Social Research Methods

• • A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-SGY240 (Not currently available)
• MAQ-SOCX224-Methods of Social Research (No longer available)

You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:

• MAQ-SOCX1010-Introduction to Sociology: Understanding Everyday Life

Others

NCCW (pre-2020 units) SGY240, SOC224, SOC234, SOCX224 Pre-requisite 40cp at 1000 level or above NCCW (2020 and onwards) SOCI2000 Methods of Social Research

Additional requirements

• Other requirements -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

This subject was previously known as SGY240, SOCX224 Methods of Social Research.

Social research is essential in the contemporary world and an important field of employment for graduates in the social sciences and humanities. This unit gives students an opportunity to develop practical skills designing social and organisational research; and in collecting, analysing and presenting data to address research questions. You will consider the best research methods to use and the problems, limitations and traps likely to be encountered by inexperienced researchers. You will also consider the ethical issues in social research, and the impact of new information technologies on social research. A major emphasis in the unit is on the practice of social research. A series of task-based activities introduces major methodological techniques, basic qualitative and quantitative approaches, including interviewing, focus groups, textual analysis, and participant observation. Students also receive a basic introduction to SPSS. Research methods useful to community generated research are also explored. No knowledge of statistics is required

• Mid term online examination (20%)
• Research Proposal (Group Project) (30%)
• Final Report (Group Project) (30%)
• Final Exam (20%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).