SCLG3701: Semester 1, 2021

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Units SCLG3701 Semester 1 2021 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

SCLG3701: Social Inquiry: Qualitative Methods

Overview

This unit of study teaches students about a range of qualitative research methods. Students examine the methodological issues in contemporary sociology and their impact on the research process. Students will also undertake practical exercises in order to learn to appreciate and use a selection of research approaches and methods.

Details

Academic unit
Unit code	SCLG3701
Unit name	Social Inquiry: Qualitative Methods
Session, year ?	Semester 1, 2021
Attendance mode	Normal day
Location	Remote
Credit points	6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions ?	SCLG2002 or SCLG2521 or SCLG2602
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in Sociology
Corequisites ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator	Fiona Gill, fiona.gill@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Research Design and Reflection Exercise Details are available on the unit of study CANVAS site	30%	Formal exam period Due date: 25 Jun 2021 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Participant Observation Task Details are available on the unit CANVAS site.	30%	Week 09 Due date: 03 May 2021 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Qualitative Interview Exercise Details are available on the unit of study's CANVAS site.	40%	Week 12 Due date: 24 May 2021 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Exploring the murky waters of qualitative research: an introduction to the ‘what’ and the ‘why’	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Research with purpose: a case study	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Research case study	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Ethics in research: minimising harm and promoting good practice	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Ethics in research	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Getting personal: research and reflexivity	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Reflexivity in research	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	The uninvolved? Unobtrusive and online methods	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Online and unobtrusive research	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Entering the field: fieldwork and ethnographic research	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Participant observation 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	In focus: ethnography, triumph, trial and terror	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Participant observation 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Interviewing: form and function	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Interviewing	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Interviewing: the reality and experience	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Interviewing 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Interpreting and coding data	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Data Analysis	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Designing a research project: where to begin	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Research design and structure	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Writing up research	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Writing up research	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Unit wrap-up	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Students will be assigned readings from the prescribed textbook along with other readings from a variety of sources. They will also be expected to watch or engage with various media, read interview transcripts or research reports. These will be the subject of tutorial questions, and attendance is partially taken through responses to these questions.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University’s graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate knowledge of the key issues, debates and methods in qualitative research through a combination of practical experience and case studies of previously completed research projects
LO2. understand the ethical and practical implications of a range of different qualitative research methods used by sociologists conducting research and interpreting the research findings of others
LO3. reflexively conduct research and communicate the findings in written form with reference to broader debates within sociology and related disciplines
LO4. demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively with regard to understanding the main data-collection methods used in qualitative research and assessing their advantages and limitations.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Closing the loop

In response to recent global events, this unit of study has been revised to take into account the new realities of engaging more frequently online. This has interesting implications for social scientists, including issues associated with conducting research online. This unit of study has been revised in terms of expectations of assessments and the content to better equip students to become ethical, rigorous researchers both face to face and in online settings.

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Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

Disclaimer

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