| Unit name | Data Matters |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCI10014 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Jo Haynes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit introduces you to how sociologists study the social world. It looks at how they generate sociological questions, seek to address social problems and issues, and what it means to think sociologically. Through topic-based case studies - such as, class, crime, culture, digital society, family, gender, health, migration, modern slavery, music, public opinion, race and ethnicity, sexuality, social movements, technologies, and work - you will develop skills in identifying and analysing a wide variety of sociological data, including both qualitative and quantitative data. Additionally, you will learn how to develop and address different kinds of sociological questions, generate sociological knowledge, and communicate compelling sociological arguments and stories.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
You will explore what sociology is and the principles and practices of sociological research as the foundation for a sociology degree. From this you will learn what makes sociological knowledge distinct, how to ask sociological questions, identify relevant empirical data, and data analysis at an introductory level. These core research competencies, will be further developed in subsequent years and will enable you to conduct independent sociological research. You will also examine a range of sociological topics through case studies, many of which you will have the opportunity to investigate in greater depth in years 2 and 3.
An overview of content
You will explore what sociology is and learn about the principles and practices of sociological research. Through case studies, you will explore how sociologists investigate social problems and issues, using different approaches, sources of empirical data and forms of analysis. This will enable you to develop an understanding of the conceptual and theoretical assumptions that underpin and direct social research. You will explore contemporary studies that introduce the challenges of real-life research and demonstrate the significance of context and ethics in shaping research design, process, and analysis. You will engage with a variety of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies from areas such as class, crime, culture, digital society, family, gender, health, migration, modern slavery, music, public opinion, race and ethnicity, sexuality, social movements, technologies, and work. In addition to traditional research data derived through observations, interviews and surveys, you will focus on identifying and working with a wider range of data that constitute social life such as texts, visuals, sound, and objects in material and digital forms and spaces. By reflecting on case-studies, you will develop an understanding of how design choices shape the production of sociological knowledge, the claims you can make, and the stories that you can tell using different types of data. The unit equips you with the necessary research and writing skills that can be critically applied to a variety of conceptual and practical issues for academic and non-academic audiences.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will be encouraged to reflexively consider your current understanding of social problems and will learn about sociological approaches to a variety of issues, and how knowledge of the social world is socially constructed. You will interrogate different forms of data, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and what kinds of knowledge and stories can be told from analysing them. As a result, you will be encouraged to reconsider what and how you know about the social world and what is involved in addressing social issues.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
1. Identify how sociological problems can be examined empirically.
2. Recognise sources of empirical data for sociological research.
3. Analyse quantitative and qualitative data at an introductory level.
4. Create sociological stories using empirical data.
The unit is delivered through a combination of in-person lectures, workshops, and small group seminars. Lectures will provide you with an introduction to the themes, concepts, case studies, and methods. In seminars, you will have the opportunity to explore, critique and deepen your understanding and engage in discussions with peers and tutors. Workshops will allow you to work on developing and applying analytical skills. Additional asynchronous material may be provided to enhance your understanding and engagement with the unit material.
The combination of whole cohort and small group sessions will give you a variety of ways to achieve the unit ILOs and prepare you for the summative assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will write a critical overview (750 words) of ONE of the case studies introduced during the unit.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1. Group presentation (10 minutes) - 25% weighting:
You will identify an area of sociological interest of your choice and evaluate existing empirical studies to explore the different ways it has been examined by sociologists, drawing on a variety of empirical data. ILOs assessed: 1, 2, 3
2. Research analysis report (2500 words) - 75% weighting:
You will write a data analysis report. ILOs assessed: 1, 3, 4
When assessment does not go to plan:
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will involve a task of a comparable format as the original assessment.
If, for reasons of well-being, you cannot participate in the group presentation assessment, you will be offered an equivalent alternative.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCI10014).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
