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Social Research Methods and Techniques

Code: 43660 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Social Policy and Community Action OB 1

Contact

Name:
Özgür Günes Öztürk Okumus
Email:
ozgurgunes.ozturk@uab.cat

Teachers

Carolina Alejandra Muñoz Mendoza
Carlos Delclos Gomez-Moran
Joel Marti Olive
(External) Gunes Ozturk
(External) Miriam Acebillo

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective of this module is to provide students with the necessary tools so that they can develop an investigation that allows them to complete the Master's Final Project. Specific contents will be worked on: planning and designing an investigation, approach to case study, qualitative and quantitative techniques, and action research. The biographical and ethnographic perspective will be addressed. The use and techniques of collecting and systematizing information and data will be discussed, as well as network analysis tools in community action.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CA07 (Competence) Critically review one's own epistemological positions, identifying personal strengths and weaknesses for social research, applied to the field of Social Policies and Community Actions.
  2. CA08 (Competence) Design a preliminary research project that serves as an input for the design of the TFM.
  3. KA07 (Knowledge) Distinguish the epistemological bases of social research and various methodological alternatives for its application.
  4. KA08 (Knowledge) Define the main methods and techniques of social research, distinguishing their relevance for addressing specific research problems.
  5. SA07 (Skill) Apply quantitative, qualitative or mixed social research tools that are relevant to specific research problems.
  6. SA08 (Skill) Structure a social research project that addresses a specific applied research problem, which serves as an input for the design of the TFM.

Content

• Social research paradigms and methodologies
• Planning and designing a social research project.
• Social research methods: case studies, biographical and ethnographic perspectives, and action research.
• Qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection, systematization, and analysis.
• Network analysis tools in community action


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes, discussions, readings. 30 1.2 CA07, CA08, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08, CA07
Type: Supervised      
Theoretical-conceptual and practical application exercises 20 0.8 CA07, CA08, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08, CA07
Type: Autonomous      
Readings, information research, observations, review and/or creation of written, didactic and audiovisual materials, reflections and personal notes, redactions, among others. 80 3.2 CA07, CA08, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08, CA07

The methodology will focus on student learning, promoting active participation. There will be lectures and classroom exercises that may involve content integration and analysis, as well as recreational and/or educational activities.
Students may be given instructions for activities to be completed prior to class, such as readings, reviewing audiovisual material, observing social reality, interviews, or conversations with relevant actors, among others.
Completing these preliminary exercises, combined with the content of each session, will allow for questions, open debate, and shared reflection during the classes.
Individual or group activities will be encouraged, depending on the profile of the students and the dynamics of the group they form.
Students have access to spaces in the center where classes are held to promote exchange and shared reflection when carrying out their work.
Note: 15 minutes of each class, within the calendar established by the center/degree program, will be reserved for students to complete the evaluation surveys on the performance of the teaching staff and the evaluation of the subject/module.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exercises during the course 40% 5 0.2 CA08, KA08, SA07
Final Exercis TFM Design 60% 15 0.6 CA07, CA08, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08

The assessment system will consist of a minimum of two assessment activities. During the course, students may complete assessment assignments in class or between classes. At the end of the course, students will be required to submit a final project that addresses all the content and learning topics covered. These projects may be individual or group, written, verbal presentations, or other assignments, depending on the decision of the professor in charge.
The grade for the projects will be determined by the level of coherence in the reasoning of the answers based on: the content presented in class, supplementary materials (readings/audiovisuals), and the discussions generated in class. Prior to each assessment, students will be informed of the criteria under which their work will be assessed and the corresponding grade will be assigned.


Bibliography


Software

No software is required.


Groups and Languages

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish second semester afternoon