Social Science Research Seminar

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

Students completing an Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters (CWT) thesis in the following areas of study must complete this subject:

Political Science

Politics and International Studies/Politics

Criminology

Sociology

Socio-Legal Studies

International Relations

Public Policy and Management

Students who commence the thesis in semester 2 will be required to complete POLS40013 in the February of the following year.

Politics and International Studies, Criminology, Sociology, Socio-Legal Studies at Undergraduate level

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/

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.

On completion of this subjects students should:

• 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.

A research proposal study of 5000 words, worth 100% (due in April).

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory on all 4 days. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• 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.

This is a compulsory subject for students enrolled in the following Honours programs: Politics and International Studies, Criminology, Sociology, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Politicals and International Politics), (Criminology), (Sociology). This is also a compulsory co-requisite subject for students who are enrolled in the thesis component of the Master of International Relations, Master of Public Policy and Management, Master of Criminology and Master of Public Administration.

This subject will run intensively from 23 - 26 February 2015.