Research Methods in Social Sciences

This Course Guide provides a detailed course plan for SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences.

Purpose of this Course Guide

This Course Guide prepares you for studying the course. The introduction gives a general overview of the course, and lists the aims and course learning outcomes. The sections that follow are on:

• course materials;
• course assessment, including information about assignments and examinations; and
• tutor support.

SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences provides a sound foundation in the philosophy, concepts, classification, methodology, and application of social science research. It is a two-semester, 20-credit, higher level course.

Course aims

SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences aims to:

1. Provide you with sound foundation knowledge of social science research.
2. Enable you to systematically plan and execute various steps necessary for conducting research.
3. Provide opportunities for you to practise skills in planning research, collecting and analysing data, and writing a research report.
4. Increase your awareness of measurement instruments in research.
5. Enable you to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods, and identify the use and misuse of social science research.

Course learning outcomes

On completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Analyse the differences between scientific and nonscientific approaches to knowledge.
2. Illustrate the basic ethical principles in conducting social research.
3. Discuss the major goals and concepts in social research, and evaluate social research critically.
4. Formulate research problems by reviewing the literature.
5. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs.
6. Analyse different methods and techniques of data collection, and discuss the possible errors in collecting data.
7. Perform preliminary quantitative and qualitative data analysis and discuss the possible errors in analysing data
8. Write a research report with appropriate structure and content.

Course overview

The following table gives a general overview of the course structure.

You can see from this overview that the course prescribes five assignments that will be counted for the course assignment. There are 15 two-hour tutorial classes, three three-hour day schools and a final three-hour examination.

Print materials

SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences has been designed to take advantage of one prescribed textbook. The study units provide instruction on how to proceed through the textbook. Each unit also adds points of clarification and gives examples so that you can fully understand the concepts and principles presented in the text. It is hoped that you are able to apply your own knowledge and experience to the concepts in the text and apply these concepts to your professional and intellectual lives.

Set textbook

The prescribed text is:

Babbie, E R (2016) The Practice of Social Research, 14th version, Cengage Learning.

This book is now available in the Cengage Technology Editions (CTE) version The publisher has published this edition to support educators and learners in making a smooth transition from print to digital learning and instruction. The CTE version is more affordable than the original edition of this textbook. However, a total of six chapters are only accessible online. With the purchase of the printed book, you will receive an access card plus password as well as a walk-through digital solution called the 'CourseMate.' You will be able to access all the online chapters as well as various learning tools. The online chapters are highlighted for your easy reference. If you encounter any difficulties in accessing these online materials, feel free to consult with your tutor or Course Coordinator.

Reading texts

The course also provides you with a number of supplementary readings that deal with the nature of scientific investigation, varieties of social research methods, measurement theory, data collection, report writing, and critical evaluation of research. These additional readings enable you to have a more comprehensive understanding of the major issues involved in social science research.

Non-print media

Several videos may be used to explain or illustrate specific principles of social science research. You will be informed, in due course, what the videos are and when to watch them.

You will also be guided to use certain computer software for processing data. This will be available in the HKMU PC laboratory. More information on this will be sent to you as the courses progresses.

Tutors

Tutors conduct face-to-face, non-compulsory tutorial sessions with a group of students (approximately 35) over the course presentation, as indicated in the tutorial schedule. At these sessions, key course concepts are reviewed and reinforced, group and individual exercises conducted, topical issues discussed, questions answered, and assistance provided relative to assignments.

Tutors also make themselves available for weekly telephone contact at a time and phone number arranged with their tutorial group. In addition to the tutorial work and telephone tutoring, tutors mark the assignments according to marking criteria provided by the academic coordinator. Tutors are encouraged to provide comprehensive and timely feedback to the students. The academic coordinator is responsible for training the tutors, providing marking criteria, monitoring a sample of marked assignments and providing feedback to the tutors.

Tutorials

SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences provides 30 hours of tutorial support for students. Tutorials are not compulsory, but you are strongly urged to attend.

The 15 tutorials are two hours each.

The following is a suggested tutorial plan.

SOSC A313 Research Methods in Social Sciences emphasizes both knowledge and practical skills. It has been written for students with little research background and experience. Examples and issues from daily life are used to demonstrate various research principles and methods. It is hoped that you will find the course interesting and useful not only in research but also in your educational and professional planning, decision making, and development.

Good luck!

Dr Ruth Mei-tai Fan received her PhD from the Department of Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are social and educational psychology, justice perception, juvenile delinquency, spousal relationships, and motivation.