Module Details
| Module Code: |
PSYC7005 |
| Title: |
Social Research Approaches
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Long Title:
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Social Research Approaches
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| NFQ Level: |
Intermediate |
| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2023/24 ( September 2023 ) |
| Field of Study: |
3110 - Psychology
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| Module Description: |
This module introduces the student to the various research approaches and strategies in the social sciences, particularly in social care. The planning and process of research will be explored with emphasis given to proposal writing, review of literature and consequent writing of literature review, research design and approaches and strategies in social research.
This module maps to the Standards of Proficiency for Social Care Workers from within the following domains:
Domain 2: Communication, Collaborative Practice and Teamworking.
Domain 3: Safety & Quality.
Domain 5: Professional Knowledge and Skills.
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| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| # |
Learning Outcome Description |
| LO1 |
Identify and discriminate between the various theoretical/conceptual frameworks and paradigms, culture and politics in social research as applied to Social Care Work (Domains: 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.17). |
| LO2 |
Understand the process of social research and construct a research proposal demonstrating an ability to take a research idea and develop it into a research problem statement and research questions relevant to social care work (Domains: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17). |
| LO3 |
Gather and review literature, sources and information about a given area of study, with relevance to social care, and conduct a review of literature. (Domains: 5.5, 5.17) |
| LO4 |
Construct a research proposal in the area of Social Care Work (Domains: 5.5) |
| LO5 |
Apply research to professional development and practice in order to improve personal and professional outcomes which take into account the ethical considerations that need to be examined and addressed in social research.(Domains: 2.12, 3.6, 5.5) |
| Dependencies |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
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| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
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| No requirements listed |
| Indicative Content |
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Social Care Research Approaches
Research approaches (Domain: 5.5)
- Quantitative approach
- Qualitative approach
- Mixed Methods approach
Philosophical underpinnings of research approaches (Domain: 5.6), ontological position, epistemological position, different types of knowledge to inform social care practice (Domain: 5.6).
Practice-based research and academic research (5.17).
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Ethical Challenges in Social Care Research
Ethics in research (Domains: 2.12, 3.6, 5.5)
- Bad practice research
- Risk associated with social care research
- Ethical codes for research
- FREDA principles
Ethical research with children and young people (Domains: 2.12, 3.6, 5.5)
Policy documents to guide social research (Domains: 2.12, 3.6, 5.5)
MTU Human Research Ethics Policy.
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Research Process, Questions & Quality Assessment in Social Care
The research process (Domain: 5.5, 5.17),
formulating research questions (Domain: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17), key consideration when developing research questions, steps in selecting research questions.
Distinction between deductive and inductive theories (Domain: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17).
Classification of research evidence and undertaking a literary review (Domain: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17)
Assessing the quality of social research (Domain: 5.5, 5.17).
Quantitative Research, reliability, replication and validity.
Qualitative Research, trustworthiness.
Quantitative and qualitative research designs in social research (Domain: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17).
Steps in the development of an academic research project (Domain: 5.5, 5.6, 5.17).
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Data Collection in Social Research
Types of variables (Domain: 5.17).
Data collection methods (Domains: 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.17), quantitative methods, qualitative methods.
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Module Content & Assessment
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% |
| Special Regulation |
| Students are required to achieve a mark of 40 % or greater in each assessment component to pass the module. |
Assessments
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.
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The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Social Research Theory and traditions |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
| Lab |
Contact |
Online research, proposal writing, design exploration |
Every Week |
1.00 |
1 |
| Lecturer Supervised Learning (Non-contact) |
Non Contact |
Reading and research of secondary sources |
Every Week |
4.00 |
4 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
| Workload: Part Time |
| Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Social Research Theory and traditions |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
| Lab |
Contact |
Online Research, proposal writing, design exploration |
Every Week |
1.00 |
1 |
| Lecturer Supervised Learning (Non-contact) |
Non Contact |
Reading and research of secondary sources |
Every Week |
4.00 |
4 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
|
Module Resources
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| Recommended Book Resources |
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Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L. and Bryman, Alan. (2021), Social Research Methods, 6th. Oxford University Press, Oxford, [ISBN: 9780198796053].
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Flynn, Catherine and McDermott, Fiona. (2016), Doing Research in Social Work and Social Care, 1st. Sage, London, p.240, [ISBN: 9781473906624].
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Hart, C.. (2018), Doing a Literature Review : Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination., 2ND. SAGE, London, [ISBN: 978152641921].
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Neville,Colin. (2010), The Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism, 2nd. Open University Press, Maidenhead, Berks, [ISBN: 9780335241033].
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Ridley, Diana. (2012), Literature Review, 2nd edn. Sage, London, p.208, [ISBN: 9781446201435].
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Seale Clive. (2011), Researching Society and Culture, 3rd. SAGE Publications, London, [ISBN: 0761941975].
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Walliman, Nicholas. (2011), Your Research Project: Designing and Planning Your Work, 3rd. SAGE, London, [ISBN: 9781849204620].
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
|---|
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Creswell, John W.. (2007), Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design, [ISBN: 1412916070].
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Creswell, J.W. (2014), Research Design, 4th. SAGE, London, [ISBN: 9781452274614].
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Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna S. Lincoln, editors. (1994), Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, Calif., [ISBN: 0 8039 4679 1].
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Raymond M. Lee. (1993), Doing Research on Sensitive Topics, Sage, London, [ISBN: 0803988605].
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Redman, Peter & Maples, Wendy. (2017), Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide, 4th. SAGE, London, [ISBN: 9781473982161].
| | This module does not have any article/paper resources |
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| This module does not have any other resources |
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