| Effective Term: | 2025/02 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Education, Arts & Community |
| Unit Title: | Research Methods in the Social Sciences |
| Unit ID: | FEAFN3001 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (At least 30 credit points from ANY subject-area at 2000-2999 level) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (ATSGC2831 and SOCIO2597 and SOSCI2001) |
| ASCED: | 090301 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit introduces students to the nature, design and processes of social research. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of research approaches, designs and methods available to social researchers, and will develop critical skills in planning research by integrating methods and practice. The unit guides students through the various stages of the research process, from the formulation of a research topic to the development of a research design framework and research proposal. Students will also develop their ability to critically reflect on the ethical and political considerations of social research and to deconstruct the implicit assumptions of social scientific methods. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | |  | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Understand the nature of social research and the research process |
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| K2. | Examine the uses of quantitative and qualitative research methods in social research |
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| K3. | Identify which methods are appropriate for particular research questions and topics |
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| K4. | Analyse critically the strengths and limitations of social research methods |
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| K5. | Evaluate the ethical and political concerns of social research |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Develop advanced research skills in the social sciences |
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| S2. | Design a research topic based on critical reflection of the research literature, professional practice, lived experience and/or personal narrative |
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| S3. | Construct a research design framework |
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| S4. | Apply appropriate social research methods to particular social questions and problems |
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| S5. | Support and justify a project in a research proposal |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Analyse critically the research process and develop a research topic |
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| A2. | Evaluate research methods to formulate a research design framework |
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| A3. | Construct a research proposal |
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| A4. | Apply advanced critical thinking skills to ethical and political issues in social research |
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| Unit Content: |
•What is social research?
•Research design
•The research process
•Literature reviews
•Ethics, politics and values in research
•Analysing quantitative data
•Analysing qualitative data
•Surveys and sampling
•Narrative, life history and case study analysis
•Discourse analysis
•Evaluation research in practice settings |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
K1, K5, S1, S2, A1, A4 |
Develop a research topic informed by the research literature, professional practice, lived experience and/or personal narrative. |
Research topic |
10-25% |
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| 2. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S3, S4, A2, A4 |
Prepare a research design framework that outlines the focus, aims, significance, conceptual framework, methodology and methods, and ethical and political considerations. |
Research design framework |
20-35% |
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| 3. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, A1, A2, A3, A4 |
Construct a research proposal that details and justifies the focus, aims, significance, conceptual framework, methodology and methods, and ethical and political considerations. |
Research proposal |
40-60% |
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