University of Essex

SC202-5-AU-CO:
Analysing Social Life

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Sociology and Criminology

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 05 October 2023

End date: Friday 15 December 2023

Credits: 15

Last updated: 23 August 2022

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: SC101

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): SC208, SC385

Key module for

BA M900 Criminology,
BA M901 Criminology (Including Year Abroad),
BA M903 Criminology (Including Foundation Year),
BA M904 Criminology (Including Placement Year),
BA L3C8 Criminology with Social Psychology,
BA L3H8 Criminology with Social Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BA LHC8 Criminology with Social Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BA LP33 Media and Digital Culture,
BA LP34 Media and Digital Culture (including Placement Year),
BA P300 Media and Digital Culture (Including Foundation Year),
BA PL33 Media and Digital Culture (including Year Abroad),
BA CL83 Sociology with Social Psychology,
BA CL93 Sociology with Social Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BA CLV3 Sociology with Social Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BA L300 Sociology,
BA L301 Sociology (Including Year Abroad),
BA L304 Sociology (Including Foundation Year),
BA L306 Sociology (Including Placement Year),
BA LM38 Sociology and Criminology (Including Placement Year),
BA LM39 Sociology and Criminology,
BA LMH9 Sociology and Criminology (Including Year Abroad),
BA LMHX Sociology and Criminology (Including Foundation Year),
BA L3J9 Sociology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA L3M9 Sociology with Human Rights,
BA LMJ9 Sociology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA LCJ8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA LJ8C Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA LJC8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies,
BSC L315 Sociology (Applied Quantitative Research),
BSC L316 Sociology (Applied Quantitative Research) (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L317 Sociology (Applied Quantitative Research) (Including Placement Year),
BA L333 Criminology with Counselling Skills,
BA L334 Criminology with Counselling Skills (Including Year Abroad),
BA L335 Criminology with Counselling Skills (Including Placement Year),
BA LM11 Criminology with Criminal Law,
BA LM12 Criminology with Criminal Law (Including Year Abroad),
BA LM13 Criminology with Criminal Law (Including Placement Year),
BA L332 Sociology with Counselling Skills,
BSC L310 Sociology with Data Science,
BSC L311 Sociology with Data Science (including Year Abroad),
BSC L312 Sociology with Data Science (including Placement Year),
BSC L313 Sociology with Data Science (Including foundation Year),
BA L350 Sociology and Health,
BA L351 Sociology and Health (including Foundation Year),
BA L352 Sociology and Health (including Placement Year),
BA L353 Sociology and Health (including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module provides 2nd year students with the tools to put into practice what they have learned in their first year methods module(s) using computer software to analyse data, both qualitative and quantitative. With these foundational skills, students can then specialise in the spring term by choosing either qualitative (SC203) or quantitative-based (SC208) methods modules.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

1. To introduce students to some of the methods and principles commonly used in sociological research for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data and the use of software to aid this task
2. To introduce students to basic principles for textual analysis as well as basic statistical theory and methods necessary to analyse numerical data.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students will be able:
1. To understand the principles of analysing qualitative and quantitative data
2. To be able to use computer software and tools to analyse qualitative data
3. To be able to use computer software and tools to analyse quantitative data
4. To be able to make valid interpretations and draw appropriate inferences from the analysis of data
5. To be able to report the results of data analysis in a clear and concise form

Module information

Block 1: Qualitative Data Analysis
Topic 1 - Week 2: Introduction to using secondary Qualitative Data
Topic 2 - Week 3: Finding secondary data: exploring the archives
Topic 3 - Week 4: Analysing Qualitative data using Content Analysis
Topic 4 - Week 5: Analysing Qualitative data using Thematic Analysis
Topic 5 - Week 6: Writing up Qualitative Data Analysis

Block 2: Quantitative Data Analysis
Topic 6 - Week 7 Describing and summarising your quantitative data
Topic 7 - Week 8 Samples and populations: statistical inference
Topic 8 - Week 9 Statistical significance: testing hypotheses
Topic 9- Week 10 Breaking data down by groups: contingency tables
Topic 10 - Week 11 What goes with what?: correlation analysis
This module is part of the Q-Step pathway. Q-Step is an award which you can gain simply by enrolling on specific modules and will signal to employers your capability in quantitative research. Learn more about the Q-Step pathway and enhance your degree now.

Learning and teaching methods

1hr weekly lecture, 2hr weekly computer lab

Bibliography

Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2013b) Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners. London: SAGE. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/268645.
Clark, T. et al. (eds) (2021) Bryman’s Social Research Methods. Sixth Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974675.
De Vries, R. (2019) Critical statistics: seeing beyond the headlines. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6234773.
Field, A.P. (2018) Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. 5th Edition. London: SAGE. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/269367.
Gibbs, G. (2018a) Analyzing qualitative data. 2nd edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Available at: https://methods.sagepub.com/book/analyzing-qualitative-data-2e.
Jackson, K. and Bazeley, P. (2019d) Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. 3rd edition. London: Sage Publications. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/377721.
MacInnes, J. (2017) An introduction to secondary data analysis with IBM SPSS statistics. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/154007.
Ritchie, J. et al. (2014) Qualitative research practice: a guide for social science students and researchers. Second Edition. London: SAGE. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/368936.
Schreier, M. (2012c) Qualitative content analysis in practice. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/268659.
SAGE Research Methods (no date). SAGE Publishing Ltd. Available at: https://methods.sagepub.com/.
De Benedictis, S., Orgad, S. and Rottenberg, C. (2019) ‘#MeToo, popular feminism and the news?: A content analysis of UK newspaper coverage’, European Journal of Cultural Studies, 22(5-6), pp. 718–738. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549419856831.
Northcutt Bohmert, M., Allison, K. and Ducate, C. (2019) ‘"A rape was reported”: construction of crime in a university newspaper’, Feminist Media Studies, 19(6), pp. 873–889. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1509104.
Christensen, Larissa S. (2018) ‘The New Portrayal of Female Child Sexual Offenders in the Print Media: A Qualitative Content Analysis’, Sexuality & Culture, 22(1), pp. 176–189. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12119-017-9459-1.
Nexis® Video Trainings (no date). Available at: http://help.lexisnexis.com/Flare/nexishelp/US/en_GB/Content/reference/videotrainings_ref.htm.
Nexis E-Resource (no date). Available at: https://advance.lexis.com?federationidp=B2G4XJ59150.
Watson, N. and Vehmas, S. (eds) (2020b) Routledge handbook of disability studies. Second edition. London: Routledge. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5963840.
About the Project - How Was School? (no date). Available at: https://howwasschool.allfie.org.uk/about/about-the-project/.
Gibbs, G. (2018c) Analyzing qualitative data. 2nd edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Available at: https://methods.sagepub.com/book/analyzing-qualitative-data-2e.
Virginia Braun (no date) ‘Using thematic analysis in psychology’, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp. 77–101. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Online Quiz - week 5	10%
Coursework	Online Quiz - week 9	10%
Coursework	Qualitative Analysis Report	40%
Coursework	Quantitative Analysis Report	40%

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

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Nick Allum, email: nallum@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Katy Wheeler, email: katy.wheeler@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Professor Nick Allum & Dr Katy Wheeler

Contact details: E-mail: socugrad@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Emily Gray

Institution: University of Warwick

Academic role: Assistant Professor of Criminology

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 186 hours, 111 (59.7%) hours available to students:
31 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
44 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Sociology and Criminology

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Module Directory

SC202-5-AU-CO:Analysing Social Life