Applied Social Research

Programme Introduction

This programme prepares students for undertaking social research and evaluation, leading to careers in research, research management and commissioning or using research. Our MSc is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting the research training guidelines for undertaking a PhD in Sociology, Social Policy, Social Work or Socio-legal Studies, as well as preparing you for an ESRC recognised interdisciplinary PhD in Families, Relationships and Demographic Change and Social Care. A programme on Applied Social Research (Criminology) is also available.

Programme Objectives

The MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Research aims to provide training in the methods and approaches used in applied social research. The objectives are to:

• Provide you with the skills and knowledge base required to collect, analyse and report qualitative and quantitative data, taking account of ethics, reliability and validity
• Enable you to examine critically the theoretical foundations that underpin social scientific research
• Enable you to examine issues concerning comparative social research
• Develop your understanding of the relationship between research and policy, and the meanings of evaluation, its terminology, practice and use

Entrance Requirements

An Honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant subject, from a university in the UK, or equivalent academic or professional qualification or equivalent relevant experience. Preference is given to candidates with upper second class degrees or better. Candidates with other qualifications or experience may be admitted to the Diploma in the first instance.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or TOEFL 577/233/90 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

ESRC awards are available on a competitive basis via the Scottish Doctoral Training Centre for students who wish to pursue the MSc plus a PhD on a 1+3 basis. Please contact the School of Applied Social Science for details.

For further information on possible sources of funding: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance

Modes of Study

Full-time: one year, five modules per semester
Part-time: two and a half years, two/three modules per semester

Daytime teaching

Programme Start Date

Full-time: September
Part-time: September/February

Structure and Content

The MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Research comprises eight compulsory taught core modules, a group project and (for the MSc) a dissertation.

The modules are: The Nature of Social Enquiry; Research Design and Process; Introduction to Information Technology and Library Services; Quantitative Data Analysis; Qualitative Data Analysis; Comparative Social Research; Policy Analysis and Evaluation Research.

You must take one of three Applied Social Research option modules:

• Thinking Sociologically
• The Principles of Social Policy
• Theorising Social Work

These modules comprise a series of reading groups in which a number of central ideas are debated. In addition to the modules, you will complete both of the following:

• Group Project: An opportunity to obtain first-hand experience of research techniques, data collection strategies and group work with the guidance of staff.
• Research Dissertation: MSc students must undertake an original social science research study and complete a research dissertation with academic supervision.

Examples of recent dissertation topics include:

• A Study of High Risk Behaviour
• Young People and National Identity
• Substance Use Prevalence and Looked-after Young People in Scotland
• Women’s Decisions about Returning to Work After Childbirth

Delivery and Assessment

Teaching methods are designed for each module to facilitate your acquisition of skills and progressive development. You are expected to participate in lectures, seminars, tutorials, computer-based workshops and group work.

Full-time and part-time MSc/Diploma students experience a range of different forms of assessment across the compulsory taught modules. These include essays, critical review essays, book reviews, research proposals, a computer lab-based assessment for quantitative data analysis, group project reports and the research dissertation. There are no examinations.

Timetable

Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

RAE Rating

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 95 percent of the research in Applied Social Science at Stirling was ‘Internationally Excellent’ with the top 10 percent of that judged to be ‘World-leading’.

Accreditation

The programme is recognised as research training by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for those who are studying or going on to study for a PhD (+3), and is also recognised by the ESRC for Master’s Course plus Research Studentship (1+3) purposes.

Career Opportunities

Over the past five years, over half of our graduates have entered social research-related careers in the public, voluntary and private sectors, for example, a manager commissioning research for a local authority, a research fellow at a university and a senior research executive for a European-wide commercial research organisation.

In general, one in ten graduates have enhanced their practice in current posts by undertaking studies in Applied Social Research, with support from their employer. Over one third of our graduates continue with academic study and undertake a PhD.