1. Assessment 1: (Participatory): 20% [Learning Outcomes 3, 4 & 6]

2. Assessment 2: Oral Exam (semi-structured interview): 20% [Learning Outcomes 1, 2 & 6]

3. Assessment 3: Qualtrics survey: 20% [Learning Outcomes 5 & 6]

4. Essay 3000 words, 40% [Learning Outcomes 1-6]

This module will provide students with participatory research and project management skills aimed at both academic research projects and projects in the community. The module will begin with a consideration of the ethics appropriate to participatory social research, and develop skills in a number of participatory research tools. These will then be considered in light of the methods of social research, providing students with a consideration of methods that will be useful in the research for their dissertation. The second half of the module will focus on project cycle management, using participatory methods and relating it to both practical and academic work.

This module incorporates a number of inter-related learning strategies. The main focus of learning will be on self instruction, within a tightly structured framework and relying largely (but not exclusively) on materials supplied. Week by week you will work through self-instructional course material (delivered via Blackboard), which provides the framework and focus for reading key texts and papers and undertaking the specific tasks set. This work will be undertaken on an individual basis, but at various points you will be expected to interact and share material with other students in your learning group and your tutor. (24 hours) The Blackboard sessions will be used for the consideration of core issues and themes relating to research methods and project cycle management. The independent study will require reading around selected topics, the development of individual responses to the reading and the preparation for the assessments. The module will run over 16 weeks including 4 weeks to complete assessments.

Babbie, E. (2006). The Practice of Social Research. 11th Edition. London: Thomson-Wadsworth.

Gant, K. and Rowley, J. (no date) Participatory Appraisal: Practitioner's Pack, Participatory Training.
Available @ http://creativematerials.co.uk/uploads/file/PApractitionerpack_WEB.pdf

Hall, I. and Hall, D. (2004) Evaluation and Social Research: introducing small-scale practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Course textbooks to be supplied by the university.
Computer and internet for access to Blackboard and relevant websites.
Library, where you will find relevant electronic textbooks, electronic journals, and audio-visual materials.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment; details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Access to Skype for the second assessment