Faculty Doctoral Programme - Core Modules

Foundations of Social Science Research

This module will introduce research students to three topic areas; the philosophical frameworks within which research is conducted; the range of strategies and approaches to designing and conducting research; and the place of the researcher in the research process.

Successful completion of the module enables a research student to achieve a minimum of level 3 in the following TNA elements: (a) an understanding of research in social sciences in broad terms (b) philosophical issues in the social sciences.

Qualitative Methods for Social Science Research

This module focuses on qualitative approaches to the collection, management, analysis and presentation of data. Archival sources, documents, focus groups, interviews, observational work and visual methods are covered, as well as an introduction to different methods of analysis. Awareness of the strengths, weaknesses and applicability of different qualitative methods used in the generation of evidence, will be developed.

Successful completion of the module will enable students to achieve at least level 3 in the following TNA elements: (a) an understanding of (qualitative) research methods used in the social sciences. It will also provide some evidence towards competence and experience in the following: (a) research ethics & integrity (b) effective dissemination techniques (c) research methods appropriate to the student’s field and (d) application of software packages.

Quantitative Methods for Social Scientists

This module enables students to acquire knowledge and understanding of appropriate statistical methods and tests used in research. Lectures provide students with an overview of the methods, followed by practical computer sessions where students carry out data analysis. The module covers descriptive statistics, sampling, factor analysis, and regression analysis. This module encourages an understanding of, and an ability to apply, an appropriate and justified selection of techniques for the analysis of data.

Successful completion of the module will provide evidence towards competence and experience in the following TNA elements: (a) an understanding of (quantitative) research methods used in the social sciences (b) application of software packages (c) research methods appropriate to the student’s field. For some students the module will also provide evidence towards competence in (a) advanced understanding of methods and analysis techniques.

Research Ethics and Integrity

This module encourages research students to be sensitive to issues of research integrity and ethics, starting from research design, through to publication and beyond. It is designed to support students to understand research activity as more than the generation of research questions, collection and analysis of data, and dissemination of results. Research also involves students in a complex set of relationships with a range of stakeholders, and will require students to make decisions that involve ethical questions and considerations of values. Good research is inherently ethical, and the best research has integrity and ethics considerations built in from the beginning. Ethics and integrity is not about jumping through regulatory hoops (although this may be required too). Instead, it focuses on reflecting critically about research throughout the research process.

Successful completion of the module will provide evidence towards competence and experience (to level 3) in the following TNA elements: (a) research ethics and integrity.