Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
In this module, you will be given the opportunity to apply your theoretical and methodological understandings of sociology to a research problem in either sociological literature or the social field. This might encompass the following: a. the definition of a research problem, b. the creation of research questions or a hypothesis, c. the design of a research solution, d. the completion of a literature review, e. a methodological statement, f. the application of an appropriate method to your research object, g. an appropriate form of data analysis and, h. the construction of relevant conclusions. On this module, you will work with a supervisor on a project of your own choosing. You are encouraged to meet with your supervisor at least three times per semester to discuss your developing project and to get feedback on draft chapters of your dissertation. The dissertation module is an important component of the sociology programme. It provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate that you can define, design, and execute your own research in the field and show prospective employers in a variety of fields that you are a skilled researcher capable of developing research solutions and communicating these effectively. This module is similarly appropriate if you want to remain in education because it will enable you to further develop the kinds of independent research skills that are essential in postgraduate education. Projects can be based on empirical data that you have collected or be library based. During the module, you will participate in workshops focussed on the study skill development. Students undertaking fieldwork will also attend a workshop focussed on the ethics of empirical research and will get guidance on how to approach the ethical review process.
Aims
To provide students with an opportunity to carry out a piece of independent research in sociologyTo allow students to apply methods and theory to a social problemTo enable students to demonstrate the ability to conduct a thorough literature review of a particular field in sociologyTo allow students to design a solution to a particular research problemTo enable students to work independently on a significant piece of work and demonstrate their ability to manage a research project
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/soc-30028/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
generate a research problem in the area of sociology on the basis of their knowledge of the field: 1construct a literature review of a field of sociology relating to an identified social problem: 1construct theoretical positions and conclusions on the basis of reading sources against each other in a survey of a particular field of sociology: 1generate a suitable method of study on the basis of a chosen methodology: 1apply method to a social problem in order to produce an intervention in the field: 1apply theoretical perspectives to data in order to generate conclusions: 1design a piece of research in relation to a social problem employing relevant methodological strategies: 1
20 hours taught sessions, group/individual supervision100 hours library study100 hours research80 hours write upTOTAL 300 HOURS
Description of Module Assessment
1: Dissertation weighted 100%8,000 Word ThesisStudents write an 8,000 thesis on a topic negotiated with a supervisor. This may either be based in library research or field work approved in the School ethics approval process.