1 Semester

24 hours

Hawthorn

Nil

Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Sciences strand.

Aims & Objectives:

The aim is to understand how research design relates to theoretical, metatheoretical and empirical
debates in social research.

Teaching Methods:

Seminars, lectures.

Assessment:

Research Proposals, Paper on epistemology, Draft literature review, Assessed work from other unit (or project).

Generic Skills Outcomes:

The seminar will enhance students' critical and intellectual skills; advance students' project management skills; extend students' presentation, discussion, research and writing skills; develop students' individual research projects; help students gain confidence in discussing epistemological problems (problems concerning the nature of truth and the possibility of discovering it); develop students' understanding of the relationship between ontological questions and their own approach to research.

Content:

• Honours Seminars (two hours per week): Issues discussed include epistemology, the development of research questions, social theory in research, the role of pre-existing literature in the research process, sources of evidence and data, critical evaluation of sources, case studies of social research, and ethical and political issues in social research.
• Other Studies: A student is required to attend a number of other class sessions in one other subject in the University according to the student's own educational needs and thesis topic. A maximum of three hours of class attendance per week may be required. This requirement will be determined by the thesis supervisor in consultation with the student.

Reading Materials:

Articles will be available online reserve through Swinburne Library.