- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues


HL20409: Doing social science research

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department for Health
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assignment (3000 words) (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take HL10355
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
This unit aims to enable students to develop their understanding of research methods for sport, physical activity and exercise.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit students will have:
* an understanding of techniques of small-scale enquiry;
* an understanding of interview-based, observational and media analysis approaches;
* experience in using the research literature to generate relevant research questions;
* an understanding of how to develop an appropriate research design, and how to locate and review literature in appropriate fields;
* an understanding of methods of data collection and techniques of analysis;
* An understanding of the key approaches to 'writing' in the social sciences.

Skills:

* Production of concise, scholarly, written communication to agreed specifications and deadlines. T/F
* Analysis and synthesis of written information from multiple sources. T/F/A
* Development of arguments through the precise use of concepts. T/F/A
* Oral presentation skills. F
* Selection, presentation, interpretation and analysis of numerical data T/F/A
* Working independently. F
* Formulation of research questions and research design to answer them T/F/A.

Content:
The following topics will be covered:
* Preliminary Considerations: Key Concepts, Conceptual Frameworks, Literature Reviews, Use of theory and data, Research Ethics
* Quantitative Approaches to Social Science: A critical engagement with quantitative techniques of small scale inquiry (e.g. survey research, secondary data sets, sampling, case studies, media analysis, interviews)
* Qualitative Approaches to Social Science: A critical engagement with qualitative techniques of small scale inquiry (e.g. interviews, ethnography, participant observation, focus groups, media analysis, case studies, PAR, narrative and autoethnographic approaches)
* Analysis & Interpretation: Critical engagement with the practices of claims making, addressing notions of research quality including validity, generalisabilty, credibility, trustworthiness, and reciprocity.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

HL20409 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department for Health
  • UHHL-AFB11 : BA(Hons) Sport & Social Sciences (Year 2)
  • UHHL-AKB11 : BA(Hons) Sport & Social Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 2)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.