University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2015/16 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies > Social Science Research Methods (Politics) (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9POLI016T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Vernon Hewitt
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the students' interest in and knowledge and understanding of the range of skills needed by a researcher in the social sciences. The curriculum is designed to cover all the elements of the ESRC research training guidelines, to facilitate recognition by the ESRC as a Research Training Masters and as the first year of an ESRC-funded 1+3 research training. It provides in-depth knowledge both of the generic skills required by social scientists (mainly delivered in the first semester) and of subject specific skills appropriate to politics. The programme therefore includes units on core skills in social research, covering library, data base and internet searching, IT skills, and ethical and legal questions; qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods. These methodological skills are supported by discussion of epistemological questions and research design in the core unit ‘Comparative Research Design’. The dissertation element of the MSc enables students to pursue an independent, in-depth study in the discipline supported by a thriving research culture. Graduating students will be well-situated to develop research careers following their interests in this field, or to proceed to MPhil/PhD studies. The specific programme aims are: 1. To provide a broad and effective research training consistent with the generic ESRC training guidelines, the subject specific guidelines for political science, international studies and international relations (hereafter referred to simply as "politics") and the pathway guidelines for subject-specific domains of expertise in politics. 2. To ground students in a wide range of knowledge, skills and competencies needed in contemporary political research, including philosophical issues and qualitative and quantitative methods. 3. To develop a critical awareness of theoretical and methodological issues in the conduct of research, that will enable them both as professional scholars and as informed citizens to engage with appropriate research techniques and are conversant with alternative approaches. 4. To train competent researchers, who can understand and use appropriate research techniques and are conversant with alternative approaches. 5. To provide specific research training that will enable those students wishing to pursue their studies at doctoral or MPhil level successfuly to complete theses in their chosen fields. The school places primary emphasis on students' written analysis of research methods isues. However, our assessment procedures encourage students to develop a broad range of transferable skills, including oral argument, rigorous time management skills, critical thinking, conceptualisation, independent learning and team work.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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The MSc in Social Science Research Methods (Politics/International Relations) provides a structured approach to the teaching of social science, politics subject-specific and politics pathway research methods. Part 1 focuses on core and transferable skills and the generic training requirements. Part 2 addresses more advanced subject specific politics requirements and particular specialised applications of research methods in substantive fields within politics. Part 3 enables the student to apply their knowledge of research design to a particular research project, and to employ their understanding of research methods in the production of a dissertation. Learning/teaching methods and strategies include:
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Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student’s knowledge and understanding of the substance of the field of research methods is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. All elements of formative student work contribute to the allocation of credit points.
The school retains copies of all seminar presentation, essay and dissertation feedback sheets. Certificate students complete the credit point requirements for four units and the four related assessed essays. Diploma students complete six units and their requirements. MSc students complete six units and their requirements and the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Critical academic abilities and intellectual skills are developed through a range of methods and strategies at different levels. In Part 1, the learning of generic social science research methods is facilitated by seminar participation, practical exercises, written exercises, and presentation assignments. Areas of achievement and those requiring improvement are identified through the varied seminar and assessment activities. Part 1 culminates in summative assessment, which takes the form of essays, a research report based on analysis of a secondary dataset, and a research proposal. In Part 2 the learning of subject-specific research methods is facilitated by seminar participation and presentation assignments. Pathway Training, which is negotiated individually to suite the learning needs of the student, permits studies that cut across or do not otherwise fall conveniently within existing taught units. This ensures that students deepen their understanding of the research and its research methods within the specific area of their expected research field and/or broaden their understanding of the field and its research in other areas of the subject through an individualised programme of study. The subject-specific element of Part 2 culminates in summative assessment in essays. The essay content reflects the more politics-based content of the Part 2 units. The assessment for the Pathway Training is individually negotiated to best reflect the programme devised. In Part 3, the breadth and depth necessary to reach this stage of the programme means that the student is well placed in terms of general skills to commence the design of the dissertation. The student learns the remainder of the necessary intellectual skills required in the dissertation in three phases: individual meetings with the dissertation supervisor during the summer term to develop the dissertation proposal; a summer term workshop with the supervisor and all students being supervised by him/her in which each student presents their proposal for discussion; and an individualised programme of supervision over the summer which involves at a minimum feedback on the entire dissertation either chapter by chapter or as a whole. Part 3 culminates in the summative assessment of the dissertation. At all three Parts, the learning strategy focuses on encouraging an enquiring and critical approach to research methods and data analysis. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student s knowledge and understanding of the substance of the field of research methods is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. All elements of formative student work contribute to the allocation of credit points.
