SOC 290 Research Methods in Humanities and Social Sciences

In this course we address the central processes and challenges associated with research in the humanities and social sciences. There is a set of lectures dedicated to basic starting points, core skills and a variety of concepts, approaches and methods. Unfortunately, these discussions are not exhaustive, but it is hoped that progress made in class will enable the student to find it easier to identify and implement other skills, concepts and approaches that will be of greater relevance to their own research interests and requirements.

Each lecture is followed by a seminar session which demands that the student completes a reading assignment in order to consolidate the points covered in the lecture. The various assessment tasks are designed to guide the student through the process of mastering some of the most fundamental stages of high-quality research work, including framing a research question, presenting a literature review and developing a research proposal.