Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CFS5004

 
TITLE Research Methods in Family Studies

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for Family Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit provides an introduction to epistemological issues in the philosophy of social science, including an introduction to philosophical assumptions underlying different approaches to family studies research. It also provides students with enhanced skills in the conduct of research, and with an opportunity to reflect on and re-evaluate their own personal working styles.

This study-unit also offers students the opportunity of gaining familiarity with a broad range of data collection approaches, as well as an understanding of the underlying principles of data analysis and what can be achieved by employing statistical processes. It will also provide an introduction to ethical issues in data collection, and to issues in the choice, design, effective use and validity of a range of approaches. Thus the student will be able to read research reports critically and to choose approaches appropriate to the particular research problems at hand. This is particularly the case in family studies research where the problems are invariably multi-faceted, and where both data of a qualitative and quantitative nature may be relevant. Topics of central importance are: writing and presentational skills required in different types of research; bibliographic skills and effective use of library resources; uses of computers and information technology, including software packages for databases and data analysis; structure and planning of a research thesis. Particular attention will also be paid to considering ways in which the evidence base of research can be clarified and the impact of research in practice improved.

Study-unit Aims:

1. To develop students' critical awareness of, and capacity to evaluate, the complexity of theories and explanations in family studies research.
2. To prepare students for research within family studies, so that they become familiar with key research methods in family studies, and support the preparation and successful completion of a post-graduate research-based thesis.
3. To give students knowledge of the basic principles of research strategy and design so that they can formulate researchable issues, identify and develop appropriate methodological skills for carrying out their own research, and construct effective research projects.
4. To familiarise participants with a range of current approaches and techniques in data analysis, including familiarization with relevant computer software.
5. To give students a sound understanding of ethical issues in family studies research.
6. To create a forum of peers so that students can discuss issues relating to post- graduate research and provide mutual support for each other.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1. Understand the nature of scientific knowledge and the philosophical assumptions and underpinnings in family studies research.
2. Understand a broad range of data collection approaches, including questionnaires, interviews, document reviews, attitudes scales and observations.
3. Define a range of quantitative methods and the relationships between quantitative and qualitative methods and between quantitative and qualitative data.
4. Understand the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics and their use in social and family studies research.
5. Define the concepts underpinning data analysis, including distribution, correlation, probability, samples, confidence and significance.
6. Discuss the meaning of triangulation, how it can be used in family studies research, and its limits and potential.
7. Understand reliability and validity issues related to research.
8. Understand a range of strategies for the responsible communication and wider dissemination of research findings.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1. Reflect on, re-evaluate and extend his/her personal repertoire of study skills, and demonstrate confidence in own ability to learn new concepts.
2. Develop his/her confidence in academic/research writing.
3. Read research reports critically and synthesise relevant research literature.
4. Choose approaches appropriate to the particular research problem at hand.
5. Prepare a research plan and manage a research project, with due attention to time and resource management.
6. Show an awareness of ethical sensitivity in conducting research.
7. Think critically about the way in which one's own research may be designed to impact on policy and practice.
8. Record, analyze, interpret and process qualitative and quantitative data.
9. Generate theory from data.
10. Make use of a range of bibliographic and computing techniques, including the use of the computer based statistical package IBM-SPSS.
11. Write self reflective analysis.
12. Produce a proper reference list and bibliography.
13. Consider strategies for publication and dissemination of research findings to a variety of audiences to enhance the influence in family related policies, including oral and poster presentations using visual aids that are clearly structured and retains the confidence and attention of the audience.
14. Write up research clearly.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Agresti, A. and Finlay, B. (2008). Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. 4th Edition. Pearson Education.
- Alderson, P. and Morrow, V. (2004). Ethics,Social Research and Consulting with Children and Young People. 2nd Edition. Barnardo's: Great Britain.
- Alderson, P. and Morrow, V. (2011). The Ethics of Research with Children and Young People: A Practical Handbook. 2nd Edition. Sage Publications Ltd: India.
