| CODE | LAW5078 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Laws | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit aims at empowering participants with the knowledge base and skills requisite for social science research with a specific focus on issues and themes related to mediation studies. The content of this study unit shall focus on the diverse theoretical and methodological traditions that inform social science research, and how these come to bear on the design and implementation of studies focusing on mediation and related topics. Throughout the study-unit, the ethical and methodological dilemmas that the researcher encounters while undertaking research studies, and how these may be overcome shall be also be discussed and appraised. Study-unit Aims The study is aimed to: (a) equip participants with the requisite knowledge-base and skills to undertake social research; (b) instill a service evaluation culture among participants and promoting the importance of on-going scientific research and innovation among present and prospective mediation practitioners; (c) sharpen participants' knowledge of diverse research traditions, approaches and data collection and analysis methods; (d) advance the importance of mixed or triangulated research methods; (e) underscore the ethical dimensions of research studies and the safeguards that needs to be assured to upholds the requisite ethical precepts; and (f) further students' knowledge on the design and execution of scientific research studies. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) have a clear understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of diverse research approaches in the social sciences and to distinguish between diverse research approaches; (b) understand the plethora of methods available to the researcher and the benefits of combining or triangulating methods; (c) distinguish between evaluation and other forms of social research; (d) identify the crucial aspects of designing and undertake a social research and/or evaluation study; including the ethical concerns at stake and the procedures to required to overcome them; and (e) understand the role that research plays in the development of mediation services. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) critically evaluate research and research methods; (b) distinguish between a plethora of evaluation model/methods and identify those models most suitable for specific scenarios; (c) present a proposal for a social research study; (d) design and implement a social research study; (e) analyse and interpret social research/service evaluation findings; and (f) present a report outlining the study's methodology and main outcomes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings (availability at the Library or otherwise is indicated against each entry) 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). Schutt, K.R. (2000) Investigating the Social World. London: Sage (available). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Frances Camilleri Cassar |
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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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