MRes Social Science Research Methods

This recently re-structured MRes in Social Science Research Methods prepares students for a research-related career by providing a structured programme of training in a range of research skills and methodologies, to enable students to approach a research project in a systematic and professional way.
Increasingly, students wishing to take doctoral programmes are required first to undertake a year’s research training (or equivalent), and this MRes programme will provide that preparation required to successfully complete a PhD in the normal period of three years. Until the 1990s, postgraduate research was focused exclusively on the production of an original doctoral thesis. It is now seen as part of a much broader programme of research training. While the doctoral thesis remains central and is unique for the viva voce examination, issues of research design, research methods for gathering evidence, and procedures for data analysis relevant to the student’s own academic discipline are now also included as part of the explicit research training process.
They may also comprise a separate and independent course of study to Masters Level, such as this MRes programme, which is now running in its new format from the academic year 2013/14. The programme offers pathways in the subject areas of: Criminology, Education, Gerontology, Health Policy, Management, Social Work, and Sociology.