Module Identifier IP36820  
Module Title RESEARCH METHODS AND SOCIAL THEORY  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Dr Colin Wight  
Semester Semester 2  
Co-Requisite IP36720 , IP37720  
Course delivery Lecture   19 Hours (19 x 1 hour)  
Assessment Dissertation   1 x 3,000 word outline   50%  
  Exam   2 Hours   50%  

Aims


The aim of this module is to give second year students a basic understanding of social science and research methods and to give them an early start to their dissertation.

Objectives


At the end of this module students should be able to:


10 ECTS Credits

Brief description


Students should normally take this module in the second semester of their second year.


This module is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of research methods and social theory and acquire skills to successfully research and write the compulsory dissertation. The linking of these methods to debates in social theory allows students to understand the manner in which research is grounded in particular social theories and to think about the strengths and weaknesses of particular research methods. The module includes sessions on, social theory, basic sociological concepts, research design, topic formulation, research resources, methods of presentation and research methods. During the course of the module students will be assigned dissertation supervisors and have the opportunity of discussing their dissertation topic with them.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
T May. Social Research: Issues Methods and Process.
G Delanty. Social Science: Beyond Constructivism and Realism.