A portfolio of work marked in three stages (equivalent to 4,000 words).
The portfolio to consist of materials generated from various independent study tasks set to students throughout the module [LO 1 - 7].

Key Information Set:
100% coursework

Key Information Set: 14% scheduled activities, 86% independent guided study

The 14% schedule activities comprising: -
Eighteen one-hour lectures
Twenty-four one-hour workshops

Lectures will introduce students to the individual topics. Workshops will include a series of practical exercises designed to allow students to practise, develop and demonstrate their research skills, and will also provide a means for preparing students for their assessment and identifying and supporting weaknesses in student learning through one-to-one tutor intervention.

During their 86% independent-guided study students are expected to practise their independent learning skills by focusing on a particular substantive topic as a member of a work/research group. The independent study will therefore include: -

Guided reading and research
Secondary research
Primary research
Completion of assessment tasks
Meeting with fellow students to discuss group work.

In addition to the three assessment deadlines students will also be expected to submit two formative pieces of work by set deadlines on which students will be given feedback during lectures or seminars.

This module introduces students to a range of independent-learning and research skills and competencies required to pursue an undergraduate award in Sociology or Crime, Deviance & Society, and which are sought after by prospective employers.

The independent-learning skills addressed will include:-
Critical thinking skills
Note-taking skills
Writing skills
Presentation skills
Avoiding plagiarism and compiling a bibliography

The research skills which will be addressed will include: -
Library and internet research
Social and governmental surveys including the Census, the General Household Survey and the British Crime Survey.
Questionnaire design and research including an introduction to SPSS
Data analysis

The module will also seek to stress the transferrable nature of the independent-learning and research skills taught in this module to the labour market, which relate to the university's agenda on employment, entrepreneurship and enterprise. Thus sessions will be included on: -

The nature of the graduate labour market.
Holistic thinking
The curriculum vitae

Bryman, A. [3rd ed. 2008] Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press.
Cottrell, S. [3rd ed. 2008] The Study Skills Handbook, Basingstone, Palgrave.
Cottrell, S. [2nd ed. 2011] Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument, Basingstone, Palgrave.
Cottrell, S. [2003] Skills for Success, Basingstone, Palgrave.
Home Office [no date] Home Office, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/ [Assessed 20th March 2012]
Northedge, A. [1994] The Good Study Guide, Milton Keynes Open University Press.
ONS [no date] Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics, http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/ [Assessed 20th March 2012]
Rumsey D, [2010] Statistics Essentials For Dummies. Chichester, John Wiley.

Library based resources
A computer laboratory with a projector for a PowerPoint presentation and large enough for group work.
A lecture room with a computer and projector for a PowerPoint presentation
Computers with Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, SPSS and Accessibility Software
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.