CYP7004 - Empirical Study

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Implement research plans to effectively conduct and manage a piece of empirical research relevant to a social context.
Identify, précis and synthesise relevant key literature to inform the research of a social issue, and the analysis of own data.
Define and employ appropriate research methodologies and methods relevant to the research.
Collect, interpret and critically analyse data, and synthesise research findings, to draw justified conclusions to inform policy and/or practice.
Critically evaluate and judge the outcomes of own research in order to report on findings and conclusions that demonstrate the impact of the research.

Content:

Students will conduct an appropriate, feasible empirical study at this level on a subject agreed with the Specialist Supervisor.

Three structured seminars will be delivered to facilitate students' progress through the study. These will focus on: (i) getting started on, and managing the project, and working independently with the guidance of the Specialist Supervisor; (ii) approaches to the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data; (iii) writing and presenting empirical research. Students are entitled to input from their Specialist Supervisor throughout the study, in addition to the scheduled group seminar sessions.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Students will work more autonomously in this module but will be supported through the 3 structured seminars detailed above, as well as through the supervision process with their Specialist Supervisor. Students will draw on the skills and knowledge they have gained through the programme, and through individual study, supervisory meetings and structured seminars. They will be encouraged to engage with and make use of: professional networks; critical reflections; discussions; online fora; supervision meetings. Students should attend research seminars where possible. Students will be able to access activities, resources, support and supervision through Moodle, and will be expected to draw on their own professional experience, relevant scholarship, research and their own emerging arguments in order to contribute to supervisory and group seminar activities.

Individual supervision
Hours: 6

Group seminars
Hours: 15
Intended Group Size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours:379

Further details relating to assessment
Prior to commencing the empirical data collection for the study, students must make an application for ethical approval to the Ethics Committee through their Specialist Supervisor. No data collection will commence until ethical approval has been granted.

Students are provided with a set of writing guidelines to support the structure of the assessed study.

Assessment:

001 Study; 10,000 words; end of semester 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Duncan Martin
Level - 7
Credit Value - 40
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS2

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