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SP12001: Becoming a social scientist 1

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CWES 40%, CWPF 60%
Assessment Detail:
  • Portfolio (CWPF 60%)
  • Academic skills and practice assessment (CWES 40% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: 1. Appreciate and critically evaluate the relationship between social science arguments and evidence 2. Recognise and assess the aims, purpose, and prin-ciples of qualitative research, and start to appreciate how these differ from quantitative studies 3. Source, critically evaluate, and reference published research 4. Identify and summarise studies' core arguments, methodological orientation and assumptions


Synopsis: Learn about the range of qualitative social research methods and analytical approaches in social sciences. You will explore key principles and considerations in social research, related to qualitative work, including generalisability, comparability, research ethics, positionality, and conceptualisation. You are encouraged to think creatively, practically and critically about the design and purpose of social research.

Content: Learn about the range of qualitative social research methods and analytical approaches in social sciences. You will explore key principles and considerations in social research related to qualitative work. You are encouraged to think creatively, practically and critically about the design and purpose of social research.

Course availability:

SP12001 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Criminology (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Criminology with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB31 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB31 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB32 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB32 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB35 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB36 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB36 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB35 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with professional placement (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.