*This information is in addition to the SVF-3023 Course Information on the University Web.

Type of course – Theoretical and practical subject
Level of course – First and Second year

Examination semesters – Spring in First year and Fall in Second year

Contents
SVF-3023 starts in semester one of the first year and is completed in semester one of the second year. SVF-3023 aims to provide a coherent and overarching framework to enable students to engage with the research process and methodological and theoretical issues throughout their studies. It begins in semester one of the first year to inform students about academic and practical requirements of the course and to aid the development of a thesis topic and writing a project proposal which is required in semester two. The project proposal will provide the theoretical, methodological and practical basis for the chosen research and any fieldwork that is planned. Students are expected to demonstrate academic independence during the development of their project proposal in addition to an understanding of the significance of relevant theoretical arguments from their reading of background literature. Students can proceed to the next stage of their research once the project proposal has been approved. Find the guidelines to develop a thesis proposal here.

There is one compulsory class for SVF-3023 held in the Spring semester of the first year: ‘Fieldwork – Research, Ethics and Safety’. Everyone must attend this class. This class is also part of the elective course 'SVF-3025 Methods in social research: An interdisciplinary approach'. The date will be announced when the details for this course have been finalised.

During the Fall semester in the second year each student presents a paper based upon their research and submits in November a written research paper of 6000 words graded A-F. Each week from September, students present their work which they are developing at the Specialisation with Methodology Seminar for the research paper to be handed in November. This seminar gives students an opportunity to explore issues and challenges associated with the research process, to talk about each individual research paper and to think through any difficulties experienced during the work with this research paper.

There are no compulsory requirements about what each research paper should be about or contain, rather it is left for each student to choose an aspect from their own work. The final research paper or part of it should ideally be used as the basis of part of the thesis in some form, adapted and tailored to fit into the overall scope and structure of the thesis.

Research papers can solely address key theoretical issues, as well as methodological and empirical issues. For example, the research paper may form part of the introduction of the thesis, or a discussion of theoretical/methodological/analytical issues may form part of the thesis. There are no hard and fast rules about this.

Exam and Assessment

First year – Project proposal maximum of 10 pages must be submitted and approved by 30 April 2007

Second Year – Research paper of 6000 words to be submitted in November 2007

Required Reading
These articles and books are not an exhaustive list and should be supplemented with your own relevant reading from independent literature searches during both the first and second year of your studies. There is no test or exam to see if you have read these books as they are meant to aid your own independent learning and to provide a basis for your understanding of the research process.

Books
These two books are very useful and should be used throughout research and analysis processes.

Silverman, D, (2005) Doing Qualitative Research, London: Sage Publications

Silverman, D, (2006) Interpreting Qualitative Data, London: Sage Publications

Articles
These two informative articles provide good clear examples of challenges experienced during fieldwork in different cultural and political contexts. The relevant topics explored are sampling, access, safety, ethical and legal issues. These articles should be read early in the planning stage of your project proposal and fieldwork and are useful in the second year when reflecting upon fieldwork experiences and writing about it in a structured and analytical way.

Feenan, D, (2002) ‘Researching paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland’ in International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 5, 2, pp147-163.

Gokah, T, (2006) ‘The naive researcher: doing social research in Africa’ in International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 9, 1, pp61-73.

Recommended Reading

Lee, R M, (1993) Doing research on sensitive topics, London: Sage Publications.

Lee, R M, (1994) Dangerous Fieldwork, Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Glaser, B G and Strauss, A L, (1967) ‘The discovery of grounded theory’ in The discovery of grounded theory - strategies for qualitative research, Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co.

Miller, R L, and Brewer, J D (2003) The A-Z of Social Research, London: Sage Publications.