Decolonizing Research Methods
I have spent some time thinking about Decolonizing Research Methods, and what will this mean in practice for my first year undergraduate students. I discussed some of these reflections in a recent presentation that you can find above – it is important to not simply include a variety of data from different countries, but to consider the historical development of the discipline, issues of sampling and hard to reach populations, talking about group differences, and considering the role that both individual and structural factors play.
SC308 Race, Ethnicity and Migration
This module provides an introduction to theoretical, historical and contemporary debates around race, ethnicity and migration. It will engage students with substantive topics but will also practically illustrate the inner workings of research in the field through a practical ‘Getting a feel for research’ embedded in the module design. Thus, the module will aim to assist students interested in the topics of race, ethnicity and migration with the preparation of their undergraduate dissertations. The concepts of ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’ are introduced. We focus on the deep implications that these notions carry for thinking about identity, culture, and social hierarchy; but also for studying ethnic tensions, prejudice and political mobilization.
Aims and Objectives
To present a comprehensive overview of the academic and policy research in the area of ethnicity and migration both historically and in the present;
To review and discuss country, and minority-specific case studies;
To critically examine existing research on inequality and ethnic differences
To outline the synergy between research question and method with specific example in the field
Delivery of the module
The module is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practicals through Autumn term. 9 1h lectures, 9 1h classes, 1 3h Practical
SC101 Researching Social Life I
This module introduces students to the research methods used by sociologists, and the methodologies underpinning them. The module aims to help students develop skills in the critical evaluation of social research and to enable them to understand the principles of social scientific investigation and inference necessary for carrying out original research. The module also provides introductory training in research design and the collection of quantitative and qualitative data.
Aims and Objectives
This module introduces students to the research methods used by sociologists, and the methodologies underpinning them. The module aims to help students develop skills in the critical evaluation of social research and to enable them to understand the principles of social scientific investigation and inference necessary for carrying out original research. In particular, students will develop skills in:
- Evaluating the strengths and limitations of different approaches to sociological research
- Understanding the connections between theory and research
- Understanding the logic of scientific inference
- Applying critical perspectives to sociological research
Upon completion of the module students will be able to approach their studies and the materials they use with a more developed ‘critical eye’ and some practical skills.
SC111 The Sociological Imagination