1. Effectively gather and analyse data informed by working practices in the field of study to form coherent academic discussion on specific area of research and apply findings in an original manner.¿¿

Enquiry, Knowledge and Understanding


2. Critically reflect on the research successes and failures, identifying future developments in the specific field of research and making recommendations to inform practice.¿¿

Analysis, Problem Solving, Learning


3. Produce an original and coherent, academic and ethically sound research project within the required and stipulated research guidelines.

Communication

The research project addresses LO1-3. Students will be required to conduct research independently on a topic of their choice. Systematic and sound research methods must be applied to the research, and students will need to effectively communicate their methods and findings in their projects. The project must be supported by rigorous research methods and academic evidence.

Planning and designing an academic project

Sourcing, managing, reviewing academic literature

Data collection and analysis

Presenting findings

Disseminating and implementing research findings in professional practice

This is an independent, student-led research project. Students will receive academic support and supervision from a bespoke research supervisor with expertise in the student’s chosen research area. Additional support can be sought from the University’s library services, including mentoring on academic writing and referencing.

Required:¿

Balnaves, M. and Caputi, P. (2001) Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach. London: SAGE Publications, Limited.¿¿

Byrne, D. (2016) Research ethics. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.¿¿

Dawson, C. (2009) Introduction to research methods: a practical guide for anyone undertaking a research project. 4th ed. Oxford: How To Books.¿¿

Greasley, P. (2008) Quantitative data analysis using SPSS¿: an introduction for health and social science. Maidenhead: Open University Press.¿¿

Hempel, S. (2019) Conducting Your Literature Review. American Psychological Association. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1chs70n.¿

Heyvaert, M., Onghena, P. and Hannes, K. (2017) Using Mixed Methods Research Synthesis for Literature Reviews, Using Mixed Methods Research Synthesis for Literature Reviews. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi:10.4135/9781506333243.¿¿

McMillan, K. and Weyers, J.D.B. (2014) How to complete a successful research project. Harlow: Pearson.¿

Oliver, P. (2010) The student’s guide to research ethics. 2nd ed. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.¿

Pallant, J. (2020) SPSS Survival Manual: A Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using IBM SPSS. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.¿¿¿

Ridley, D. (2012) The literature review: a step-by-step guide for students. 2nd ed. London: SAGE.¿

Vogt, W.P. (2011) SAGE quantitative research methods. Los Angeles, [Calif: SAGE.¿

Walliman, N.S.R. (2011) Your research project¿: designing and planning your work. 3rd ed. London: SAGE.¿¿

Walliman, N. (2018) Research Methods: The Basics. 2nd edn. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315529011.¿

Walliman, N. and Baiche, B. (2001) Your research project: a step-by-step guide for the first-time researcher. London: SAGE.¿¿

What are the practical steps for doing a research project? (2018). London: SAGE Publications Ltd.¿

Wiles, R. (2013) What are qualitative research ethics? London: Bloomsbury.¿

¿

Further:¿

Iphofen, R. and Tolich, M. (2018) The SAGE handbook of qualitative research ethics. Edited by R. Iphofen and M. Tolich. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.¿

Jenkins-Smith, H. et al. (2017) Quantitative Research Methods for Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration (With Applications in R). 3rd Edition. Place of publication not identified: University of Oklahoma Libraries.¿

Sue, V.M. and Ritter, L.A. (2007) Conducting Online Surveys, Conducting Online Surveys. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Inc. (US), pp. xii–xii. doi:10.4135/9781412983754.¿¿

Thomas, R.M. (Robert M. (2003) Blending qualitative & quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin.¿





Recommended readings on media and Content analysis¿¿

Cohen, S. (1972) Folk Devils and Moral Panics, The Creation of the Mods and Rockers. 3 edn. London:¿¿

Routledge. (See in particular ‘Appendix: sources of data’ p.173-177)¿¿

Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods. 4 edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (See in particular Chapter¿¿

13 ‘Content Analysis’ p.288-309)¿¿

Bell, J. (2014). Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. Sixth edition. Open University. See in particular Chapter 8 ‘using social media in research’ (starts page 118)¿¿

Neuendorf, K.A., (2002). The content analysis guidebook. Second edition. London. Sage¿¿

