Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Research in Social Sciences: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Course Code
KSK_245
Branch of Science
Sociology and social work; Sociology of Organisations and Social Governance
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Emīls Ķīlis
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To deepen knowledge about the specifics of research planning and organisation in social sciences, research designs, quantitative and qualitative methodology and data acquisition methods, as well as strengths and weaknesses of the most frequently used methods. To provide an overview of the main requirements in science, observation of which ensures sufficient methodological, grounded and systematic correctness of a Master’s thesis; to improve knowledge about presentation of bibliographic notes and references in research papers; to ensure academic research development skills and competences in accordance with Master’s thesis scientific quality requirements.
Preliminary Knowledge
Knowledge about research at Bachelor level.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.To improve knowledge about the specifics of research planning and organisation in social sciences, research designs, quantitative and qualitative methodology and data acquisition methods, as well as strengths and weaknesses of the most frequently used methods; about differences in the scientific and daily cognition process, basic principles of academic and applied research planning and main elements of the research structure; about research methodologies, diversity and differences in methods in different scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research.
Skills
1.To identify a problem and research methods appropriate for the scope of a Master's level research, to discover arguments used in an academic discussion and to propose the main argument or assumption to be proved; to select theoretical sources appropriate for the problem, to plan an appropriate research design, to select empirical research methods, to develop tools for them, as well as to draw conclusions related to research questions and the proposed thesis, which should be proved within the research paper.
Competences
1.To strengthen the competence of using scientific methods for systematic research of social phenomena, to do research in the study process and in professional activity.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
Analysis of the research problem in a group and a research project plan corresponding to it.
Summaries about specified literature.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
|
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
2.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
Participation and group work (20%).
Analysis of the research problem in a group and a research project plan corresponding to it (20%).
Summaries about specified literature (20%).
Final examination: examination in the form of a test (40%).
|
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Social research process, its logical structure. Master’s thesis as a type of research, its drafting requirements and specifics.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Research designs, quantitative and qualitative research methodology, mixed research strategy.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Development of the research idea, problem as the first step of implementation of research, structuring of the study field and definition of research questions.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Quantitative research strategy/methodology; research design specifics and possibilities within quantitative methodology. Hypothesis, creation of a sample group, variables, research questions.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Quantitative research strategy/methodology; research design specifics and possibilities within quantitative methodology. Hypothesis, creation of a sample group, variables, research questions.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Quantitative research methods. Survey, its quantitative forms, observation, content or content analysis, internet studies.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Creation of a survey for the needs of obtaining data for quantitative surveys, methodical basic principles of formulating questions.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Qualitative research methods.
Qualitative interview (profound, partially structured) focus groups discussion, qualitative observation. Peculiarities of an interview situation in a qualitative study. Methodical basic principles of preparation of guidelines.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Basic principles of research communication.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis in a research.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Bryman, A. (2016) Social research methods., books.google.com
2.
Creswell, J. W. (2014) Research Design. SAGE Publications. London.
3.
Punch, K. (2014) Introduction to social research : quantitative and qualitative approaches. SAGE Publications. London.
4.
Robson, C., McCartan, K. (2016) Real Word research. John Wiley and Sons Ltd
5.
Walliman, N. (2017) Research Methods: The Basics. Routledge, DOI https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315529011
6.
Pētniecība: teorija un prakse (2016). Zinātn. red. Kristīne Mārtinsone, Anita Pipere, Daiga Kamerāde. Rīga: RaKa.
Additional Reading
1.
Hughes, A.J., Sharrock, W.W. Theory and methods in sociology. Palgarve Macmillan. 2007.
2.
Punch, K. F. (2000) Introduction to Social Research., SAGE Publications, London.
Other Information Sources
1.
Pētījumu un publikāciju datu bāze http://petijumi.mk.gov.lv/