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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Put into practice research skills acquired at previous levels (i.e. presenting a hypothesis or identifying a set of research questions; collecting and analysing empirical evidence; evaluating evidence; drawing conclusions and presenting them effectively);
Assess critically academic sources relevant to a self-prescribed research topic to help inform and frame a hypothesis or research questions;
Demonstrate the ability to work professionally (both independently and drawing on appropriate support) as a researcher, and to reflect effectively and critically on their personal development of such research skills;
Complete a sustained piece of research which is then written up in a coherent, logical, well argued manner and is presented with appropriate well designed empirical data, ancillary material and supported by full scholarly academic apparatus.
This module culminates the research methods strand of modules. This strand develops student understanding of the mutual relationship between academic study and professional practice and also to the range of professional employment suitable for graduates of the programme. This 40-credit module has a status equivalent to a traditional dissertation. The proposal for the research project undertaken in SOC 6044 will have been developed and assessed within SOC 5042 Contemporary Research 2.
The research project should integrate knowledge and understanding from the academic modules and professional experiences from the professional placement modules to create a research project that generates new knowledge and/or develops our conception of the topic studied. The design of the project should include consideration of: a target audience for the research findings; their potential use-value, and the appropriate technologies or procedures for conducting the research.
The findings of the research project may constitute a professional portfolio for prospective employers to demonstrate practical and professional experience within a relevant professional sector.
Individual supervisors for SOC 6044 will have been allocated during the initial design phase of the research project within SOC 5042 Contemporary Research.
During Semester 1, students will have general workshops focusing on: reviewing and finalising the research plan; ethical considerations, and the conduct of the research and its presentation. These will be supported by individual tutorial meetings to finalise their project proposals and discuss the delivery of the research project. During Semester 2, students will work on analysing the data gathered and presenting/writing up the results.
Students will keep a notebook throughout the module and will use this, as they complete the project, to write a reflective report on the process of undertaking and completing the work, again supported by workshops with other students and individual meetings with the assigned staff member supervising the project.
Workshops
Hours: 3
intended Group size: 30
Individual meetings with supervisor
Hours: 6
Guided independent study
Hours: 391
Further details relating to assessment
The length of the report submission will be determined by the sector norms for a complete piece of work in the chosen format (survey report, article, &c). Full details are contained within the module handbook.
The University's rules and requirements on the ethical conduct of research will apply to this module. Students will be advised to consult the University's 'Research Conduct and Ethics Assurance Procedures document (Appendix B)', submitting their title and outline proposal to the LTU Ethics Panel, if necessary during the level 5 module, SOC 5042.
Other relevant matters
This module draws directly upon preparatory work done in SOC 5042 Contemporary Research 2 where the final assignment is to develop and design an original research project that will be completed within SOC 6044 Professional Research Project.
001 Report; end of semester 2 80%
002 Reflective report; 1,000 words; end of semester 2 20%
Module Coordinator - Russell Woodfield
Level - 6
Credit Value - 40
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL
