Social Science Research Methodology

Entry requirements

Masters (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with an average of 63% or above, and 2:1 at undergraduate level (or international equivalent).

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Offering you the opportunity to acquire first-class methodological expertise, this course includes substantive research on a topic of your choice.

You will have the opportunity to take intensive clinics offered by the Doctoral Training Centre during your first two years. These teach the theory and practice of a particular research method.

If you don’t have a sufficient background in research methods, you may also be required to take additional taught modules in your first year. These will typically cover research design, philosophy of social sciences, qualitative methods and quantitative methods.

Methods and data research areas include:

• methodological research, focusing on studies of measurement and operationalisation, complex data structures, research design, multivariate analysis and textual analysis
• comparative social research, in the context of a number of large scale, EU-wide collaborative research projects about citizens, political parties, media, social movements and political institutions
• political and social attitudes and behaviour, based on work collecting data about parties and voters in various contexts
• systematic analysis of text, developing and applying automated methods of content analysis to political text such as speeches and manifestos to determine topic, content, and the ideological positions of actors

Information for international students