MSc in Applied Social Research (Sociology & Anthropology)
ObjectivesThe MSc in Applied Social Research (Sociology & Anthropology) is built around an integrated social science training programme. The programme is designed to help meet the anticipated shortage of well-trained social researchers with particular attention to anthropological and sociological work of a broadly applied kind. It is intended both as a terminal qualification and as first-year training for those proceeding to PhD research at Hull or elsewhere. The MSc is recognized by the Economic and Social Research Council as providing preparatory training for the research degree under both the Sociology and Anthropology panels respectively. The following outlines the overall aims of the programme and provides an overview of the structure of the degree course for full-time and part-time students. As a whole, the programme aims to develop in students: -a general understanding of the research process in the social sciences, -an awareness of the diversity of research styles, approaches or strategies, -an ability to rigorously formulate sociologically and anthropologically informed questions and develop a critical and reflexive methodological approach to address those questions, -more specific and practice-based knowledge of a number of quantitative and qualitative (ethnographic) research techniques, and an ability to evaluate their appropriateness to particular research settings and objectives, -an appreciation of the linkages between empirical research and theoretical and substantive issues in sociology and social anthropology, with particular reference to their main field of interest, and -an ability to complete successful applied research and to effectively and critically use their data and analysis to contribute both to social science knowledge and to applications of that knowledge within and outside academia.
Academic titleMSc in Applied Social Research (Sociology & Anthropology)
Course descriptionCourse Structure
Full Time Students
The course is completed over the course of an extended academic year comprising three periods. The first two semester periods (roughly from the end of September to the beginning of June) are for teaching and assessment of core and optional modules, while the third summer period (from June until the end of August) is devoted to the dissertation. During each period, full time students must successfully complete 60 credits towards the 180 credit total comprising 120 credits of taught components and 60 credits of dissertation. The taught component of the course is structured around a coherent programme of 8 core modules and 2 optional modules.
Part-time Students
The master's programme was designed for both part-time and full-time students. The design elements can be seen both in the timetable and the timing of modules. Part-time students complete all the core research training modules in year one. All core research training modules are taught on Thursdays mornings (from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) enabling the part-time student to be seconded from paid work in a compressed time. During the summer period of year one, they commence their dissertation research. In year 2, they complete the optional modules (with lectures and seminars scheduled so far as possible to ensure they only need be absent from work for one morning or afternoon a week) and finalize their dissertation in the summer period.
Core and Optional Modules
A list of core and optional modules is provided below. The teaching and learning in the core modules are organized in such a way so that there is a logical progression from semester 1 to semester 2, from the abstract questions of Philosophical Issues to the more concrete concerns of Central Issues and from specific research methodologies and forms of data collection to their corresponding analytical issues and techniques. Optional modules reflect staff specialist expertise in sociology and anthropology and may be chosen to suit your own particular area(s) of interest. A separate booklet (the CASS postgraduate module handbook) provides more information on all core and optional modules currently available for CASS postgraduate students.
Core Modules (students must complete the following 8 x 10 Credit Modules)
Semester 1
-Philosophical Issues in Applied Social Research
-The research interview
-Survey Questionnaire Design
-Ethnographic Practice
Semester 2
-Central Issues in Applied Social Research
-Quantitative Data Analysis
-Computing with SPSS
-Qualitative Data Analysis
Optional Modules (students must choose 2 X 20 credit modules)
-Crime, Deviance and Social Control
-Disability Policy, Identity and Society
-Encountering Development: Why Gender Matters
-Key Issues in Identity Politics and Policies
-Gender Bodies, Gendered Selves
-Other(ed) Bodies: Anthropology of Gender and Sexual Diversity
Dissertation
All students must undertake a modest piece of supervised empirical research and produce a written dissertation of between 15 - 20,000 words demonstrating methodological and analytical competence in completing a programme of social research.