Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit convenor
Adam Stebbing
Contact via Email
By appointment
Tutor
Dong-Ju Lee
Contact via Email
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(SSCI1000 or SSCI100) and (SSCI2010 or SSCI201) and (SSCI2020 or SSCI202)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Social science theories and methodologies have many practical and professional applications in the workplace, including positions in applied policy and research. What are the main applications of social science in today’s workplace? This unit focuses on evaluation and policy research, which apply social science theories and methods to ascertain whether a program or policy intervention is making a difference. This unit has three parts. The first examines the policy context of evaluation and applied social science. In the second part, we survey influential research designs for evaluation and applied social science that incorporate qualitative and/or quantitative methods. And, in the third part, we consider ethical and practical issues that arise when designing and doing applied social science. Through these three parts, the unit aims to introduce students to the skills required to design ethical and robust evaluations and applied social science projects. By doing this, the unit applies knowledge and methodologies from earlier social science units to practical situations in order to prepare students for working on a professional social research project as part of the capstone unit. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
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Cr Credit 65-74
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Lectures are at 10am to 12pm on Wednesdays in Tutorial room 220, 4 Western Rd from weeks 1 to 12 of semester (inclusive). They will be recorded and become available online via ECHO360's Active Learning Platform (accessible via iLearn).
Workshops (tutorials) will run online via the unit iLearn page. Please see the weekly tabs for more information.
There is no required textbook for SSCI3010. Required readings are online available via Leganto (see below).
The following technologies are used in this unit...
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iLearn
Important information about the weekly schedule, course readings and assessment are all available on the course iLearn page. If you do not have access, please contact IT help. You are required to check iLearn and your student email regularly for course updates and information.
Turnitin
All written assessments need to be submitted online via Turnitin only. A link to Turnitin is available via the Assessments tab on the iLearn page. Please contact the convenor if you cannot find it (do not leave it until the day of the assessment). There is no need to submit a hard copy of the assessment or to include a cover sheet.
Grademark
Feedback will be made available online via GradeMark. It will take four forms (in no particular order): specific comments in the text of your paper; overall comments; a score on a qualitative rubric (that cannot be used to calculate your mark numerically); and a numeric score. Once you have received your assignment back, please make sure that you have access to these forms of feedback.
Leganto
Leganto is the electronic system for accessing unit readings that can be accessed via the iLearn page. Readings are allocated via topic. As well as the required readings for each topic, you will find recommended and optional readings. The required readings are available in pdf or electronic format. If you are not able to access the readings, please contact the unit convenor via email.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Unit Schedule
The following table identifies the weekly topics for SSCI3010. More information can be found about the weekly topics and required readings on the unit iLearn page. Lectures will be held from weeks 1 to 12 (inclusive), whilst online tutorials will run from weeks 2 to 12.
Week | Topic |
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1 | Introducing evaluation and applied social science |
2 | Understanding social issues, programs and public policies |
3 | Program logic models: A critical appreciation |
4 | What is credible evidence? The politics of evidence-based policy |
5 | Designing evaluation as applied social research |
6 | Uses and misuses of quantitative methods in evaluation |
7 | Participatory and qualitative methods for evaluation |
8 | Developing indicators and instruments |
9 | Applying unobtrusive methods: From policy documents to big data |
10 | Beyond 'gold standards': Demystifying mixed methods research |
11 | The ethics of applied social science: Case studies |
12 | Designing research proposals |
13 | Revision week |
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