HSO501 Research Methods in The Social Sciences

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a detailed foundation in a broad range and variety of approaches, designs, statistical techniques, and methods to conducting both qualitative and quantitative social science research. This course also focuses on developing analytical thinking skills, identifying research questions, formulating hypotheses, operationalizing ways to test them, and drawing conclusions based on logical analysis of the source evidence. The process of scientific research in the social sciences, and related disciplines are examined to develop broad understanding of a range of methods and enhance skills in a method of each student’s choice. The course is not just about “research methods” (empirical data collection and analysis) but about the entire “research process” from start to end, with the imperative inclusion of Pacific Indigenous research methods.

2. UNDER-PINNING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: Students are expected to have sound research, academic writing skills, self-motivation, research communication, critical thinking ethics, interdisciplinary perspectives, and cultural understanding, as well as the ability to put these skills and methods into studying realities in Samoa and other countries of interest.
3. RELATIONSHIP TO NATIONAL STANDARD COMEPETENCIES: This course is classified as a Level IX course by the Samoa Qualification Authority Framework Policies June 2009.

4. DELIVERY STRUCTURE: The course is delivered for three (3) contact hours per week throughout a semester of 15 weeks.

5. NOMINAL DURATION: Total class contact hours LECTURES: 30 [2 hours a week]

                                                                Independent learning hours lectures:      60 [4 hours a week]

Total class contact hours TUTORIALS:      15 [1 hour a week]

Independent learning hours tutorials:     15 [1 hour a week]

Total Hrs:                                                             120 hours

8. NATIONAL STANDARD DATA: Level 9, Credit Value: 20
9. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Students must complete a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least a B3 average; a relevant qualification and experience as determined by the Postgraduate committee and subject to NUS General Statutes and Regulations on entry requirements; or Be part of any other relevant programme approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and within the University regulations.
10. CO-REQUISITE: None

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course the student should be able to:

1. Evaluate the scope of methodological approaches in Social Science
2. Critically analyse the application of methodologies and the role of the researcher
3. Position one's own disciplinary approach to method within the broader scope of social science
4. Create an in depth understanding of at least one method in own discipline
5. Develop a tenable research using a Pacific Indigenous Research method

ASSESSMENT METHODS: The course consists of a 100% Course work

 Assessment Procedures:

IMPORTANT:

This course is 100% internal assessments.

For your assignments – You MUST use the APA Referencing System.

11. CONTENT OUTLINE

12. TEXTBOOK(S) REQUIRED BY STUDENTS: Readings will be uploaded on Moodle and hardcopy on request:
13. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY STUDENTS: Access to computers, library sources and internet services for online research purposes.

Resources - NUS Library, Public Library, USP Library, Google books (http://books.google.com

Google scholar (http://scholar.google.com

14. REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism occurs when the work and ideas of another person are used as if they were your own. It is a serious offense and students who plagiarize will receive an automatic zero for that particular assignment. Plagiarism can be avoided by referencing any ideas that are not original. Students should reference when:

• Using factual information/ideas generated by someone else
• Using quotes which should be enclosed by quotation marks and written exactly as stated in source
• Paraphrasing or summarizing someone’s work
• Unsure whether to reference or not – YOU SHOULD REFERENCE ANYWAY!

15. LATE WORK/ SUBMISSION:

Students are expected to manage their time well and complete assignments by the DUE DATE. Late Submission will result to deduction of 2% of final mark. Assignments that are more than 3 days late after the DUE DATE will not be MARKED!!

You must always keep a second copy of your assignments in case something happens to it and you are able to reproduce it at a moment’s notice.

Medical Certificates:

Late work may be accepted if the students attaches a medical certificate to their assignment and hands their work in as soon as they have recovered. However, medical certificates will not be accepted if: (1) The medical certificate states that the student became ill on the assignment due date or very soon before the due date, (2) The assignment is not handed in immediately after the period of illness, as specified on the medical certificate. For example, if the medical certificate states that you were ill on Tuesday, Wednesday, the assignment must be handed in on Thursday afternoon by 5pm.

Extension Requests:

If, for any reason, a student thinks that they will be unable to complete an assignment on time, they should talk to the lecturer as soon as possible. Extensions will not be granted if student requests for an extension on the DUE DATE. Extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Decolonizing Methodologies in Qualitative Research: Creating Spaces for Transformative Praxis

Pacific Research: Rethinking the Talanoa ‘Methodology’