Introduction Social Science Research Methods

6 ECTS credits
172 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1005365BEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Sociology

Educational team

Sylvie Gadeyne (course titular)
Dounia Bourabain

Activities and contact hours

30 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
143 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

How do you conduct proper social science research? In the course Introduction to Research Methods for Human and Social Sciences, this question is answered by means of an overview of the fundamentals and basic procedures of social science research. The student learns how scientific knowledge differs from non-scientific knowledge and how to critically deal with research results in science and media.

After an explanation of the specific place of the human and social sciences within science and a short historical overview of the development of disciplines and the views on scientific research, the lectures focus on the research cycle, the criteria of scientific research, the strategies of social research (qualitative versus quantitative, mixed methods) and on the different research designs. The role of a solid research plan, a good literature study and ethical considerations is discussed before considering different observation methods specific to scientific research, each time with a critical evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of each observation method.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Methodologie voor sociale wetenschappers, Een inleiding, Roose, Henk & Meuleman, Bart, Academia Press, 9789463969710, 2021
Digital course material (Required) : Slides, Sylvie Gadeyne

Additional info

For more information about the concrete structure of the course: see Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

General

Students have notions of the important visions in philosophy of science
Students have insight into the basic principles of scientific research
Students can critically assess research on the basis of the criteria for scientific research
Students can draw up their own problem statement and research questions
Students have an in-depth understanding of the research cycle and can set up their own research in a research plan
Depending on the research topic, students can make a well-founded choice for a suitable research strategy and observation method and are aware of the pros and cons
Students are able to draw the correct conclusions depending on the chosen methodology
Students develop a critical attitude towards research results in society and the media
Students are able to provide a critical analysis of the extent to which a research meets the scientific criteria

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 65% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 35% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 65% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Group Work with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 35% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The written exam consists of 12 multiple choice questions and two open questions.
In the assignment, students will analyze a scientific article in groups of (usually) 5 students and examine to what extent it meets the criteria of social science research. After a number of partial assignments, this analysis will be integrated into a final paper.
Students must have passed both parts (written exam and group work) separately in order to succeed the course.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context