Bell, J. (1999 3rd ed) 'Doing Your Research Project', Open
Bryman, A. (2008) 'Social Research Methods', Oxford
Burgess (1991 2nd ed) 'In the Field' Routledge
Dey, I (1993) 'Qualitative Data Analysis', Routledge
Gilbert (2008) 'Researching Social Life' Sage
Hall, D. and Hall, I. (1996) 'Practical Social Research', Routledge and Kegan Paul
Hall, D. and Hall, I. (1996) 'Practical Work in the Community', Routledge and Kegan Paul

This module aims to provide students with the necessary skills and competencies for undertaking a community-based research project. In addition to teaching students the necessary research skills, the module will also look at the ethical and moral problems inherent in such research.

Although many of these projects will be undertaken in collaboration with outside organisations, businesses and charities, others will be based within the University itself and the wider student community.

Research projects will be based upon one or more of the following research techniques:-

(a) quantitative research based primarily upon questionnaires;
(b) ethnography and observations;
(c) qualitative research and in-depth interviews in particular; and
(d) secondary data sources.

The following questions and research techniques will be addressed during the module:-

(a) the development and refinement of a community-based research problem or hypothesis using literature searches and exploratory research;
(b) ethical problems and dilemmas facing those researching the community;
(c) introduction to secondary data sources in the social sciences and community-based research;
(d) data collection, using a variety of research techniques;
(e) analysing research findings;
(f) writing up research findings in both a summary and scholarly form.

The portfolio (equivalant to 3,000 words) is in two parts:
(a) a methodology section outlining the problems (technical, practical and theoretical) encountered in undertaking the research project, which must be related to the both relevant literature of a methodological nature and their Appendix (c. 1,200 words);
(b) a data analysis section in which students will be expected to relate their research findings to substantive literature on their subject of study (1,800 words). The substantive literature should include at least five sources from the library and Internet. In addition the portfolio must include an Appendix including a brief one-page log outlining the student's week-by-week contribution to the project, a copy of the questionnaire or other research tool, relevant field notes (such as summaries of interviews) and other materials (such as photographs) collected whilst undertaking the project (the Appendix is not included in the word count).

(a) The Sociology laboratory
(b) Computers with Windows, SPSS for Windows, Microsoft Office, Netscape and Accessibility Software
(c) The Library.
(d) Tape recorders.
(e) Rooms with access for disabled students
(f) Workshop Handbook.
(g) SPSS Handbook.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Tutors deploy a variety of learning strategies, depending on the particular project selected. Among those which students experience are:-

(a) Group work to formulate and develop a research strategy and to define the research objectives.
(b) Practical workshops to identify and refine appropriate research instruments and techniques.
(c) Computer-based workshops (processing, manipulating, analysing, accessing data)
(d) Individually or in sub-groups, library and information searches related to the project.
(e) Accessing relevant course materials on the Internet and other electronic learning resources.
(f) Working in teams to ensure the efficient conduct and conclusion of the project.