Social Research

Meet the growing demand for expertise in high-level social research methods with a degree from one of the world's leading centres for training in demography and social research.

A Master of Social Research from the ANU Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute (ADSRI) will equip you with the practical skills to conduct, commission and evaluate research in the social sciences.

The program's expert teaching staff are active practitioners who can draw upon their wealth of local and international experience, and their connections with government departments.

Career Options

Employment Opportunities

A Master of Social Research will advance your career working in local, state and federal government departments, international government and statistical agencies, universities, consulting companies, banks, local and international aid agencies, and multilateral organisations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. Summarise and critically review key studies in a particular substantive area of research
2. Use theory to formulate social research questions and hypotheses
3. Construct and critically assess quantitative and qualitative social research designs
4. Identify the key stages of the social research project, how the components within each phase fit together, and be able to apply this knowledge to real-world research projects
5. Undertake basic statistical analysis appropriate for answering a stated research question
6. Present and interpret basic statistical research results

The Master of Social Research requires completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

DEMO8082 Social Research Practice

SOCR8001 Statistics for Social Scientists

6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

SOCR8008 Qualitative Social Research

SOCR8009 Quantitative Social Research

A maximum of 18 units from completion of the following courses:

ANTH6009 Culture and Development

ANTH6025 Gender and Cross-Cultural Perspective

ANTH8028 Introduction to Social Impact Studies

CHMD8001 Directed Readings in Culture, Health and Medicine

CHMD8004 Qualitative Methodologies for Health Research

CHMD8014 Perspectives on Culture, Health and Medicine

HUMN8024 Digital Humanities: Theories and Projects

IDEC8003 Issues in Development Policy

IDEC8026 Quantitative Policy Impact Evaluation

MEDI8203 Introduction to Health Policy and Administration

NEWM6506 Digital Cultures

POGO8029 Health Policy in a Globalising World

POGO8084 Principles of Social Policy

POPH8100 Fundamentals of Epidemiology

SOCY8004 Interest Groups, Advocacy and Public Policy

STAT8002 Applied Time Series Analysis

A minimum of 36 units from the completion of:

Either:

24 units from completion of one of the following specialisations:

Demography

Social Research Methods

Social Science of the Internet

A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

DEMO8008 Principles of Population Analysis

DEMO8011 Demographic Analysis II

DEMO8024 Population and Society: Theory and Empirical Perspectives

DEMO8047 International Migration

DEMO8048 Gender and Population

DEMO8079 Health Demography

DEMO8088 Population, Climate Change and Sustainable Development

SOCR8002 Survey Data Analysis

SOCR8003 Qualitative Research Analysis

SOCR8004 Special Topic in Social Research

SOCR8005 Social Science of the Internet

SOCR8006 Online Research Methods

SOCR8007 Survey Data Analysis II

SOCR8008 Qualitative Social Research

SOCR8009 Quantitative Social Research

SOCY8014 Social Networks: Concepts, Analyses and Methods

Or:

 A minimum of 36 units from completion of the following courses:

DEMO8008 Principles of Population Analysis

DEMO8011 Demographic Analysis II

DEMO8020 Qualitative Research Analysis

DEMO8024 Population and Society: Theory and Empirical Perspectives

DEMO8047 International Migration

DEMO8048 Gender and Population

DEMO8079 Health Demography

DEMO8088 Population, Climate Change and Sustainable Development

SOCY8014 Social Networks: Concepts, Analyses and Methods

SOCR8002 Survey Data Analysis

SOCR8004 Special Topic in Social Research

SOCR8005 Social Science of the Internet

SOCR8006 Online Research Methods

SOCR8007 Survey Data Analysis II

SOCR8008 Qualitative Social Research

SOCR8009 Quantitative Social Research

24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 65 per cent

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (1 semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (1 year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Marketing, Psychology, Development Studies, Media and Communication, Law (social fields: family, migration, education, health), Geography, Social Policy, Anthropology.

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.