| CODE | SWB1003 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Research, Writing and Referencing for Social Wellbeing | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty for Social Wellbeing | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to research in the field of social wellbeing and is a pre-requisite for SWB2001, which is offered in the following academic year. It gives an overview of the purpose of research, and the differences between research in the natural and social sciences. It introduces the social research process and the difference between inductive and deductive approaches. Students are familiarised with considerations of epistemology and ontology; with the differences between qualitative and quantitative research strategies; and different types of research designs. Students are guided to make the most of their literature review, and to understand what constitutes a suitable research question. Lastly, students are introduced to the ethical principles and political dimensions of social research. Further, in research, successful academic reading and writing are an important element and involve competencies in particular reading, writing and referencing skills. Another aim of this study-unit is to make participants aware of and become familiar with academic reading and writing, presentation, organisation, and referencing (APA system). Participants will learn and practice effective critical reading and use of material for literature review purposes. Participants will also be exposed to different search engines at the UM library and beyond. Summarisation and paraphrasing skills will be addressed. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is intended to equip students with a sound foundation in the nature and purpose of research in social wellbeing, and its philosophical foundations and broad research strategies. It also aims to introduce students to the elements of the research process, including reading, writing and referencing. This unit provides the foundation for a subsequent compulsory study unit on research methods in social wellbeing. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate understanding of the purpose of research in understanding social wellbeing; - Recognise the difference between research in the natural and social sciences; - Illustrate a clear understanding of the epistemological and ontological dimensions of research and their significance; - Identify the difference between inductive and deductive approaches; - Differentiate between various types of research design and their appropriate use; - Identify the broad sequence of steps in the research process; - Identify criteria of good research; - Clearly differentiate between causality and correlation; - Demonstrate familiarity with the ethics and politics of research; - Demonstrate understanding of the Rationale of academic writing and referencing; - Describe main ideas of research material; - Illustrate the ability to critique readings presented; - Identify main ideas and limitations in readings. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Develop and discuss a suitable research question; - Develop and discuss basic research plan; - Demonstrate understanding of the key steps in carrying out a literature review; - Choose between broad research strategies and designs; - Use the APA manual; - Present academic writing in APA format; - Reference in APA format; - Demonstrate the ability to summarise readings; - Elicit main ideas from readings; - Address limitations in readings. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - S. Vella, R. Falzon & A. Azzopardi (Eds), Perspectives on Wellbeing - A Reader. Brill Sense. - American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. - Bryman, Alan (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.) UK: Oxford. - Punch, Keith (2013). Introduction to social research. Quantitative and Qualitative approaches. UK: Sage. Supplementary Readings: - Henn, Matt; Weinstein, Mark and Foard, N. (2009). A critical introduction to social research (2nd ed.) UK: Sage. - Neuman, William L. (2013). Social research methods : qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). UK: Pearson. - Seale, Clive (2004). Social research methods: A reader. UK: Routledge. - Sheppard, Michael (2004). Appraising and using social research in the human services : an introduction for social work and health professionals. UK: Jessica Kingsley. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Liberato Camilleri Marlene Cauchi (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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