- American Psychological Association (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th Edition. American Psychological Association: United States.
- Andy, F. (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Methods series). Sage Publications: Dubai.
- Bell, J. (1999). Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education and Social Science. 3rd Edition. Open University Press: Great Britain.
- Bellamy, C. and Perry, 6 (2012) Principles of Methodology: Research Design in Social Science. First Published. Sage Publications: Great Britain.
- Benton, T. and Craib, I. (2010). Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory). 2nd Edition. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Berg, B.L. (2008). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. 7th Edition. Pearson Education.
- Bernardes, J. (1997). Family Studies: An Introduction. 1st Published. Routledge: US & Canada.
- Birks, M. and Mills, J. (2011). Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide. First published. Sage Publications: United Kingdom.
- Black, T.R. (1993). Evaluating Social Science Research: An introduction. Sage Publications: Great Britain.
- Bryant, K. and Charmaz, K.C. (2010). The SAGE Handbook of Grounded Theory: Paperback Edition. Sage Publications: United States.
- Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press: Italy.
- Bryman, A. and Cramer, D. (2011). Quantitative Data Analysis with IBM SPSS 17, 18 & 19: A Guide for Social Scientists. 1st Published. Routledge: Great Britain.
- Charmaz, K.C. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis. 1st Published. Sage Publications: United States.
- Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 3rd Edition. Sage Publications: United States.
- Dattilio, F.M. (1998). Case Studies in Couple and Family Therapy: Systemic and Cognitive Perspectives (The Guilford Family Therapy). 1st Published. Guilford Press: United States.
- Delanty, G. and Strydon, P. (2003) Philosophies of Social Science: The Classic and Contemporary Readings. Open University Press.
- Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (2011). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. 4th Edition. Sage Publications: United States.
- Dermott, E. and Seymour, J. (2011). Displaying Families. A new concept for the sociology of family life. 1st Published. Palgrave Macmillan: Great Britain.
- Field, A. (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Method). 3rd edition. Sage Publication.
- Flick, U. (2009). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. 4th Edition. Sage Publications: Great Britain.
- Gabb, J. (2010). Researching Intimacy in Families (Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life). 1st Published. Palgrave Macmillan: Great Britain.
- Hart, A. (2007). How to Publish in Women's Studies, Men's Studies, Policy Analysis, & Family History Research. 1st Published. Asja Press: United States.
- Hart, C. (2002) Doing a Literature Review. 1st Published. Sage Publications: Great Britain.
- Huberman, A.M. and Miles, M.B. (2002). The Qualitative Researcher's Companion: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Sage Publications: United States.
- Karaker, M.J. and Grochowski, J.R. (2012). Families with Future: Family Studies into the 21st Century. 2nd Edition. Routledge Academic: US & Canada.
- Kvale, S. and Brinkman, S. (2008). InterViews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. 2nd Edition. Sage Publications: United States.
- Marshall,C. & Rossman, G.B. (2011) Designing Qualitative Research (5th Ed)Sage Publications Great Britain.
- McCarthy, J.R. and Edwards, R. (2011). Key concepts in Family Studies. Sage Key Concepts Series. 1st Published. Sage Publications Ltd: London.
- Miles, M.B. and Huberman, A.M. (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. 2nd Edition. Sage Publications: United States.
- Miller, B.C. (1986). Family Research Methods (Family Studies Text series). Sage Publications.
- Mitchell, M. and Jolley, J. (2012). Research Design Explained. 8th Edition. Harcourt Brace Publishers: United States.
- Morgan, D.H.J. (1996). Family Connections: An introduction to family studies. 1st Published. Polity Press.
- Nielsen, L. (2012). Father-Daughter Relationships: Contemporary Research and Issues. Textbooks in Family Studies. 1st Edition. Routledge Academic: US and Canada.
- Olson, S. (2011). Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families: Workshop Report. Committee on the Science of Research on Families. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. National Academies Press.
- Oppenheim, A.N. (2000). Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement. New Edition. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd: Great Britain.
- Pallant, J. (2010). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS . 4th Edition. McGraw Hill: Australia.
- Phillips, D.A. and Cabrera, N.J. (1996) Beyond the Blueprint: Directions for Research on Head Start's Families. A National Research Council and Institute of Medicine Publication.
- Saldana, J. (2009). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. 1st Published. Sage Publications: United States.
- Shadish, W., Cook, T.D. and Campbell, D.T. (2001). Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs for Generalised Causal Inference . 2nd Edition. Houghton Mifflin.
- Smith, J.A., Flowers, P. and Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research. Reprint Edition. Sage Publications: Great Britain.
- Yin, R.K. (2008). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (Applied Social Research Methods Series). 4th Edition. Sage Publications: United States.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Angela Abela
Frank H. Bezzina
Roderick Bugeja
Liberato Camilleri
Stefania Cassar
Mary Darmanin
Stephen Lungaro Mifsud
Dione Mifsud
Clarissa Sammut Scerri

 

 
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