Social Research Methods in Context

This unit of study is designed to foster students' understanding and application of advanced research methods. Students choose whether they study the quantitative or qualitative stream of this unit based on their interests as well as which stream will best support the methodology they intend to use in their research thesis. Each stream is taught in a separate class so that all students in the quantitative stream are together in one class and all students in the qualitative stream are together in another class. In both streams, the unit looks beyond strategies for data collection (methods) and analysis to consider the importance of epistemology, methodology and ethics in conducting research. This includes exploring the different assumptions that inform quantitative or qualitative methodologies, the appropriateness of different research methods in the context of the research questions being posed, the implications for knowledge claims, and for report writing. This unit also links to the research thesis component of the Honours course, in that students both give an individual oral presentation and submit a written assignment on their proposal for their thesis project.