SS1103 - An Introduction to Social Science Research Practices

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

This subject is about how research is conducted in the social sciences. The subject is designed to provide students with the basic skills to identify and develop research questions, and organise, analyse, interpret and present the kinds of data encountered in social research. It is conventional to divide social research methods into two types: a) qualitative, and b) quantitative. This subject introduces students to both approaches. Qualitative research is an umbrella term covering different types of research, including for example, interviews, focus group discussions, life histories, and participant observation. It seeks to interpret the meanings people make of their own lives and how people interact with one another in natural social contexts. Quantitative research has been defined as empirical research where the researcher explores research questions using numbers. This type of research focuses on measurement of the variables of interest in larger samples or groups. In this section of the subject students will be introduced to the logic of the experimental and quasi-experimental methods as well as basic data analysis techniques.

Learning Outcomes

• gain core competencies in social science research practice;
• understand the nature of research questions in the social sciences;
• appreciate the influence of research questions on research methods and identify which research methods are best suited to answer different research questions;
• achieve a basic understanding of the nature of both qualitative and quantitative research methods in the social sciences;
• attain basic competence in the use and calculation of descriptive statistics.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse.

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coordinator:	Dr Anne Swinbourne
Lecturers:	Ms Theresa Petray, Ms Aileen Sorohan.
Contact hours:	13 hours lectures - One hour lecture per week for 13 weeks 14 hours practicals - 2 hour practicals will be held each week for 7 weeks of the semester only. Other exercises will be conducted via LearnJCU.
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); quizzes or tests (25%); assignments (25%).
External, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coordinator:	Dr Anne Swinbourne
Lecturers:	Ms Theresa Petray, Ms Aileen Sorohan.
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); quizzes or tests (25%); assignments (25%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coord/Lect:	Dr Anne Swinbourne.
Contact hours:	13 hours lectures - One lecture per week for 13 weeks 14 hours practicals - 2 hour practicals for 7 weeks of the semester only. Other exercises will be conducted via LearnJCU
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); quizzes or tests (25%); assignments (25%).
Mackay, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coordinator:	Dr Anne Swinbourne
Lecturers:	Ms Theresa Petray, Ms Aileen Sorohan.
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); quizzes or tests (25%); assignments (25%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.