DESIGNING, CONDUCTING AND WRITING
SOCIAL RESEARCH
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MODULES
Modules encompass the fundamental topics covered in both one-on-one thesis/dissertation coaching and seminars.
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In one-on-one coaching, these topics are explored in the context of your research, whereas in seminars, they are presented within a broader, general framework.
Module 1
Social Research
In this introductory module, we will begin by exploring the distinction between social research and everyday forms of 'knowing,' and discuss the objectives and philosophical foundations of conducting social research.
Key topics include:
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The distinction of social research
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Main goals of social research
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Philosophical approaches in social research
Module 2
Research Proposal and Thesis/Dissertation Structure
Before embarking on your project involving primary research, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the basic thesis/dissertation structure will provide you with a clear overview of the process ahead. We will cover these topics under the following headings:
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Primary Research
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Research proposal structure
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Thesis / dissertation chapters and the rational behind them
Module 3
From Research Topic To Research Question
Challenges in progressing smoothly with your thesis often stem from an inadequately narrowed research topic, unclear research questions, or undefined aims and objectives. To avoid these issues, we will address the following areas:
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The role of (preliminary) literature review
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How to narrow down your research topic
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Identifying a research problem
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Formulating research questions
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Defining the aim and objectives of your research
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Identifying the contributions of your research
Module 4
Literature Review
Every research project is situated within an existing literature and aims to contribute to it. This module aims to help you understand the reasons and methods for conducting a literature review, enabling you to carry out your own review systematically and efficiently. We will cover the following topics:
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The purpose and methods of conducting a literature review
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Evaluating and organizing secondary sources
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Strategies for reading and note-taking
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Identifying themes, debates, and gaps
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Writing literature review
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Avoiding plagiarism, citation, and referencing
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Proper use of quotations
Module 5
Theory And Hypothesis
The theoretical framework is the fundamental structure that guides all stages of research. It defines the context (the set of relationships) in which you will seek answers to your research question and the hypotheses you expect to test. However, some studies aim to develop or refine a theory rather than test an existing one. In this module, we will focus on the concept of causal theory and cover the following topics:
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Theory and causal explanation
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Theory testing vs. theory development
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Hypothesis formation and testing
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Causality
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Types of causality
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Types of causal relationships
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Causal mechanisms
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Testing causal theories
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Module 6
Research Design and
Data Analysis
Determining the most appropriate and feasible method for your research and planning the research design in detail means you are halfway to success. In this module, we will cover how to plan the Methods/Methodology section of your thesis/dissertation and what choices to make (and why) at various stages under the following headings:
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Selecting a method suitable for the research question and aim:
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Research philosophy
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Research approaches
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Research design
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Types of quantitative and qualitative research design
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Data collection methods
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Data collection processes (measurement, reliability and validity, sampling, data processing)
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Data analysis strategies
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Organization of the Methodology section of the thesis/dissertation