Rationale 

This course aims to provide students with the thorough understanding of the process of research in social sciences. Students will become familiarised with the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the various research methodologies and procedures they are likely to use while undertaking social science research. The course will allow students to expand their understanding of qualitative and quantitative research and data collecting and analysis tools and methods and they will examine the stages involved in transforming a research question into actual research. By the end of the course, students will understand the role, importance and implications of research in the social sciences field. 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be expected to:

(i)    Determine the stages involved in a literature review.
(ii)   Develop a research hypothesis.
(iii)  Explain the overall process of designing a research study from its inception to its report.
(iv)  Define the basic characteristics of quantitative research and qualitative research.
(v)   Identify the different types of research and their implications.
(vi)  Define key terms used in social science research.
(vii) Determine the steps involved in qualitative and quantitative data collection.
(viii) Perform statistical analysis considering basic statistic knowledge and interpret data. 
(ix)   Identify the types of qualitative data typically collected in a qualitative study.
(x)   Write a proper report and present the results in an oral way.
(xi)  Develop independently a design of a research project.
(xii) Discuss the ethical issues that occur in social sciences research.