This unit provides theoretical, conceptual and analytic insights into substantive sociological research, so students might reflect on their own research processes. The aim is to investigate the variety of ways in which sociological research can be conducted and conceptualised, and to develop skills in the critical analysis of academic work.

This unit examines a range of sociological research methods, including their historical and political locations and logics, with a view to providing students with a strong methodological framework to situate their own research practices, and to produce greater reflexivity about social research and writing in sociology.

This unit provides students the opportunity to begin developing their own research project working closely with their supervisors and engaging in activities that will facilitate the timely completion of their research. Activities may include drafting a literature and methods review, submitting an ethics application, and the scoping for fieldwork.

Working closely with supervisors, students produce an original piece of written sociological research, which may include the analysis of data gathered from fieldwork that is applied to relevant literature/s, or the writing of a thesis using secondary sources, which are analysed to produce an original contribution to knowledge.