| CODE | GER1005 | ||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Gerontology and Dementia Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Gerontologists play many roles in all contexts of work. Doing research on a regular basis is one of the key responsibilities of gerontologists. Research investigations are part of the leadership role that gerontologists will lay claim to organising better community and residential care services for older adults. This study-unit, which is designed with the needs of students reading for a Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics in mind, is intended as an introduction to doing research in ageing settings. The emphasis will be on identifying aspects of ‘later life’ and addressing them by means of a flexible and adaptive yet rigorous methodology. Topics covered will include: gerontological research, methodology, research design, research design, non-/probability sampling theory and techniques, and research ethics. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to provide students with knowledge pertaining to research methodology applied to the multidisciplinary field of gerontology. It provides students with basic skills needed to undertake various types of research with older adult populations. Key aspects of applied research will be addressed including: special problems sampling older adults; operationalization of variables; longitudinal research design; ethical issues associated with cognitively impaired participants and; an introduction to data analysis. An emphasis will be placed on survey research; however, other major research designs will be addressed (both quantitative and qualitative). Specific reference will also be made to current research issues in gerontology. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research designs. - compare and contrast questionnaire and interviews. - explain the difference between representative and non-representative sampling. - provide definitions for a range of central terms in social research methods (e.g. research design, validity, reliability, longitudinal research, etc). - outline the ethical dilemmas faced by gerontologists and geriatricians. - compare the differences and overlaps between the following terms: 'methodology', 'research design' and 'method'. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - foster skills in the planning and carrying out of qualitative and quantitative research studies. - carry out case studies and fieldwork in ageing settings. - construct and distribute questionnaires. - conduct unstructured, semi-structured and structured interviews. - plan and co-ordinate focus groups. - assess the reliability and validity of methods of research. - foster skills in writing of assignments and dissertations. - analyse quantitative and qualitative data. - evaluate and scrutinise research reports. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text: - Neuman, W.L. (2010) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (7th edition). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. - Jamieson, A. & Victor, C. (2002) (Eds.) Researching Ageing and Later Life. Buckingham : Open University. Supplementary texts: - Social research methods /Alan Bryman. Oxford U.P., 2012. - Real world research :a resource for users of social research methods in applied settings /Colin Robson. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. - Research methods and statistics /Ian Walker. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. - Introduction to research methods :a practical guide for anyone undertaking a research project /Catherine Dawson. How to books, 2009. - Qualitative interviewing :the art of hearing data /Herbert J. Rubin, Irene S. Rubin. SAGE, 2012. - Qualitative inquiry and research design :choosing among five approaches /John W. Creswell. SAGE Pub., 2013. - The Sage handbook of qualitative research /editors, Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna S. Lincoln. Sage, 2011. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is only offered to students following the Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics course. | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anabel Scolaro |
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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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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