1. CRITICALLY UNDERSTAND THE METHODS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS.
Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

2. CRITICALLY UNDERSTAND THE METHODS OF QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS.
Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

3. DEMONSTRATE ADVANCED SKILLS IN DATA HANDLING USING STANDARD STATISITICAL SOFTWARE Analysis
Application
Communication
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem Solving

4. DEMONSTRATE HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS, USING CONTEMPORARY METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem Solving

5. DEMONSTRATE HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS, USING CONTEMPORARY METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem Solving

1. Research methods essay (2,000 words), 40% – students will write a critically essay about how research is conducted in their field of study, showing their knowledge of different research methods, data collection and analysis, addressing learning outcomes 1 and 2

2. Small scale research project (4,000words), 60% - students will take part in a small-scale research project demonstrating their knowledge and skills of quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis. Students should use appropriate software to aid their analysis of data addressing learning outcomes 3, 4 and 5

This module will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of research methods and as well as equipping students with the necessary skills to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data. Students will consider benefits and limitations to methods and when certain methods may be appropriately employed. They will gain understanding about research methods and develop knowledge about how to improve the quality of their research by reducing limitations and overcoming problems. Students will engage with statistical analysis software (e.g. R and SPSS) and well as qualitative analysis methods and software packages (e.g. NVivo). The module intends to prepare students for planning and undertaking their own independent research.

Students will be taught using a range of methods. Sessions will include a mixture of lectures, tutorials and practical data handling sessions all taught through distance learning.

Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using SPSS. 5th ed. London: Sage Publications.

Pallant, S. (2016). SPSS survival manual: a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. 6th ed. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Silverman, D. (2017). Doing Qualitative Research. 5th Ed. London: Sage Publications

Stinerock, R. (2018) Statistics with R. A beginner’s guide. London: Sage.

Additional texts available through the online reading list.

University library for a range of relevant texts, e-books and academic journals.
Materials and resources on the module VLE.
Access to academic study skills tutors and resources.
Access to subject librarians for additional support.
Supervisory team
Skype or teleconferencing and video or podcast technology.
Data analysis software