SOC5053 - Research Methods and Professional Placement

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module will examine how social science research data may be collected, analysed, displayed and explained effectively. This module introduces students to becoming research literate and how it is applied to the wider field of employment, policies and organisational considerations. The module will focus on qualitative and mixed methodology in one semester and quantitative methodology in another semester. Students will examine different ways of communicating research, to identify the methods used by contemporary social scientists and explore the suitability of the methods selected. In doing this students will be able to critically evaluate the strength of the researches findings and identify appropriate ethical considerations. This module will also develop the skills required to plan and begin an independent research project within a supportive learning environment and reinforce research skills developed in other modules. On completion of the module students will be prepared to use appropriate research methodologies in order to plan for and embark upon their extended research project at Level 6.

The module will culminate with the undertaking of the professional placement 2 which follows directly on from the professional placement 1 and enables students to develop appropriate professional experience and gain opportunities for networking. Students will be encouraged to utilise the skills and knowledge they have gained in the research methods phase of the module to critically think about how research may inform the approaches that are undertaken in the professional working environment. Students will also develop insights into potential career avenues and identify productive ways of interrelating academic learning with relevant professional practice. Career evaluation and planning is expected to continue across modules and a career-action plan, identifying key skills and work-experience needs, should also be considered. The module will also incorporate the option to undertake the professional placement volunteering which is the direct equivalent of the full time professional placement 2, but allows students to spread out their placement activity across the 2 semesters, rather than taking it within a 6-week block. If this option is chosen students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of volunteering throughout an extended period of time (usually 12-20 weeks).

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 150

Workshops
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 150

Professional placement hours/Volunteering hours
Hours: 150-200
Intended Group Size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 110-60

The placement needs to be passed to pass the module

Assessment:

001 Court research report; 2,000 words; end of semester 1 30%
002 Research proposal; 2,000 words; end of semester 2 40%
003 Placement; 150/200 hours; pass/fail; placement period %
004 Placement portfolio; 1,500 words; end of placement period 30%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Liam Wrigley
Level - 5
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL

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