Social Research PG (11636.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Social Research PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online self-paced
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts And Communications Post Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
This unit prepares students for research inquiry in multiple and complex contexts. It details the research process, with a focus on expert skills for critical evaluation of reported research, and adept framing and designing of research projects.

Students will acquire advanced knowledge on how data are collected by means of interviews, questionnaires, observation, or case studies, and how data are analysed and interpreted. Students become accomplished in quantitative and qualitative research approaches and make skilled decisions in adopting a paradigm. The unit is designed to equip students with a deep understanding of the major research approaches and methodologies that are needed to conduct complex and crucial social research.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify, frame, contextualise, and justify a contemporary research problem and propose a means of problem;
2. Critically review and evaluate extant literature that surrounds a research endeavour and, based on that critical review of the literature, determine research gaps and discrepancies; and
3. Master and apply philosophical positions and assumptions that underpin research and how they inform choice of methodology and method.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Jee Young Lee
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Online self-paced Dr Jee Young Lee
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Jee Young Lee
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online self-paced Dr Jee Young Lee
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Textbook & Resources. The unit is supported by a textbook and the Oxford University Press website. 

Required textbook: 

Bryman's Social Research Methods (Sixth edition; 2021) | Clark, Tom; Foster, Liam; Sloan, Luke; Bryman, Alan (e-book is available at UC Library)

Any other editions of Bryman's book Social Research Methods are also acceptable. 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

None.

Required IT skills

Academic database search and use of reference software, basic Word 

Social media use

In-unit costs

There are no additional costs associated with this unit. Enrolled students can access the e-textbook via the UC Library website.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Artificial intelligence

Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

The use of AI tools in the unit
 
* If you are unsure whether AI use is permitted or not, please email the unit convener. 
 
General principles:
  • Do cite any Gen AI assistance you used in your reference list
  • Do use Gen AI to help make your writing clearer and easier to understand
  • Don't ask Gen AI questions about study material you don't understand
  • Don't blindly trust AI-generated information, check other sources yourself
Permitted uses for this assessment:
  • Brainstorming ideas
  • Proofreading to make sure there are no mistakes in your work
  • Explaining or defining words that you don't understand
  • Asking for suggested readings or resources on a topic
  • Translating or assisting in translation
Specific not permitted uses:
  • Text generated by AI should not be inserted into papers or used as a script for presentations
  • Do not ask Gen AI to write the paper or parts of the paper for you
  • AI should not be used to generate references, any citations or references produced by Gen AI should be double checked
  • Avoid using AI to summarise academic journal articles or books, summarised material from Gen AI should not be used in papers or presentations
  • All other uses of AI are not permitted

Acknowledgement of GenAI tool use 

Acknowledgement should be in addition to appropriate referencing using the referencing standard for that unit.

We expect students to acknowledge their use of GenAI where it is permitted in an assessment using the format below.

Format

"I declare and acknowledge the use of the following Generative Artificial Intelligence program in creating this academic work

  • AI System Name and Version: [Insert]
  • Publisher: [insert]
  • URL of the AI System: [Insert]
  • Purpose for use: [insert]

I confirm that I have not used the Generative Artificial Intelligence service in creating this work for any Purpose other than what I have declared and acknowledged above. I understand that providing false or misleading information in this declaration and acknowledgement may constitute a breach of the Student Conduct Rules." 

Examples of Purpose

I acknowledge the use of Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Copilot copilot.microsoft.com) to summarise my initial notes and to proofread my final draft.

I acknowledge the use for Code Llama for debugging my code. 

Referencing and citation

Students are expected to reference their use of GenAI as they would another source as advised by the referencing guides recommended in their unit. Referencing guides can be found on the Library's web pages Links to an external site..

GenAI at UC Links to an external site.

Referencing GenAI Links to an external site.

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