About the course

The overarching aim of the MRes in Social Science Research Methods is to provide interdisciplinary research and researcher training. Students will follow a programme of taught modules that will equip them with the skills to be able to successfully conduct social research within a variety of professional and intellectual contexts. Throughout the course students will be supported to develop an original piece of applied research by an expert supervisor.

The programme is recognised as fulfilling the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) postgraduate social science research training and development and as the first year of 1+3 awards made by the ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership to students registered at Keele University.

While the programme is framed by the generic researcher training, at its core it is designed to help students to develop an aspect of social science research that interests them. This may be something that is furthered at doctoral level or that complements professional practice.

Previous research topics include: the role of art in building communities; widening participation strategies in determining access to university; notions of self-care and wellbeing among young people; the construction of national identity in online forums; older people’s experiences of living in the rural-urban fringe; a socio-historical exploration of feminism.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact us in advance for more information about the programme and to discuss areas of supervision. 

Career Development 

The MRes in Social Science Research Methods is taught by an international faculty with a wide range of expertise in social science research theories and methodologies.

The programme is taught principally in 5 week blocks in a 3 hour workshop format. Students take part in a variety of different learning activities, from lectures to group work and one-to-one supervision. Each module is accompanied by independent study hours and throughout the course students are encouraged and required to undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate the classes and to broaden individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

The programme is assessed through a broad range of methods of assessment, including: portfolio, essay, research proposal, report, exam, learning plan, pilot study and dissertation. These enable assessment of the student’s analytical abilities, and of the student’s evaluation of particular debates, material and evidence. 

The written assignments vary in length from 2,500 word essays through to 4,000 word personal development portfolios. Students must pass all the taught modules before they may proceed to the dissertation, which involves writing a dissertation of between 15,000 - 20,000 words.

Aims of the course

The programme offers students the opportunity to learn how to appropriately employ a variety of skills and methods in order to implement a piece of original research. The theories and methods covered on the programme allow students to address a wide variety of social science concerns spanning a variety of subject areas, depending on their own interests and reasons for enrolling on the programme.

The general aims of the programme are as follows:

• To equip participants with a ‘toolkit’ for research design, consisting of a range of social science research methods and strategies.
• To explore in detail the philosophical assumptions underlying contemporary research in the social sciences.
• To develop the qualities needed to evaluate critically social science research.
• To provide practice in a range of transferable skills, improve existing skills and enhance employability, whether in an academic environment or other professional context.
• To apply more general methods and philosophies to the student’s own research interests and to gain an in-depth understanding of the current issues related to that discipline.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should be graduates normally with a good honours degree (2.1 or above) in a relevant social science subject. However, students from different backgrounds who believe they have the capacity to undertake postgraduate work in the social sciences should contact us to discuss their situation.

Students for whom English is a second language will need English language proficiency of at least 6.5 in IELTS text scores (or equivalent).

Course content

This programme may be studied over a period of time of 1 year (full-time) or up to a maximum of 5 years; 2 years (part-time) and up to 5 years (modular), to fit with other commitments such as full-time employment. Modules are also available on a stand-alone basis as part of your continuing professional development.

A Masters’ degree is 180 credits, made up of taught modules up to 120 credits plus a dissertation of 60 credits. The dissertation is the final assessment on the programme that brings together the student’s modular learning in the development and implementation of a significant piece of research, the focus of which is determined by the student, who will receive support and guidance from their supervisor.

Those taking taught modules only may qualify for a Postgraduate Award (30 credits), Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits).  The MRes Social Science Research Methods comprises of the following compulsory modules:

Research Skills and Researcher Development (30 credits)

Principles of Social Science Research (30 credits)

Using Theory in Social Science Research (15 credits)

Quantitative Research and Data Analysis (15 credits)

Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)

Dissertation (60 credits)

You will also choose one 15 credit optional module from the list of modules below:

Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis (15 credits)

Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)

Ethnographic Research (15 credits)

Teaching and assessment

The MRes in Social Science Research Methods is taught by an international faculty with a wide range of expertise in social science research theories and methodologies.

The programme is taught principally in 5 week blocks in a 3 hour workshop format. Students take part in a variety of different learning activities, from lectures to group work and one-to-one supervision. Each module is accompanied by independent study hours and throughout the course students are encouraged and required to undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate the classes and to broaden individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

The programme is assessed through a broad range of methods of assessment, including: portfolio, essay, research proposal, report, exam, learning plan, pilot study and dissertation. These enable assessment of the student’s analytical abilities, and of the student’s evaluation of particular debates, material and evidence. 

The written assignments vary in length from 2,500 word essays through to 4,000 word personal development portfolios. Students must pass all the taught modules before they may proceed to the dissertation, which involves writing a dissertation of between 15,000 - 20,000 words.

Additional costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this post-graduate programme.