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Course Outline

SCS725 Advanced Social Research

Course Coordinator:Peter Innes (pinnes@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate, undertake and commission social research. In order to critically understand how social data are produced, analysed and interpreted, the connections between epistemological underpinnings, theoretical orientations, methodology and methods are explored. You will formulate and design a research proposal and undertake practical key research methods. Debates concerning the relationship of science to social research, ethics, the power and purposes of research and research with minorities and marginalised groups are examined.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 13 times
Laboratory 1 – Workshops are held in the PC computer labs 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Foundations of Social Research: Methodology and Methods

Sampling

Human Ethics and Social Research

Survey design and analysis

Interviewing Methods and analysis

Content and Discourse Analysis

Practice and Evaluation 

 

Mature Content

Drug Use, Sex/Sexual references, Violence, Adult themes

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Association of Social Workers
1 Critical understanding of the nature and purposes of social research and its contribution to knowledge and theory in the social sciences. Knowledgeable
Empowered 
1, 5, 9
2 Critical understanding of current methodological debates and issues in social research and the ethical dimensions of research practice Knowledgeable
Ethical 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
3 Formulate researchable question and conceptualise and articulate research problems Creative and critical thinker 
5, 6
4 Develop and design a coherent research strategy to answer a research question Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
1, 5, 6
5 Design surveys, analyse and interpret quantitative data using data analysis software Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Applying technologies 
5, 6
6 Critical awareness as professionals of the ways in which social research informs professional practice and the ethical, moral and political responsibilities that follow from this Ethical
Engaged 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Association of Social Workers
1 Practice Standard 1: AASW Code of Ethics
2 Practice Standard 2: Working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
3 Practice Standard 3: Human rights and social justice
4 Practice Standard 4: Culture, identity and intersectionality
5 Practice Standard 5: Critical thinking in practice
6 Practice Standard 6: Exercising professional judgement
7 Practice Standard 7: Professional identity
9 Practice Standard 9: Professional growth

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in a Postgraduate Program

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 25% 
500 words (excluding references)
 Week 5 Online Submission
All 2 Artefact - Professional Individual 45% 
Design and produce a working online survey. Provide additional short-answer submission to two questions (50-100 words each); one each regarding a quantitative and a qualitative research question example. See assessment Task 2 instructions for required structure and length.
 Week 9 Online Submission
All 3 Quiz/zes Individual 30% 
Survey data is provided, and questions to be answered are provided with the data. See assessment Task 3 for detail.
 Week 13 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Own Research Concept
Goal: 
To demonstrate your capacity to conceptualise and articulate a research concept.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
Written essay, uploaded, format structured as per the assessment Task 1 information in Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate ability to articulate a general problem/puzzle/question
 1 3 4 6
2 
Describe a rationale/significance for your research problem/puzzle/question
 1 3 4 6
3 
Identify and synthesis key literature to support your general problem/puzzle/question
 1 3 4
4 
Create a specific research question that draws upon course terminology to locate and signpost the epistemological and theoretical orientation of the intended methodology
 2 3
5 
Ability to generate a reference list using Harvard(UQ) or APA 7th style
 1 3 6
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Method (Survey Design)
Goal: 
To critically apply your knowledge to specific method-oriented questions to demonstrate you understand the basic concepts
Product: Artefact - Professional
Format: 
A working (published and accessible) online survey link is submitted to the Task 2 submission area. Limited additional textual information (word docx) will be required (no referencing required) relating to a specific quantitative research question relating two survey questions (as "Independent" and "Dependent" variables); as well as a specific qualitative research question and the identification of the focal concept(s) used in the development of the two open-ended survey questions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
1.	Demonstrate the ability to generate and publish an aesthetically pleasing online survey with effective technical structure.
 5
2 
2.	Demonstrate the ability to apply key principles of survey question design.
 5
3 
3.	Demonstrate the ability to apply different principles of survey response values design.
 5
4 
4.	Demonstrate the ability to apply key elements of a quantitative research question with specifically identified survey questions.
 3 4 5
5 
5.	Demonstrate the ability to create qualitative survey questions that are theoretically informed and contextually appropriate.
 1 3 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Survey Data Analysis
Goal: 
To critically apply your knowledge to demonstrate your capacity to analyse and interpret research data using data analysis software
Product: Quiz/zes
Format: 
You are required to correctly complete and submit answers to the data analysis task questions provided. This involves using computer software (either in USC Laboratories, or through online access via USC's virtual machine access). When ready, the answers are to be entered into the online submission area.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate adequate knowledge of quantitative methods of data analysis which include interpretation of statistical output.
 2 3 4 5
2 
Demonstrate correct application of quantitative data analysis techniques.
 4 5
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS)
All delivery modes Artefact - Professional Method (Survey Design) 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
7 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Quiz/zes Survey Data Analysis 5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Written Piece Own Research Concept 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
7 Taught, Practiced
9 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Maggie Walter 2019 Social Research Methods n/a Oxford University Press, USA

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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