Research Design (710M9)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring and summer teaching

This module aims to provides you with a practical introduction to reseach methodologies and methods. The module will combine practical exercises with structured sessions that introduce different research paradigms and principles of research design, issues around qualitative and quantitative data collection and management, analysis and intepretation, and key debates around epistemology, methodology and ethics. 

To support you in developing concrete research skills and obtaining a 360-degree overview of the research cycle the module will focus on semi-structured interviewing and survey design and analysis. The merits and weaknesses of these methods will be discussed against alternatives (for example focus groups interviews, participant observation and participatory statistics) and each session will highlight the ethical and political implications of the various choices that make up a resarch design. You will be encouraged to reflect on the issues and dilemmas highlighted by the module as researchers, evaluators and commissioners of research in relation to the context in which they might do or make use of research.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 20 hours of contact time and about 130 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2020/21. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.