Professional & Transferable Skills - RSS00004M
- Department: Research Centre for Social Sciences
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
This module will provide students with general research and transferable skills that are fundamental to the discipline of Social Sciences that will allow them to go on to further study or pursue a career in the social sciences arena.
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The primary aim of the module is to provide students with general research and transferable skills required to undertake and deliver high quality social science research. It is designed to cover the practical aspects of conducting research from funding and ethical applications through to dissemination of research findings and the role of knowledge transfer and research impact in accordance with the ESRC guidelines.
Module learning outcomes
At the end of the module a student should be able to demonstrate:
- Competency in bibliographic and computing skills
- A thorough understanding of the ethical implications of conducting research
- An ability to communicate their research through different modes of presentation and to different audiences
- An understanding of knowledge transfer and impact and it's importance in social research
- Knowledge of opportunities for research funding
Module content
The module will be delivered in a series of workshops across two terms that will be co-ordinated by the module leader.
The sessions will cover:
- How to search literature and the different databases that are available across disciplines
- How to conduct research ethically - the ethical journey from research proposal through to ethical approval, consent and dissemination
- Knowledge transfer - how does it relate to a students own research
- Research impact - what is it, why is it important and how can it be achieved
- Communicating to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Preparing funding proposals
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
Essay/coursework | 60.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
The module will be assessed by a portfolio related to their specific area of interest that will include the following. For part A, students will develop a research proposal. For part B, students will put together a dissemination plan and prepare a lay summary of their work or some related research.
Formative work will be embedded within the workshops. For example students will work in groups and will be provided with examples of lay person summaries, impact statements, and grant applications which they will review and critique. There will also be opportunities for peer review of work towards the portfolio.
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
Essay/coursework | 60.0 |
Module feedback
Feedback on summative work will be provided in a timely manner and in accordance with the University's policy on assessment and feedback
Indicative reading
Aldridge, J. & Derrington, A. (2012). The Research Funding Toolkit. London: Sage.
Cottrell (2017). Critical thinking skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
ESRC (2015) Framework for Research Ethics. https://esrc.ukri.org/files/funding/guidance-for-applicants/esrc-framework-for-research-ethics-2015/
Flynn, L. R., & Goldsmith, R. E. (2012). Case studies for ethics in academic research in the social sciences. Sage.
Hammersley & Traianou (2015). Ethics in qualitative research: Controversies and contexts. London: Sage.
Wray, A. & Wallace, M. (2011). Critical reading and writing
for postgraduates. London: Sage.