Students

SSCI2010 – Qualitative Inquiry in the Social Sciences

2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Selvaraj Velayutham
selvaraj.velayutham@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(40cp including SSC100, SSCI100 or SSCI1000)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Qualitative inquiry aims to access ‘human stories’ and lives as they unfold or through the traces people leave behind. How do people interact in and understand their social worlds? How do these interactions and perceptions shape their outlook, behaviour, and experiences in particular situations? This unit focuses on the valuable insights that qualitative inquiry can provide to address these questions. The unit proceeds in three parts. The first part surveys influential approaches to qualitative research design, highlighting the importance of understanding social context as well as managing the relationship between theory, method and analysis. The second part focuses on how to ethically apply common data collection methods used in qualitative inquiry, from interviews to observational techniques to unobtrusive practices. The third part of the unit examines how to manage and analyse qualitative data in a critical, robust and systematic manner. In this unit, students will gain insight into how to design and carry out quality qualitative research into social lives and important social issues.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: display knowledge of the range of qualitative approaches and know when each should be used in social research
  • ULO2: design and apply qualitative instruments, methods and analytic strategies
  • ULO3: employ skills in interpreting data and the results generated by qualitative social research in an ethical and transparent manner
  • ULO4: apply knowledge of major challenges confronting researchers working in the social sciences
  • ULO5: apply high-level information retrieval, critical reading, problem development, and writing skills required to undertake social research with qualitative methods

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online quizzes 15% No Weeks 4, 8 & 12
Research report 45% No Week 13
Active participation 20% No Ongoing
Research review 20% No Week 7

Online quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 8 & 12
Weighting: 15%

Online quizzes in weeks 4, 8 and 12
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • display knowledge of the range of qualitative approaches and know when each should be used in social research
  • apply knowledge of major challenges confronting researchers working in the social sciences

Research report

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 45%

1,800 to 2,000 word research report
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • employ skills in interpreting data and the results generated by qualitative social research in an ethical and transparent manner
  • apply knowledge of major challenges confronting researchers working in the social sciences
  • apply high-level information retrieval, critical reading, problem development, and writing skills required to undertake social research with qualitative methods

Active participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Participation in online and/or on-campus unit activities
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • display knowledge of the range of qualitative approaches and know when each should be used in social research
  • design and apply qualitative instruments, methods and analytic strategies
  • apply high-level information retrieval, critical reading, problem development, and writing skills required to undertake social research with qualitative methods

Research review

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

750 word written paper
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • display knowledge of the range of qualitative approaches and know when each should be used in social research
  • employ skills in interpreting data and the results generated by qualitative social research in an ethical and transparent manner

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes consist of lectures and some online exercises in lieu of on-campus classes. Please keep an eye on Ilearn for further information.

Readings are available through Leganto.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.