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 166-086 Social Research Strategies

Note

Formerly available as 166-258/358. Students who have completed 166-258/358 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This is a compulsory Core Unit for students who wish to major in Sociology.

Availability

2nd and 3rd year

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Jui-shan Chang and Tim Marjoribanks

Prerequisites

Usually Sociology 1A and 1B.

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

Four days of intensive computer laboratory sessions in Orientation Week totalling fifteen hours, and a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial over the first six weeks of the semester

Subject Description

This subject introduces students to quantitative and qualitative strategies and methods. The quantitative stream consists of two modules on descriptive and inferential statistics, which are taught in intensive computer lab-based mode over four days during orientation week. These modules focus on an introduction to data analysis (describing, visualising and analysing data). The qualitative stream is run over the first six weeks of semester, examining how qualitative researchers gather, focus and analyse data, using participant observation, interviews and documentary analysis. Theoretical approaches include grounded theory, the interpretive case method and the extended case method. Both parts of this subject are based on students obtaining hands-on experience, through exercises/projects in computer labs and field-based project exploring qualitative methods.

Assessment

Class exercises and written work equivalent to 4000 words

Prescribed Texts

Work-book for laboratory-based computer work

  • J Lofland & L H Lofland, Analysing Social Settings, A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis. (3rd ed) Wadsworth Publishing Company 1995.
Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Sociology
Prev 166-083 Sociology of Youth and Youth Policy
Next 166-087 Sociological Theory in Contemporary Society
 
Status:                   Official 1999
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