Course summary

Social research methods are a means of providing evidence to examine ideas about society and are important to social scientists who want to study a particular problem or to test a theory. They are also fundamental tools of value to government, service providers, and to business. You will gain skills in a diverse range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and engage with ‘live’ research issues and external organisations. For example, some of the recent Research in Practice placements have been with: the police (approaches to mental health issues) a local charity (women in homeless settings) a housing charity (experiences of private renters) an international development NGO (education for girls in Global South) an organisation supporting migrants in Scotland This course teaches you how to use research tools, and consider the wider meanings of how knowledge can be constructed in different ways and for diverse range of purposes. You will learn about research methods including ethnographic and participatory tools, and the analysis of large data-sets, and how to apply these to your own work. Our staff have wide experience of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. As well as working as social science researchers, our staff have acted as expert advisers to governments and as consultants to local, national and international organisations.