Unit information: Critical Skills for Social Scientists: (International Social and Public Policy) in 2020/21

Unit name	Critical Skills for Social Scientists: (International Social and Public Policy)
Unit code	SPOL10036
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Mike McBeth
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will introduce students to key study and research skills relevant to their discipline and will provide a foundation to the 2nd year Social Research Methods unit. The first part of the unit will provide students with essential study skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing. It will introduce them to the Harvard referencing system and strategies for plagiarism avoidance. The second part of the unit will introduce students to research methods . Set in the context of relevant political and theoretical debates, the unit will explore the uses of data and research in international social and public policy and examine how data shapes understandings of policy problems. It will also introduce students to different approaches (e.g. quantitative, qualitative), research design and sampling, methods of data collection (e.g. interviews, surveys), methods of analysis (e.g. statistical analyses, thematic analysis, comparative international analysis), and the particular ethical issues relevant to their discipline.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the critical thinking, reading, writing, presentation and learning skills required for higher education.
2. Understand the development of international policy studies and the political and theoretical debates informing international policy studies research.
3. Reflect on the range of approaches, methods, forms of analysis ethical issues and uses of research in international policy studies and how it can shape understandings of international policy studies research.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including weekly lectures, practical activities supported by study-group sessions and self-directed exercises.

Assessment Information

Part 1: Portfolio Part 1 (1000 words) (40%)

Part 2: Portfolio Part 2 (2000 words) (60%)

Learning outcomes 1 and 2 are assessed through Portfolio Part 1; Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 are assessed through Portfolio Part 2.

Reading and References

Cottrell, S. (2013) The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave Study Skills), London: Palgrave
Kennett, P. A (2013)(Eds) Handbook of Comparative Social Policy, Second Edition Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK.
Engeli, I. and Allison, C.R. (2014) (Eds) Comparative Policy Studies Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Halperin, S. and Heath, O. (2016) Political Research. Methods and Practical Skills, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford.