Social Science Research Seminar

Subject POLS40013 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

4 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

February, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: February 22, 23, 24, 25, 2010. A 4-day intensive course of lectures and workshops during Orientation.
Total Time Commitment: Not available

Prerequisites:

Admissionto fourth-year Honours in political science, international studies, public policy and management, criminology, sociology or socio-legal studies, or the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Political Science), (International politics), (public policy and management), (criminology), (sociology) or (socio-legal studies), or the thesis component of the Master of Criminology (100-point program).

Corequisites:

none

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Politics and International Studies, Sociology, Criminology or Public Policy at Undergraduate level

Non Allowed Subjects:

Any of the following subjects:

166-410 Approaches to Political and Social Inquiry

191-530 Criminology Thesis Seminar

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Dr. Michael Crozier: mcrozier@unimelb.edu.au

Dr. Julie Evans: j.evans@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject is designed to develop research skills for students planning and writing research theses in the School of Social and Political Sciences. The subject explores contemporary research strategies, differing methodological approaches to social research, the relationship of theory and research, and practical issues concerned with designing thesis topics and their realization through the research process, including the management of ethics principles and procedures. The subject gives special attention to the design of problem-driven research. It will assist students to develop skills in thesis preparation and development as well as in the framing of research projects, more generally. The subject is taught through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars.
Objectives:	Have an understanding of the theoretical, methodological, resource and ethical considerations of relevance in designing a social science research project. Have an appreciation of the role of theory in the framing of social research. Have a sense of the need to identify appropriate research strategies when undertaking research. Have an awareness of the analytical and organizational skills required in social science research. Have completed a fully developed research proposal for their thesis.
Assessment:	A research proposal study of 5000 words, worth 100% (due mid-Semester 1).
Prescribed Texts:	A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry. be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic. be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.
Notes:	This is a compulsory subject for students enrolled in the following Honours programs: Political Science, International Studies, Public Policy and Management, Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Political Science), (International Politics), (Public Policy and Management), (Criminology) and (Socio-Legal Studies). This is also compulosry for students who are enrolled in the thesis component of the Master of Criminology. It is available as an elective subject for students enrolled in Sociology Honours and Postgraduate Diploma. This subject will run intensively over 4 days during the last week of February.
Related Course(s):	Bachelor of Public Policy and Management(Honours) Master of Criminology (CWT)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Criminology Criminology International Politics International Studies Political Science Political Science Public Policy and Management Socio-Legal studies Socio-legal Studies Sociology Sociology

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