Social Policy: Special Topics A (SOCI90020)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2020

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As part of the University’s response to COVID-19 and the associated Government restrictions and guidelines, most subjects will continue to be delivered online in Winter and Semester 2.
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.

Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.

Overview

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Special Topic: Survey Research Methods

This subject will give practical tips and hands-on experience for designing and implementing social surveys, for both academic purposes and the public/business sector. The structure of the subject will parallel the steps taken when executing a survey: comparing the advantages and disadvantages of surveys versus other means of collecting social data; determining the specific purpose of the study and to whom the study applies; developing the content and testing questions; implementing the questionnaire; and undertaking data cleaning and preliminary analysis. This will be illustrated by drawing on experiences from real life surveys. Practical, hands-on exercises will form a key part of lectures and tutorials and computer lab exercises.

 

 

 

 

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject students are expected to




 


 


 

  • Demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of survey administration
  • Understand the different stages of survey design and data management   
  • Have developed skills to use statistical software to set up an electronic data file and manipulate survey data in preparation for quantitative analysis 
  • Have developed skills to use statistical software to extract frequencies and simple cross-tabulations 
  • Communicate survey findings in the form of an empirical research report

Generic skills

On completion of this subject students should

• Oral communication; written communication;
• Collaborative learning; problem solving; team work;
• Statistical reasoning; application of theory to empirical practice;
• Interpretation and analysis of data; critical thinking

 

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Public Policy or Sociology at Undergraduate level

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

DescriptionTimingPercentage

A literature review

  • 750 words
Week 520%

An in class data entry and cleaning exercise 500 words

  • 1 hours
Week 810%

Take home practical analytical exercise

  • 750 words
Week 920%

A final research report

  • 3000 words
During the examination period50%
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Additional details

 

 

 

 

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Dates & times

Not available in 2020

Time commitment details

Total of 170 hours

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.

     

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    Specialisation (formal)Public Policy and Management
    Informal specialisationPD-ARTS Public Policy and Management
  • Links to additional information

    http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/ssps

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

    Additional information for this subject

    Subject coordinator approval required

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 3 November 2022