SC203-5-AU-CO:
Researching the Real World: Qualitative Approaches to Studying Crime and Society
2024/25
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 10 January 2025
15
05 April 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
SC831, SC832
BA LL36 Social Anthropology,
BA LL3P Social Anthropology (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL6P Social Anthropology (Including Placement Year),
BA LL37 Social Anthropology with Human Rights,
BA LL38 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL39 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year)
This module introduces students to some of the methods commonly used in sociological research for the collection and analysis of qualitative data. In classes they will also be encouraged to think about and discuss the issues introduced in the lectures and learn some practical skills in qualitative data collection.
The aims of this module are:
- To develop skills that are transferable to their undergraduate project, the labour market, or postgraduate work.
- To appreciate more how sociologists go about applying their skills and knowledge to the empirical and theoretical investigation of issues they study.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand the principles underlying qualitative approaches to sociology
- Locate and collect qualitative data.
- Develop research questions and choose an appropriate methodology to explore them
- Appreciate ethical issues affecting research in general, and potentially affecting your own research
- Analyse qualitative data in a systematic and transparent way.
Weekly topics will be detailed in the Module Outline posted on Moodle.
This module will be delivered via a mix of participatory lectures(1 hour) and smaller class groups (1 hour) each week, where students will practice different research methods.
The module outline includes a statement about respect for all being a necessary condition of classroom engagement. Class teachers are encouraged to invite students to share their preferred pronouns if they wish to do so. All learning materials are available online, including lectures slides, reading materials, and module information.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.