Course Title: Designing Research

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Designing Research

Credit Points: 12

Course Coordinator: Nicole Pepperell

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8248

Course Coordinator Email:nicole.pepperell@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 48.4.28

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no pre-requisites for this course though it is assumed that you will normally have completed the first year of one of the social science programs in the School.

Course Description

This is an introductory-level second year course of study for students enrolled in a number of the social science undergraduate degrees on the City campus. It is also available as a university elective. It addresses several key questions:

• What is knowledge?
• What distinguishes ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge?
• What human interests inform different approaches to knowledge and to different modes of inquiry?
• What epistemological and ontological assumptions do advocates of quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge rely on?
• How do advocates of ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge approach issues of credibility and reliability?
• How do social scientists represent their knowledge to various audiences?
• How can human service professionals best read critically and draw on quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge?

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the end of this course you will be able to demonstrate a beginning-level ability to:

• identify, analyze and account for some of the key assumptions at work in ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge.

• read and interpret ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge

• draw out certain implications for good practice (eg. In direct service provision or policy advocacy) of ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ styles of research and knowledge

• read analytically and critically, and to write in an intelligent, fluent and reflective way.

In this course you will develop the following program capabilities:
• Communication
• Critical analysis
• Knowledge

Overview of Learning Activities

You will participate in a one-hour lecture and a two-hour tutorial throughout the Semester, as well as undertaking other group and individual projects and activities outside of normal class hours.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to access and read a variety of prescribed texts.

Overview of Assessment

You will demonstrate your learning in this course by completing assessment tasks with a total word length or equivalent of 4,000 words.