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EdinburghX: Introduction to Social Research Methods

How does ‘society’ function? What makes ‘culture’? These are questions that can help us to understand the most pressing issues today – but how do we answer them? This course will explore the methods used by researchers in social science.

Introduction to Social Research Methods
8 weeks
2–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived
Introduction to Social Research Methods

About this course

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This self-paced social sciences course is about trying to understand ‘methods’ and the ways researchers go about trying to find things out about people, societies and cultures.

In this course, you will explore:

  • The kinds of methods researchers tend to adopt
  • The contexts in which certain research methods are used
  • The benefits, drawbacks and ethical implications of research

This course isn’t a practical or technical guide to doing research. Rather, it offers a way for us to think deeply about what methods are, and what they allow us to achieve.

When you complete this course, we want you to be critical users of research – and that means having the ability to always question the application of methods, and to hold ourselves to account as researchers and scholars.

That not only makes our research better, it also foregrounds the things that are most exciting and interesting about methods.

We’ve designed this self-paced course to provide you with a unique opportunity to develop your understanding of methods. This course is linked to the Masters in Digital Education programme at the University of Edinburgh. You will study alongside students who are enrolled at the University and who are working towards a postgraduate qualification. By joining us you’ll get a sense of what it is like to study on our programme.

The Masters in Digital Education has built up a reputation over the years for critical engagement in our field, and it is this way of learning that we want to foreground in this course. Introduction to Social Research Methods will be about developing a rounded understanding of methods, and their underlying assumptions and values.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Research, Research Methodologies, Social Research

What you'll learn

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  • The kinds of methods researchers tend to adopt
  • The contexts in which certain methods are used
  • The benefits, drawbacks and ethical implications involved in particular methods
  • Critical perspectives on quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques
  • Ways of critically analysing published research on methods

Syllabus

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Part 1: Exploring Methods

  • Surveys
  • Discourse analysis
  • Learning Analytics
  • Interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Ethnography
  • Social Network Analysis (SNA)
  • Experimental intervention
  • Visual and image analysis

Part 2: Analysing Data

  • Critical perspectives on quantitative data analysis
  • Critical perspectives on qualitative data analysis

Learner testimonials

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"This course helped me to improve my scientific abilities during my PhD - enabling me to defend my dissertation. Though I'm not a native English speaker, it was easier for me than other courses in my own language." - Aliaa, previous learner

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why should I take this course?

You should take this course if you are interested in exploring the fascinating methodological, conceptual, and ethical issues that underpin research approaches. If you want to develop your understanding of how researchers use and justify methods in order to make claims about the people, societies and cultures that they study, then this course is for you.

What kind of activities will I be participating in?

This course foregrounds self-directed and active ways of learning: reading, writing and peer discussion. Sections will have introductory videos; however, this is not a course comprised of lectures. We think that the best way for you to learn about research methods is to read published literature, discuss ideas with your peers, and write reflectively on the topic.

How will I spend my time?

This course is self-paced, so you are in charge of how you spend your time. We’ve designed the various sections of the course according to an 8-week schedule, which we think is the best way to experience the course. Following this plan, we recommend spending 5hrs per week on the course: we 2hrs each week viewing the course material and reading additional resources, 1.5hrs participating in group discussions, and 1.5hrs working on activities.

How is the course assessed?

There will be two assessed activities. Firstly, a mid-point assessment that will test your knowledge of the application of methods in published research literature. Secondly, a final assessment that will test your knowledge of data analysis issues.

Will I learn practical skills, or software techniques?

No. However, you will gain important knowledge that will support your practical work, and make it more informed. You’ll also find links to examples of analysis software, datasets and additional resources if you want to undertake practical work on your own.

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Certificate

Free

Price

$49 USD

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Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

World-class institutions and universities

edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

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