Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSIM904: Research Design Methods and Skills for AQM

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This is an advanced level research design and methods course intended to equip you with a broad range of relevant skills and knowledge, allowing you to formulate research questions and carry out your own research projects. The primary aims of the unit are to:

  • Introduce the epistemological and methodological traditions in social science research and map the social science research space, particularly highlighting the range of quantitative methods used;
  • Introduce key skills for designing and organizing a research project, conducting critical reviews of published research; and disseminating and communicating research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Develop understanding of the principles of research design and appreciate multiple alternative approaches to developing and addressing research questions;
2. Develop critical understanding of the scientific method;
3. Understand the relationship between empirical research and theory generation and testing (theory-evidence links);?
4. Define a researchable problem and formulate research questions and hypotheses that are amenable to empirical investigation;
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Show comprehensive understanding of issues posed by social research in relation to ethics, confidentiality and legality.
6. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the principles behind causal inference;
7. Develop understanding of the theoretical and data structure assumptions underlying a range of advanced quantitative methods;
Personal and Key Skills8. Demonstrate an advanced ability to study independently and effectively;
9. Develop the ability to present, summarize and report complex empirical results and methodological approaches for a non-academic (or non-quantitative) audience in order to engage the broader social science community, funding bodies and policy-makers in your research.
10. Become acquainted with relevant software tools and IT applications for the retrieval, analysis and the presentation of quantitative information.

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Imai, Kosuke. (2017). Quantitative Social Science: An Introduction. Princeton University Press,