Research Methods Public Policy and Management

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The aim of the programme is to equip students with the theoretical understandings and practical skills required to carry out independent research using a variety of methodological approaches and research techniques.

By the end of the course, students will:

* be familiar with the range of methods used by researchers in health, social work or the social sciences
* understand the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of these methods
* be able to make an informed choice about which methods are appropriate for answering particular questions
* be competent to design and carry out research using a range of different methods of data collection and analysis
* have a clear grasp of the ethical and political issues which arise in research in health, social work or the social sciences
* be able to frame research in relation to the theoretical and conceptual issues which arise in the subject areas in which they are working

The taught component of the programme consists of 120 credits taken over one year for full time students and two years for part-time students. In addition to the core modules which account for 80 credits, students will also take two 20 credit subject specific modules.

A student will take 5 common taught modules plus two subject specific modules relating to their own chosen pathway. In addition each student will undertake a subject specific dissertation.

Course Structure
The taught component of the programme consists of 120 credits taken over one year for full time students and two years for part-time students. In addition to the core modules which account for 80 credits, students will also take two 20 credit subject specific modules in either Sociology; Social Policy; Social Work and Public Policy and Management (see below for details).

MA in Research Methods Full time

Semester One

Research Design and Practice 10 credits
Philosophy of Social Science 10 credits
Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis 20 credits
Subject specific module 20 credits

Semester Two

Qualitative Research: Issues and Methods 10 credits
Applied Qualitative Methods 20 credits
Subject specific module 20 credits
Graduate School Courses on-going throughout the programme 10 credits
Dissertation on-going throughout the programme 60 credits

MA in Research Methods Part time

Year 1

Semester One

Research Design and Practice 10 credits
Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis 20 credits

Semester Two

Qualitative Research: Issues and Methods 10 credits
Subject specific module 20 credits

Year 2 Semester three

Philosophy of Social Science 10 credits
Subject specific module 20 credits

Semester four

Applied Qualitative Methods 20 credits
Graduate School Courses on-going throughout the programme 10 credits Dissertation on-going throughout the programme 60 credits

Assessment

Each module is individually assessed. The assessments enable students to demonstrate a range of research skills including critical analysis through essay; report writing; group work; oral presentations; project development and completion.
The 15,000 word dissertation will be a research proposal consisting of a literature review and research work that is relevant to the students own discipline area. Each student will have an individual supervisor who will oversee the dissertation.
Assignments will be marked and moderated internally, and marks will be subject to approval from the External Examiner.