Two Year Master's in Methods of Social Research

Course Structure

1. [\'Social Research Methods\', \'Digital Culture\', \'Qualitative Research\', \'Quantitative Data Analysis\', \'Design of Social research\', \'The Sociology of Risk\', \'Foundations of Sociology\', \'Drugs, Culture and Control\', \'Race, Difference and Belonging\', \'The Family, Parenting Culture and Parenting Policy\', \'Governing Science, Technology and Society in the 21st Century\', \'Politics and Sociology of the Environment\', \'Sociology of health, illness and medicine\', \'prepare you for the academic challenges of postgraduate study in SSPSSR;\', \'offer a range of modules that provide a solid grounding for further study at Master\\x92s level in the UK;\', \'develop academic and research skills in Social Science degrees taught through Social Sciences;\', \'increase your proficiency in English for general academic purposes and for study in SSPSSR to a standard which is equivalent to C1 on CEFR or 6.5 in IELTS;\', \'enable you, on completion, to study successfully alongside others who have completed a full UK Social Sciences degree;\', \'enable you to develop their independent study and research skills in the context of postgraduate study associated with SSPSSR.\', \'the structures, registers and varieties of English to a level sufficient for you to be successful on a University of Kent postgraduate degree programme;\', \'the inter-disciplinary nature of Academic Skills in Social Sciences;\', \'academic literacy and skills - in particular, the use of English for academic purposes;\', \'the process and debates surrounding how researchers learn more about the social world;\', \'the techniques and approaches that social researchers draw upon to organise, structure and interpret research evidence;\', \'how to judge the quality of research concerning strengths and weaknesses of the range of frameworks and methodologies.\', \'critical reflection;\', \'discussing and undertaking written and interpretative analysis of key material;\', \'presenting, evaluating and interpreting a variety of data using defined techniques in a logical and systematic fashion;\', \'general research, especially bibliographic and computing skills;\', \'gathering, organising and deploying evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources;\', \'identifying, investigating, analysing, formulating and advocating solutions to problems;\', \'developing reasoned arguments, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement.\', \'applying concepts, theories and methods used in the study of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology;\', \'analysing data including indexing and retrieval of qualitative data, and understanding basic statistics.\', \'team and independent working: collaborating effectively as part of a team and in group activity for a common goal; the ability to work with others; independent working and study skills;\', \'communication skills: presenting material in written and oral form; making effective and appropriate forms of visual presentation; understanding the dynamics of communication;\', "critical thinking: critically evaluating and reflecting on your own and others\' opinions; analysing and critically examining material as well as identifying and describing problems;", \'research: understanding and evaluating research material, including qualitative and quantitative data; processing information (reading) and using libraries;\', \'IT/ICT: using effectively and appropriately for communication and as a means of learning;\', \'planning and time management: planning effectively, meeting deadlines and managing your own learning.\']