PC4S019 - Research Methods 01 Sep 2015 - 31 Aug 2021 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC4S019
Module Title: Research Methods
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Health, Sport and Professional Practice
Faculty Sub Group: Policing and Criminology
Module Leader: Sharan Johnstone
Module Team: Hilary Miller, Colin Rogers
First Intended Intake: OCT 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100486 - policing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2015
Valid To 31 Aug 2021

Module Aims

The overall aim of this module is to provide students with a knowledge and critical understanding of the appropriate uses of a range of established social research methods.

Content Summary

The module intends to:

Develop students' understanding of the ways in which social research is designed and conducted.

Enable students to evaluate critically the research of others.

Provide experience of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research in the social sciences.

Develop students' understanding of research theories and methodologies.

Enable students to select, develop and plan a (potential) dissertation research topic

Provide an overview of social research approaches.

The main 'skills' needed for undertaking research in different contexts.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Tutorial 24
Project supervision 2
Independent Study 50
Directed Study 108
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 14
Formative Assessment - Independent 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To critically discriminate between research paradigms.
LO2 To critique published research seeking out its strengths and weaknesses.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 A robust defence of the chosen method which demonstrates an understanding of the methodological issues relating to their study. 20 N/A 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Research Plan/Proposal/Project/Log (CW) 1 Develop a research proposal of 3000 words including a critical review of relevant literature. 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (CW) 1
Research Plan/Proposal/Project/Log (CW) 1

Reading List

Bell, J. 2005 Doing your research project [electronic resource]: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social science. Maidenhead : Open University Press

Blaxter, L, Hughes, C, Tight, M. 2006 ‘How to research’ [electronic resource] Maidenhead: Open University Press

Flick, U. 2007 ‘Designing Qualitative Research’ London: SageGilbert, N. (Ed) 2008 ‘Researching Social Life’ London: Sage

Gilbert, N. (Ed) 2008 ‘Researching Social Life’ London: Sage

Gray, D.E. 2009 ‘Doing Research in the Real World’ London: Sage

Jupp, V. 2006 ‘The Sage dictionary of social research methods’ [electronic resource] London ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage

Potter, S. 2006 ‘Doing Postgraduate Research’ London: Sage