The school retains copies of all seminar presentation, essay and dissertation feedback sheets. Certificate students complete the credit point requirements for four units and the four related assessed essays. Diploma students complete sixunits and their requirements. MSc students complete six units and their requirements and the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Effective communication skills are developed through a number of strategies, including seminar participation, seminar group work, seminar presentations (which must be accompanied by a handout), essay writing, individual meetings with the dissertation supervisor, the dissertation workshop presentation and the dissertation. In all cases, students are required to integrate evidence and argument coherently and persuasively. The ability to present and communicate a sustained argument in written format is developed through the analytical and research-based formative and the word dissertation. Oral communication skills are developed in Parts 1 and 2 in seminar contributions, seminar group work and seminar presentations; and in Part 3 in individual meetings with the dissertation supervisor and in the dissertation workshop. Team-work skills are developed in Parts 1 and 2 through group exercises in seminars and team-work presentations. Effective use of information technology is developed through the extensive use of Blackboard (all units in the school are registered on Blackboard), the extensive use of the internet for both academic and non-academic sources, and email. As the school communicates information frequently to it taught postgraduate students through a collective email list, students must become conversant with it. The school organises Library training sessions by a member of the library staff at the beginning of the academic year to ensure adequate understanding of learning resources. An appreciation of professional standards and integrity is developed through clear guidelines and handouts on plagiarism, referencing, bibliographies, word length, deadlines and clear guidelines on penalties for violating institutional/school rules on each of the above. The school offers drop-in Study Skills Tuition and a written Study guide for those wishing additional help. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student s knowledge and understanding of the substance of the field of research methods is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. All elements of formative student work contribute to the allocation of credit points.
The school retains copies of all seminar presentation, essay and dissertation feedback sheets. Certificate students complete the credit point requirements for four units and the four related assessed essays. Diploma students complete sixunits and their requirements. MSc students complete six units and their requirements and the dissertation. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
The structure of the degree programme has been designed to engage the student in a cumulative process of developing skills and knowledge through a sequence of complementary stages. In Part 1 all Certificate, Diploma and Masters students take three 20 credit point units, which develop: core skills in social science research, including the ability to manage their own research, perform effective information searches, retrieve and evaluate information for the purposes of research and organise on-line data and bibliographic search strategies; a foundational knowledge and understanding of general social science research methods, both quantitative (statistics, data analysis and computing) and qualitative (interviewing, ethnography, data collection by questionnaire); and a foundational knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of the social sciences. They are also expected to develop a wide range of practical, professional and transferable skills. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
In Part 2, Diploma and Masters students (and those Certificate students who will be gaining their qualification by a mix of Part 1 and Part 2 units) refine and focus their knowledge and understanding of research methods by: focusing on theories and methods specific to the discipline of politics via two 20 credit point units taught within the school; and devising, in consultation with their Pathway Director, a programme of study (worth 20 credits) specific to their own research field. The Part 2 units and Pathway Training together enable the student to extend and apply the core skills and generic social science research methods learned in Part 1. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The dissertation acts as the culmination of the students progress through the degree programme, as s/he applies the appropriate technical, methodological and intellectual skills that have been developed to a piece of research devised in consultation with and supervised by one or more staff advisors to a highly specialised area of research, which provides a solid grounding for further research at an MPhil/PhD level. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Award of the Certificate requires the accumulation of 60 credit points (equivalent to three 12-week units) and achievement of a mark of at least 50 for all three summative assessments.
Award of the Diploma requires the accumulation of 120 credit points (equivalent to six 12-week units) and achievement of a mark of at least 50 for all six of the summative assessments. Diploma students may transfer to MSc registration during Teaching Block 2 if they achieve MSc standard in their three Teaching Block 1 summative assessments.
Award of the MSc requires the accumulation of 180 credit points (equivalent to six 12-week units plus the dissertation) and achieving a mark of at least 50 for all six summative assessments and the dissertation. The MSc will be awarded with Distinction if a candidate obtains 70 or above for at least three of the six summative assessments and 70 or above for the dissertation. A merit will be awarded to candidates with an average mark of 60 across the six taught units and 60 or above in the dissertation.
In order to increase their effectiveness, seminar groups are limited to a maximum of eighteen students, and the groups are often smaller. In order to increase the effectiveness of dissertation supervision, no member of staff may supervise more than fifteen dissertations.
Please see the school website for details of additional programmes on offer:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/spais/study/postgraduate-taught/
POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PATHWAY
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences | SPAIM0031 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences | SPAIM0029 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences | SPAIM0030 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Dissertation | POLIM1001 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
At least ONE from the following list: | ||||
Philosophy of Social Science | SOCIM3125 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Qualitative Research | SOCIM3132 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Quantitative Research | SOCIM3133 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
TWO 20 credit units from the full optional list of postgraduate taught units running in SPAIS during Teaching Block 2 | ||||
MSc Social Science Research Methods (politics) | 180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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