Program Overview

Introduction to SCI415 Social Science Research Methods for Natural Resource Management

In this subject, researchers experience the thrills of identifying and creating new knowledge. Their research experience is enhanced by using appropriate and sound approaches. This subject supports students undertaking social science research in natural resource management. Students are exposed to all aspects of research from project development to publication and dissemination of findings. After an introduction to qualitative and quantitative methodologies, students specialise in the study of methods they will use in their research.

Subject Details

Availability

The subject is available in Session 1, with 30 spots available. It is offered online and at the Albury-Wodonga Campus.

Subject Information

Grading System

The grading system for this subject is HD/FL.

Duration

The subject is one session in duration.

School

The subject is offered by the School of Environmental Sciences.

Enrolment Restrictions

The subject is restricted to Faculty of Science and Agriculture students enrolled in Honours or other research degrees or in Masters degrees by Coursework.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• have an in-depth understanding of what is involved in the various stages of a research project
• be able to write a competent research proposal
• have an in-depth understanding of a range of social science research methods
• be able to make sound judgements regarding the selection of social science research methods appropriate to a specific research task
• have specialised skills in the application of several social science research methodologies
• be able to write a research report
• be able to recognise and address ethical issues in research

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

1. The nature of social research in natural resource management
2. Issue identification, problem refinement and hypothesis formulation
3. Social science theories and paradigms
4. Qualitative and quantitative methods: an overview
5. Qualitative and quantitative streams:

• Qualitative:
  • Interviewing
  • Participant observation
  • Analysing and presenting qualitative data
  • Case studies of qualitative research
  • Ethics
• Quantitative:
  • Survey design and administration
  • Distributions, measures of central tendency and variability
  • Bivariate and multivariate analysis
  • Ethics

6. Report and thesis writing, journal publication, and research funding