Rhedir gan School of History, Law and Social Sciences

10.000 Credyd neu 5.000 Credyd ECTS

Semester 1

Trefnydd: Dr Dyfrig Jones

The aim of the module is to provide postgraduate level research methods training in the main varieties of quantitative and mixed methods research in the social sciences, including basic statistical literacy. The module begins by locating the research process in the context of different ‘ways of knowing’ (epistemology), to show how research design is grounded in assumptions about the nature of the phenomena to be investigated. An appreciation of this connection will enable students to evaluate research and make informed choices about the selection of an appropriate research methodology for their own research.

The module is then organized in terms of (a) principles of research design (b) issues of data collection and (c) data analysis. Topics covered include the definition and formulation of research problems and hypotheses, the relationships between and the rationale for using particular research methods, the relationships between empirical research and theory generation and theory testing, different forms of sampling, sampling error and potential bias in the interpretation of research findings, and the concepts of generalisability, validity, reliability and replicability. Students are taught how to access and use secondary data, construct and critique questionnaires, how to interpret measurement error and missing data, and how to record data from experimental and quasi-experimental research.

The course is organised around the following topics:

1. Introduction: brief history of social science research
2. Experience, evidence, research and knowledge
3. Research questions and hypotheses
4. Populations, measurement and survey sampling
5. Questionnaire design; design of questions
6. Principles of research design
7. Uses of official data
8. Structured interviews and standardization, Questionnaire testing
9. Introduction to quantitative data analysis, frequencies, means, distributions
10. Simple statistical models: testing research questions. The t test and the significance of significance.
11. Presenting your findings and report writing

trothwy

50-59% A satisfactory grasp of how to formulate research problems and questions, free of major errors in understanding the relationship between epistemology, theory generation and empirical research methods.

ardderchog

70%+ A developed and critical understanding of the philosophy of social research which supports a detailed appreciation of the relationship between epistemology, theory generation and empirical research methods.

da

60-69% A good understanding of the connection between research problems and questions based on an accurate appreciation of the significance of alternative epistemological positions for research design and strategy. A sound knowledge of methods of simple quantitative analysis to explore data on a social issue.

1. Display critical understanding of the significance of epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction, research design, and the selection of appropriate analytical techniques in quantitative research

2. Manifest the ability to interrogate the essential principles of research design and strategy, based on a clear grasp of how to formulate researchable problems and critical discernment of alternative approaches to social research

3. Demonstrate the capacity to manage the research process, and conducting and presenting research in a way that is consistent with professional practice and research ethics.

4. Show competence in recognising, evaluating and applying a wide range of quantitative data sources and tools of analysis

Math	Enw	Disgrifiad	Pwysau
TRAETHAWD	Questionnaire Critique	Critique and design a questionnaire.	35.00
TRAETHAWD	Essay	Critically discuss the research design and method(s) in one example of quantitative or mixed method social research, focusing on the relationship between epistemology, theory and empirical procedures.	65.00

		Oriau
Workshop	Combined lecture and workshop, 2 hours per week.	22
Private study	Private study, where students will be expected to reflect on the previous week's learning, prepare for the following week, and undertake background reading.	78

• Llythrennedd - Medrusrwydd mewn darllen ac ysgrifennu drwy amrywiaeth o gyfryngau
• Rhifedd - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio rhifau ar lefelau priodol o gywirdeb
• Defnyddio cyfrifiaduron - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio ystod o feddalwedd cyfrifiadurol
• Archwilio - Gallu ymchwilio ac ystyried dewisiadau eraill
• Adalw gwybodaeth - Gallu mynd at wahanol ac amrywiol ffynonellau gwybodaeth
• Dadansoddi Beirniadol & Datrys Problem - Gallu dadelfennu a dadansoddi problemau neu sefyllfaoedd cymhleth. Gallu canfod atebion i broblemau drwy ddadansoddiadau ac archwilio posibiliadau
• Dadl - Gallu cyflwyno, trafod a chyfiawnhau barn neu lwybr gweithredu, naill ai gydag unigolyn neu mewn grwˆp ehangach
• Hunanymwybyddiaeth & Ystyried - Bod yn ymwybodol o'ch cryfderau, gwendidau, nodau ac amcanion eich hun. Gallu adolygu ,cloriannu a myfyrio'n rheolaidd ar eich perfformiad eich hun ac eraill.

1. Decision Making Ability to make informed choices between a range of research techniques, e.g. design and administering of questionnaires; using survey data; or statistical data analysis.

2. Research Skills ‘Hands on’ experience of using research techniques and software.

3. Group Skills Group work skills in applying research techniques within a classroom setting.

4. Research Skills Competence in data handling and data analysis.

5. Communication - Verbal Oral competence in explaining and interpreting the research process.

Goblygiadau o ran adnoddau ar gyfer myfyrwyr

None

Rhestrau Darllen Bangor (Talis)

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxu-4404.html

Rhestr ddarllen

Blaikie, N. (2010) Designing social research: the logic of anticipation, Cambridge: Polity Press Crotty, M. (1998) The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. London: Sage Dillman, D. A. (2007) Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method, John Wiley & Sons Field, A (2009/2013) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. London: Sage Publications. Fink, A and Kosecoff, J (1998) How to conduct surveys: a step-by-step guide, 2nd edition. London: Sage Gorard, S. (2013) Research Design: Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences, London: Sage Hughes, J and Sharrock, W (1998) The Philosophy of Social Research, 3rd ed, London, Longmans Hughes, J and Sharrock, W (2007) Theory and Methods in Sociology, Palgrave Macmillan Moser, C and Kalton, G (1971) Survey Methods in Social Investigation, 2nd edition. London: Heinemann. Sapsford, R (2007) Survey Research, 2nd edition, London: Sage. de Vaus, D (2001) Research Design in Social Research, London: Sage. Parts I-V.

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