Krippendorff K., (2013). Content Analysis: an introduction to its methodology. Third Edition. London. Sage.¿¿

¿¿¿

Recommended readings on in-depth interviews¿¿

Bell, J., (2014) Doing your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers. 6 edn. Berkshire: Open¿¿

University. (See in particular Chapter 10 ‘Planning and conducting interviews’ p.144)¿¿

Elliot, J. (2005) Using Narrative in Social Research. Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. London: Sage.¿¿

(See in particular Chapter 1 ‘Narrative and new developments in the social sciences’ (p.1-16), Chapter 2¿¿

‘Listening to people’s stories: the use of narrative in qualitative interviews’ (p.17-35))¿¿

Legard, R., Keegan, J., and Ward, K. (2003) ‘In-depth Interviews’ in Ritchie, J., and Lewis, J., (eds.) Qualitative Research Practice: A guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. London. Sage.¿¿

Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching. 2 edn. London: Sage. (See in particular Chapter 4 ‘Qualitative¿¿

Interviewing’ p.62)¿¿

May, T. (2001) Social Research, Issues, Methods and Process. 3 edn. Buckingham: Open University Press. (See in particular Chapter 6 ‘Interviewing: methods and process’ p.120-144)¿¿

Reinharz, S. (1992)¿ Feminist Methods in Social Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (See in particular¿¿

Chapter 2 ‘Feminist interview Research’ p.18-45)¿¿

Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods. 4 edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (See in particular Chapter¿¿

20 ‘Interviewing in qualitative research’ p.468)¿¿

Lawler, S. (2008) Identity: Sociological Perspectives. Cambridge: Polity Press. (See in particular Chapter 2 ‘Stories, memories, identities’ p.10)¿¿

Wengraf, T. (2001) Qualitative Research Interviewing. Biographic, Narrative and Semi-Structured Methods.¿¿

London: Sage. (See in particular Chapter 6¿ ‘Preparing lightly structured depth interviews: A design for BNIM¿¿

Type Biographic Narrative Interview’ p.111)¿¿

Corbetta, P. (2003) Social Research. Theory, Methods and Technique. London: Sage. (See in particular Chapter¿¿

10 ‘The qualitative interview’ p.10)¿¿

O’Leary, Z. (2014) The Essential Guide to doing your Research Project. 2 edn. London: Sage. (See in particular Chapter 11 ‘Primary data: surveys, interviews and observation’ p.201-240)¿¿

¿¿

Recommended readings on ‘surveys’¿¿

Simmons, R., ‘Questionnaires’ in Gilbert, N., (ed) (2008) Researching Social Life. 3 edn. London: Sage. (See in particular¿ Chapter 8 ‘Question wording’ p.119, Chapter 10 p.182)¿¿

Oppenheim, A.N. (1992) Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement.¿ London: Continuum.¿¿

(See in particular Chapter 7 , ‘Questionnaire planning’ p.100, Chapter 8¿ ‘Question Wording’ p.119, Chapter 10¿¿¿

‘Designing attitude statements’ p.174 and Chapter 11 ‘Attitude scaling’ p.187)¿¿

Fink, A. (2013) How to Conduct Surveys. A step-by-step guide. 5 edn. London: Sage. (See in particular Chapter 2¿¿

‘The survey form’ p.29-56)¿¿

Bulmer, M., Gibbs, J, and Hyman, L. (2010) Social Measurement through Social Surveys, An Applied Approach.¿¿

Farnham: Ashgate.¿¿

May, T. (2001) Social Research, issues, Methods and Process. 3edn. Buckingham: Open University Press. (See in particular Chapter 4 ‘Official statistics topics and resource’ (p.69-85) and Chapter 5 ‘Social surveys: design to analysis’ (p.88-117))¿¿

Corbetta, P. (2003) Social Research. Theory, Methods and Technique. London: Sage.¿ (See in particular Chapter¿¿

5¿ ‘The survey’ (p.117), Chapter 6 ‘Scaling’ (p.164))¿¿

Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. Sixth edition. Open University.

Blackboard VLE

University library and associated online learning materials.

Live streaming/recording equipment/software for tutorial sessions