Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title STUDYING SOCIETY
Code SOCI106
Coordinator Dr KJ Morrin
Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology
Kirsty.Morrin@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2019-20 Level 4 FHEQ Whole Session 30

Aims

-To introduce students to the field of social enquiry and its proper objects of study

-To introduce students to the principles and process of social research

-To introduce students to strategies for finding, accessing and evaluating sources of information

-To introduce students to basic methods and techniques of data production and analysis

-To introduce students to basic techniques for presenting and communicating information effectively


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) An understanding of the nature of social enquiry and its objects of attention

(LO2) An understanding of key principles in social research

(LO3) An understanding of the social research process

(LO4) An ability to find and access existing sources of information

(LO5) An ability to critically evaluate sources of information and knowledge claims

(LO6) An ability to produce and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data effectively

(LO7) An ability to present and communicate information and findings of research in an effective manner

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Listening skills

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Following instructions/protocols/procedures

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S6) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S7) Time and project management - Personal organisation

(S8) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S9) Information accessing - skills used in technology

(S10) Critical analysis - Critical thinking and problem solving


Syllabus

 

The module content is organised around the following four ‘blocks’:

1 Introduction to social enquiry

This first block is intended to introduce students to the field of social enquiry. We begin simply by asking 'what is the social?' and 'what do we know of it?' In doing so, students are quickly introduced to the importance of thinking critically about the social world and our knowledge of it. The nature of sociology as discipline that involves our thinking differently about the social is outlined, and in turn we consider the place of sociology within society. As sociologists in the making, students are encouraged to start identifying issues and asking questions that could be taken up as the focus of their own further social enquiries.

2 Sources of information

This second block aims to introduce students to strategies for finding, accessing and evaluating different sources of information about the social. It is designed to en courage and enable students to think critically about sources such the media, governments, and other 'officials', and to think about how the information they find might be approached and used as part of their social enquiries. As part of this block students engage in workshops designed to enable the development of practical skills in finding and accessing information, and encouraged to demonstrate these through the completion of assigned information gathering and evaluation task.

3 Introduction to primary research and data production

This third block is intended to introduce students to the basic process, principles and practice of social research. In doing so, students are encouraged to think about how they might themselves actually produce data that will help them begin to address their own questions about the social. The block includes an introduction to principles of research design, ethical issues in social research, as well as methods of data production incl uding observation, interviewing, and questionnaires. Practical research competencies are developed through the completion of assigned data production tasks, whereby students get the opportunity to actually apply the methods they have learnt and generate their own data about the social world.

4 Introduction to data analysis and presentation

This fourth and final block firstly introduces students to some basic methods and techniques of data analysis. A key component of this block is engagement in practical data analysis workshops in which students will work with both qualitative and quantitative data, some of which they will have themselves produced in the previous block. The block also introduces students to strategies and techniques for presenting and communicating findings orally, visually, and textually. Again, students are encouraged to demonstrate their data analysis and presentation skills through the completion of assigned tasks.

Over the course of this year lon g module then, students are offered a comprehensive introduction to the field of social enquiry, and encouraged to develop a wide set of key skills to be developed throughout their degree studies and beyond.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Weekly lectures are designed to introduce students to key concepts, ideas and debates in relation to the the study of society. The content introduced in lectures would usually be followed up by students via directed reading or completion of some other related task, which would then also inform tutorial discussion typically.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description: Tutorials are designed to allow for more in-depth interrogation and exploration of particular concepts, ideas, and debates (such as those introduced to them in weekly lectures). They will involve focussed discussion within a small group of no more than 10 students and will be faciltated by a member of the academic staff. They will usually be informed by required reading and/or completion of a short directed learning task.
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Students remain in the same tutorial group throughout the module, and will be l ed by the 'Academic Advisor' of those students throughout.

Teaching Method 3 - Practical
Description: Some apsects of the course require engagement in more practice-based learning. Practical sessions and workshops involve students completing short directed learning tasks under the supervision of a relevant member of staff. These include for instance, sessions on using certain library resources to find and access information, and sessions on using computer software to analyse data.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 4 - Group-work
Description: The course requires students' continuous engagement in group work outside of the scheduled lecture and tutorial hours. In particualr, students need to complete research related tasks as a group and report back on these during tutorials and in assessed work.
Attendance Recorded: No
Unscheduled Directed Student Hours (time spent away from the timetabled sessions but directed by the teaching sta ff): 12

Self-Directed Learning Description: Self directed learning hours will be spent reading around the course content, preparing for other learning activities such as tutorials and practical sessions, and completing assessed assignments.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 24

  14

    8

0

12

58
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 242
TOTAL HOURS 300

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Group Presentation of Research Findings 10 to 15 minutes There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is not an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedu  15 minutes    15       
Tutorial Contribution There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is not an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Continuous  Continuous    15       
Written essay on topic of social enquiry There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  -750 words    10       
Review of existing sources There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  -1250 words    30       
Report on data production There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 2  -1250 words    30       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.