11	2.00	22.00
Workshop	3	2.00	6.00
Seminar	9	1.00	9.00
Private study hours			163.00
Total Contact hours			37.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be able to discuss their progress and thinking on the module with their dissertation supervisor who will provide verbal formative feedback on the students' research questions and research strategy in online supervision meetings.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The 3,000 word essay will be focused on the methods pathway of the students choosing.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 14/07/2023

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