| CODE | YTH1017 | ||||||
| TITLE | Research Project | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Youth and Community Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This Study-unit shall prepare study-unit participants to put into practice the basic tenets of social scientific research. Study-unit participants shall be offered the possibility to undertake an empirical study following the successful presentation of a research project proposal on a topic of their choice, which however, falls with the remit and research interests of the Department of Youth and Community Studies. Secondary data research (making use of existing archival records and census data for example) shall be encouraged. Study-unit participants shall be assigned a supervisor throughout the duration of this work to ensure that the submitted work meets the requisite methodological and ethical standards. Study-unit participants shall also be expected to undertake an in-depth literature review on the topic in question, and to outline at length the procedural aspects involved in the design and implementation of their study. A cogent attempt at data analysis is also expected. Study-unit participants are expected to rigorously follow the requisite presentation guidelines in the process of compiling and presenting their final report. Study-unit Aims: This Study-unit is aimed at; a. providing course participants to gain first hand experience in the design and implementation of a scientific research study; b. allowing course participants to undertake an in-depth study on a topic of their choice which falls within the broad scope of youth and community studies; c. accentuating and sharpening course participants' research and evaluation skills; d. developing course participants' academic writing skills; and e. testing course participants' ability to work within designated time-frames and meeting established deadlines. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. design and undertake a scientific research study; b. have a clear understanding of the demands of scientific report writing; c. possess more in-depth knowledge on the particular topic researched; d. understand the dynamic of the research process. 2. Skills (including transferable [generic] skills): By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. work within pre-established time-frames and deadline constraints; b. work under expert supervision; c. substantiate observations and claims with reference to the expert literature; d. undertake a literature review; e. collect and present empirical data; f. analyse empirical data; g. present findings; h. outline implications for future research; and i. identify and address limitations of work and ethical concerns. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: (availability at the Library or otherwise is indicated against each entry) Creswell, J.W., (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and research design: Choosing Among Five Traditions, London: Sage. (available) Fowler, F.J. 2002. Survey Research Methods. London: Sage (available) Fraser, S., Lewis, V., Ding, S., Kellet, M. & Robinson, C. (Eds.), (2004) Doing Research with Children and Young People. London: Sage. (available) Nachmias, C. F. & Nachmias, P. (1992). Research Methods in the Social Sciences, London: Edward Arnold. (available) Seale, C. (Ed.) (2004). Social Research Methods: A Reader. London: Routledge. (available) Silverman, D. (ed.). (2004). Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage. (available) Stevens, R. et al 1993. Understanding Research, Edinburgh: Campion Press Ltd Schutt, R. K. (2006). Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press. (available) |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is only offered to BA(Hons) in Youth and Community Studies students. | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Project | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Albert Bell (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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