SOCIOL 718 : Research Projects: Design and Practice

Arts

2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores some of the major principles of research design and practice before discussing particular methods of research. Students will work through problem definition, literature review, and research design. Both ‘empirical’ and ‘theoretical’ projects will be encouraged.

Course Overview

SOCIOL 718 will walk students through the process of designing effective research projects. This will include choosing a fruitful area of inquiry, investigating what has been said about that topic, identifying a knowledge gap/need, formulating a pertinent research question, and designing an effective approach to answering that question. The latter will include selecting a methodology, data types, data collection methods and theoretical frameworks that align with the chosen research question.

The course will pursue these objectives through assigned readings and assessments, as well as in-class discussions and student presentations.

Classes will be run as interactive seminars. This means students are expected to complete all assigned readings before each class and come prepared to engage in discussions.

Formats for the seminar may include:
1.    Small group discussions.
2.    Short presentations (by the lecturer or students) followed by informal class discussions, to which all class members will be expected to contribute.
3.    Student-led discussions about class readings.
4.    Practical workshop sessions which provide opportunities for students to engage in specific aspects of research design & practice.
6.    Individual meetings with the lecturer to provide a chance for one-on-one discussion about the specifics of your particular research project.

Course Requirements

Restriction: SOCIOL 731, SOCSCRES 701

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Engage in critical self-reflection with the support of our Course Agreements/Practices and the Social Location Exercise. (Capability 8)
  2. Develop skills in academic integrity and academic appreciation. (Capability 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Possess the ability to undertake an academic literature review and write an effective research proposal. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 8)
  4. Be equipped to design, undertake, and manage a small research project. (Capability 3 and 8)
  5. Clearly communicate your research project to your classmates and lecturer. (Capability 6)
  6. Articulate your researcher positionality and the theory of change driving your research project. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
  7. Develop skills in finding, organizing, formatting and analysing academic texts of relevance to your research project. (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
  8. Design a strong social scientific research question and pair it with a relevant methodology, data sources, data collection methods, modes of data analysis and theoretical frameworks. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Internal assessment 100% Group & Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 20 hours per week on a 30-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly.  

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at all scheduled activities  to complete components of the course.
Lectures will not be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

There will be more small group discussions, more opportunities to work on the individual pieces leading up to the final research proposal, and more opportunities in class to discuss the assignments with peers.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 31/10/2023 08:52 p.m.