SC203-5-SP-CO:
Researching Social Life II

The details
2023/24
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
31 August 2022

 

Requisites for this module
SC101
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

SC830, SC831

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,
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,
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 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.

Module aims

In the process of taking this module, students will develop skills that are transferable to their undergraduate project, the labour market, or postgraduate work. They will also appreciate more how sociologists go about applying their skills and knowledge to the empirical and theoretical investigation of issues they study.

Module learning outcomes

1. Understanding the principles underlying qualitative approaches to sociology
2. Locating and collecting qualitative data.
3. Developing research questions and choosing an appropriate methodology to explore them
4. Appreciating ethical issues affecting research in general, and potentially affecting your own research
5. Analysing qualitative data in a systematic and transparent way

In the process of taking this module, you will develop skills that are transferable to your undergraduate project, the labour market, or postgraduate work, when you complete your undergraduate studies. You will also appreciate more how sociologists go about applying their skills and knowledge to the empirical and theoretical investigation of issues they study. Chiefly, upon successful completion of the module, you will have developed skills in:

Understanding the principles underlying qualitative approaches to sociology

Developing research questions and using qualitative data

Appreciating ethical issues affecting research in general, and potentially affecting your own research

Analysing qualitative data in a systematic and transparent way

Module information

Block 3: Practical Qualitative Research

Topic 11 - week 16 Introduction: what is a research question?
Topic 12 - week 17 Interviews
Topic 13 - week 18 Ethnography
Topic 14 - week 19 Digital Social Research
Reading Week - week 20
Topic 15 - week 21 Research Ethics
Topic 16 - week 22 Sampling and Gaining Access
Topic 17 - week 23 Interviews and Sensitive Research
Topic 18 - week 24 Writing Up Your Research Project
Topic 19 - week 25 Qualitative Data Analysis

Learning and teaching 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.

Bibliography

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 Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Moodle quiz - week 21    10% 
Coursework   Moodle quiz - week 24    10% 
Coursework   Research topic summary    10% 
Coursework   Qualitative Research Report    70% 

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
Prof Roisin Ryan-Flood, email: rflood@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Roisin Ryan-Flood
E-mail:socugrad@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Aneira Edmunds
School of Law, Politics & Sociology
Senior Lecturer
Dr Paul Gilbert
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer in International Development
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 45 hours, 45 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Sociology and Criminology

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