module specification

This module will introduce research and specially applied research to students from Community Development and Leadership, Youth Studies, Youth Work and Youth Work Apprenticeship areas. Students will be introduced to the research process and research knowledge and skills relevant to professional and academic development. These research principles will provide a foundation for understanding approaches to social research, community profiling and evidence-based practice and research design. It will introduce research methods and the basics of preparing a research proposal on themes related directly to community and youth work. Reflective writing is a core component of this module. It will further focus on how to decide the appropriateness of different research approaches in a variety of environments.    

Aims of the module

You will

1. develop a strong foundation for understanding approaches to social and community research and evidence-based practice;
2. develop research skills and knowledge for professional and academic purposes with a focus on community and youth work;
3. develop a practical understanding of doing primary social research and understanding their underlying philosophies;
4. explore the design and organisation of research approaches;
5. critically analyse research reports encompassing different aspects of it;
6. sharpen your reflective skills in the context of research.

None

• An introduction to different styles of community-based research including community profiling; LO1
• Principles and practice of doing various types of fieldwork, such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation; methods of collecting data from the field and data analysis; LO1 and 2
• Introduction to research strategy and methodology and research methods and the differences; LO2
• Introduction to feminist research; LO2
• Dealing with ethical and cultural issues in research LO2
• Examining some community profiles; LO3
• Analysing and critiquing research reports LO3
• Literature search strategy and how to look for literature; LO4
• Primary and secondary research analysis; LO5
• Formulating a research question, aim and objectives; LO6

Theoretical input will be through lectures, seminars and small working groups. 

The lectures will cover all stages relevant to completing the students’ research systematically.

Reflective learning is a core part of this module and students are expected to write a reflective log as a tool to capture their learning on their research journey.

Students will benefit from a blended learning approach through the use of Weblearn for online and ongoing access to lecture notes, additional materials including articles and research reports, links to E-books. There will also be the opportunity to benefit from both on-campus and online learning from 2022.

Small group activities and discussions are key to teaching for all students and will be in the context of tutor-led sessions and exercises and simulated situations which will be useful for research. 

Students are encouraged to make full use of the University library resources as well as other on-line resources and, where appropriate, other libraries.

Students are expected to discuss and reflect on their ideas for a research topic and this leads to the proposal stage.

Throughout the research students are required to keep a reflective research diary to log thoughts, feelings or more practical matters concerning their research.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. describe and contrast a range of research methods used in applied social research and refer to relevant ethical and cross-cultural issues in research;
2. identify and offer an analysis of the broader issues of social research including research paradigms and research strategies and methodology;
3. understand why and how community profiles are carried out in a wide range of circumstances by examining some of them;
4. carry out secondary research on demographic data and social issues in a chosen local authority area;
5. carry out a small-scale community profiling exercise using primary research with three individuals and present your findings;
6. design, write and submit your research title, question, aim and objective for your proposed primary research in Year 3.

The seminars are designed to develop students' practical research skills in research design, data handling and analysis of fieldwork. There will be opportunities for students to engage in informal peer review and evaluation to enhance their work.

In addition, students will be expected to undertake regular independent study, including weekly practical tasks related to the workshops, to a total of 90 hours per year. Students are expected to offer research summaries and reflective accounts of their learning in the seminars and discuss the appropriateness of methods, quality of findings and other related issues. They will receive peer feedback and feedback from the lecturer on their reflective accounts.

An important aspect of this module is a small-scale community profile exercise which involves primary research. This is a qualitative exercise that builds on the community profile in year one.

On-line activity will include access to module materials and multi-media with links to ethnographic, community based and other research resources, e.g. online reading and research and analysis activities in preparation for class discussions.

Students will benefit from a blended learning approach through the use of WebLearn for online and ongoing access to lecture notes, additional materials including articles and research reports, links to E-books.

This module has opportunities for formative assessment, and draft work is considered and commented on. Comments on draft work are provided a week before the final hand in date, so that students have opportunities to amend their work

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