Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 57097 Advanced Social Research

Handbook description

This subject is a 15,000-word dissertation, or equivalent in another medium, completed under the supervision of a Social Inquiry academic. It may be completed as a UTS Shopfront project, or as part of an In-country Study or Exchange program through the Institute for International Studies. This subject represents the first semester's work on the project.

Subject objectives/outcomes

Specifically, on completion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

1. devise research questions and elaborate appropriate methodology and research practice
2. conduct a research program and marshal secondary and/or primary source materials into a coherent research project.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject will:

• enhance student capacity to evaluate theoretical claims and address strategic questions through in-depth research and analysis
• contribute to the development of theoretical knowledge in social inquiry
• contribute to the development of critical thinking, analytical skill and research capacity
• contribute to the development of ethical behaviour and practice
• contribute to an appreciation of the importance of theory in understanding social and political life
• contribute to the development of critical understanding of international processes
• open up new perspectives on political life, widening horizons, facilitating greater commitment to lifelong learning.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students are supervised by a Social Inquiry academic relevant to the student's topic area over the period of one semester. This involves regular one-to-one meetings with the academic where the student presents their ideas and discusses them, getting feedback and guidance. The academic oversees the Project, reading materials written by the student, commenting on and discussing them, as the student elaborates the research project, carries it out, and writes it up.

The student should meet initially with the subject coordinator, to discuss the topic and consider potential supervisors or advisers. The student and their academic supervisor should meet at least 6 times over the semester, after the initial meeting with the subject coordinator. You should write these meeting times into your program below and confirm all alterations to those times in writing with your supervisor.

These meetings should cover topics including:

• Meeting 1: Planning project strategy, timetable and resources.
• Meetings 2, 3 and 4: Discussing progress and reviewing, where necessary, the project timetable.
• Meeting 5: Discussion of outcomes and plan for draft report
• Meeting 6: Discussion of final draft

Submission: Students must submit their final report by the end of Week 14, to allow adequate time for assessment by appropriate markers. LATE SUBMISSION WILL RESULT UNAVOIDABLY IN DELAYED RESULT CONFIRMATION.

Content

This is the first half of the part-time Social Inquiry Research Project, and hence entails completing preparatory stages of the project, taking the student through the initial stages of the research process. The content of the Social Inquiry Project is determined by the student in consultation with the academic, and may be focused on any aspect of social inquiry. This unit should be finalised by the production of a draft project report, which will allow the student and supervisor to evaluate and if necessary reassess the progress of the research so far. The project, which is completed in Part B of the part-time Social Inquiry Project, is a 15,000 word written project, or equivalent in another medium, and may be completed as a Shopfront project, or as part of an in-country or exchange program through the Institute for International Studies.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: To conduct social research that applies social inquiry knowledge

Objectives	a, b
Value	100%
Due	To be determined by the student and supervisor at the start of semester.
Task	Research plans, collation of source materials, drafts of chapters. Complete semester by submission of draft of Project Report as planning document for 57081 Social Inquiry Project Part B.
Assessment criteria	demonstrated capacity to devise research questions and elaborate appropriate methodology and research practice capacity to conduct a research program and marshal secondary and/or primary source materials into a coherent research project.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. You are expected to initiate, attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in all scheduled meetings or classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

As relevant to the project undertaken.