SOCIOL 718 : Research Projects: Design and Practice
Arts
2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
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 that 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.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Provide a refresher on critical sociological perspectives (Capability 3)
- Help you identify social problems to research and productive research questions. (Capability 3 and 4)
- Give you guidance on how to produce an effective literature review, which will include developing skills in finding, organizing, formatting and analysing academic texts of relevance to your research project. (Capability 3)
- Familiarise you with different research methods, including cutting-edge methods. This should help you better understand the pros and cons of different methods, and to improve your ability to select appropriate methods to address your chosen research question. (Capability 3 and 4)
- Strengthen your ability to produce an effective research proposal, which includes identifying a strong social scientific research question and pairing it with a relevant methodology, data sources, data collection methods, modes of data analysis and theoretical frameworks. This should enhance your ability to plan your research for the SOCIOL 790 dissertation you will need to write in Semester 2, as well as design an effective MA research proposal, for those of you thinking of continuing to the MA and beyond. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Give you the opportunity to improve your presentation skills, as well as your ability to effectively evaluate presentations. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 7)
- Improve your critical reading skills and critical writing skills (I’ll offer learning strategies throughout the semester). (Capability 4 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Internal assessment | 100% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 100% |
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
We will have one three hour seminar meeting per week.
Attendance is expected at all scheduled activities required to complete components of the course.
Seminars will *not* be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.
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.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.