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Unit of study_
SSPS4403: Research Methods for the Social Sciences
2026 unit information
This unit focuses on research methods and data analysis techniques in the social sciences. Students will learn appropriate research methods for collecting qualitative and quantitative data and analyse that data to address research questions. Methods covered include surveys, interviewing, process mapping, action oriented-participatory-observation methods, discourse-thematic-content-document analyses, visual-digital-online studies, data visualisation, statistical analysis and the techniques for locating and analysing secondary data. You will also learn about literature reviews, writing up data analyses, drawing conclusions from research and managing a research project.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Government and International Relations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Identify and explain the relationships between research methods, methodological approaches, and knowledge production.
- LO2. Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of different research methods for collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
- LO3. Identify and defend the research methods and research designs appropriate to answering specific research questions.
- LO4. Understand how to apply different techniques of qualitative and quantitative analysis when conducting research.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2026
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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Important enrolment information
Additional advice
This unit is intended to be taught intensively in the first half of Semester 1 through 2 x 2hr weekly seminars.