To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social research methods, with particular focus on their application in public policy. Students will learn to critically evaluate research designs, formulate research questions, and understand both qualitative and quantitative methods. Students will be prepared to design and conduct their own public policy research projects, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

By the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Understand key research designs used in public policy research, including experiments, cross-sectional studies, case studies, and comparative research. 2. Formulate research questions and develop a coherent literature review. 3. Design surveys and interviews, and critically evaluate the reliability and validity of these tools. 4. Apply sampling techniques and understand potential biases in research. 5. Conduct quantitative data analysis using statistical methods, including basic statistical software tools. 6. Present research findings effectively in both written and oral forms.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to social research methods, with a particular focus on their application to public policy. Students will explore both quantitative and qualitative research techniques, including designing surveys, conducting interviews, analyzing data, and evaluating research findings. Key topics include research design, sampling techniques, structured interviews, self-completion questionnaires, data analysis, and addressing biases in social research. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to formulate research questions, conduct public policy research, and present their findings in both written and oral formats.

Alan Bryman, Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press, 2021

Lectures, class discussions, student presentations.

Homework assignments, two papers and presentations.

Minimum grade of 27 and contact the instructors.