Social Science Research Methods Course

Lesson 1 • Philosophical Foundations of Inquiry

Introduces ontology, epistemology, and axiology as pillars of research philosophy. Connects philosophical stance to methodological choices made later in the course.

Lesson 2 • Ethics in Social Research

Covers core ethical principles governing human-subjects research. Students apply ethical reasoning to realistic research scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Nature and Purpose of Social Research

Defines social science research and its goals of explanation, prediction, and understanding. Establishes why systematic inquiry differs from everyday observation.

Lesson 1 • Variables and Their Relationships

Introduces independent, dependent, mediating, and moderating variables. Students diagram causal and associational relationships among variables.

Lesson 2 • Hypotheses and Research Questions

Distinguishes research questions from hypotheses and explains when each is appropriate. Students draft testable hypotheses aligned with their theoretical frameworks.

Lesson 3 • Concepts and Conceptualisation

Teaches how to define and refine abstract concepts for research use. Connects conceptualisation to later operationalisation and measurement.

Lesson 4 • Role of Theory in Research

Explains how theory guides hypothesis formation and interpretation. Distinguishes grand theory, middle-range theory, and grounded theory.

Lesson 1 • Logic of Research Design

Frames design as a plan for answering research questions with credible evidence. Introduces validity threats that design choices must address.

Lesson 2 • Mixed-Methods Design Logic

Explains rationale for combining quantitative and qualitative strands. Introduces convergent, explanatory, and exploratory mixed-methods frameworks.

Lesson 3 • Non-Experimental Designs

Introduces cross-sectional, longitudinal, and case study designs for descriptive and exploratory goals. Links design choice to research question type.

Lesson 4 • Experimental Designs

Covers true experiments, including random assignment and control groups. Students assess when experimental designs are feasible in social research.

Lesson 1 • Sample Size Determination

Teaches power analysis and margin-of-error calculations for quantitative studies. Addresses saturation principles for qualitative sample sizing.

Lesson 2 • Probability Sampling Methods

Covers simple random, systematic, stratified, and cluster sampling. Students select the appropriate probability method for given research contexts.

Lesson 3 • Populations, Samples, and Sampling Frames

Defines target population, accessible population, and sampling frame. Highlights how frame errors undermine representativeness.

Lesson 4 • Non-Probability Sampling Methods

Introduces purposive, snowball, quota, and convenience sampling for qualitative and exploratory work. Discusses limitations for generalisation.

Lesson 1 • Structured Observation

Introduces systematic observation protocols for recording behaviour. Covers inter-rater reliability and observer training.

Lesson 2 • Survey Design Principles

Covers question wording, response formats, and questionnaire flow. Students apply cognitive interviewing insights to reduce measurement error.

Lesson 3 • Measurement Validity and Reliability

Deepens reliability and validity concepts introduced earlier with quantitative testing methods. Students compute Cronbach's alpha and assess construct validity.

Lesson 4 • Secondary and Administrative Data

Explains how to locate, evaluate, and repurpose existing datasets. Addresses data quality, comparability, and documentation standards.

Lesson 1 • Ethnographic and Observational Methods

Introduces participant observation, field notes, and ethnographic immersion. Addresses access negotiation and ethical challenges in the field.

Lesson 2 • Focus Groups

Teaches focus group design, moderation, and analysis. Students distinguish focus group data from individual interview data.

Lesson 3 • Document and Artifact Analysis

Covers analysis of texts, images, and material artefacts as qualitative data. Students evaluate authenticity, credibility, and representativeness of documents.

Lesson 4 • In-Depth Interviewing

Covers structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interview formats. Students develop interview guides and practice active listening techniques.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Quantitative Techniques

Introduces logistic regression, factor analysis, and structural equation modelling. Students recognise when each technique is appropriate for social science data.

Lesson 2 • Descriptive Statistics

Teaches measures of central tendency, dispersion, and distribution shape. Students produce and interpret frequency tables, histograms, and box plots.

Lesson 3 • Correlation and Regression Analysis

Covers bivariate correlation and simple and multiple linear regression. Students interpret coefficients, R-squared, and model diagnostics.

Lesson 4 • Inferential Statistics and Hypothesis Testing

Introduces sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and significance testing. Students select and apply t-tests, chi-square, and ANOVA.

Lesson 1 • Dissemination and Research Impact

Addresses publication strategies, conference presentations, and policy briefs. Students tailor research outputs for academic and practitioner audiences.

Lesson 2 • Qualitative Coding Techniques

Introduces open, axial, and selective coding for grounded theory and thematic analysis. Students practice coding on real transcript excerpts.

Lesson 3 • Ensuring Rigor in Qualitative Research

Covers credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability as qualitative quality criteria. Students apply member checking and triangulation strategies.

Lesson 4 • Writing the Research Report

Covers structure, style, and conventions of social science research reports and journal articles. Students draft and revise each section of a full report.