Offered By	ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Academic Contact	Dr Joanna Sikora
Areas of Interest	Social Research and Sociology

This major equips students with social research skills sought by employers in different areas. Students enrolled in the major build expertise in using specialist computer software packages and receive instruction in research methodology, comprising qualitative designs and statistical techniques. 

For students trained in a particular discipline, knowledge of the methods of related disciplines enhances their ability to conduct research and analyse information in their field of specialisation. Historians, political scientists, sociologists, social psychologists, demographers, environmental scientists and even economists use similar statistical techniques, although each field has its unique traditions and a slightly different approach. The ability to handle a range of problems and methodological issues is important in occupations using practical investigative skills. Therefore multidisciplinary training is increasingly valuable for people intending to pursue research related occupations in academia, government and private organizations.

 

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Requirements

The requirements of the major are a minimum of 42 units consisting of 12 units from appropriate first-year courses, followed by 30 units from later-year courses (listed below). The major may also consist of later-year courses to the value of 42 units, if prerequisite first-year courses have been completed but are being counted as part of a different major.

To give students adequate breadth in their studies, not more than three later-year courses in the major can be taken in any one study area. The later-year courses must be drawn from at least two of the following study areas:

(1) Social Investigation;
(2) Spatial Analysis;
(3) Demographic Analysis;
(4) Behavioural Studies

Normal prerequisites apply. All courses are 6 units unless indicated otherwise.

Later-year courses: At least 30 units from at least 2 of the following categories of courses:
1. Social Investigation
SOCY2037 Foundations of Social Research
SOCY2038 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods
SOCY2043 Qualitative Research Methods
SOCY2055 Social Inequality in Comparative Perspective

SOCY2037 Foundations of Social Research provides an extensive coverage of concept formation, theory construction and other methodological issues. SOCY2043 Qualitative Research Methods is concerned with the study of the social world through methods such as participant observation and in-depth interviewing. SOCY2038 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods provides training in data acquisition procedures, including survey design, and quantitative analytical techniques for examining social data.  SOCY2055 Social Inequality in Comparative Perspective introduces principles of comparative analysis.

2. Spatial Analysis
ENVS2015 Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing
ENVS3024 Applied Geographic Information Science

These courses discuss the analysis of spatial information and data sets commonly encountered in geography. Extensive use is made of computers for mapping and graphing data, calculating descriptive statistics and analysing spatial data from satellites and other sources.

3. Demographic Analysis
POPS2002 Population Analysis

Vital statistics, migration statistics and census figures on population characteristics - such as age composition, family structure and occupations - are important source materials in the social sciences. POPS2002 Population Analysis equips students to find and use such materials.

4. Behavioural Studies

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods: Analysis of Variance

These courses present strategies, statistical methods and computing techniques in psychology. Coverage includes the design and analysis of experiments and applications of techniques of psychological measurement in experiments and in psychological testing.

Warning: Students should note that although courses from other Colleges are included in this major, they are not classified as "Arts" courses and you may not be able to include them in your degree. 

For students enrolled in a single BA the Program Rules allow for a maximum of 48 units (8 courses) out-of-college. 

For BA students enrolled in a combined degree, enrolment is restricted to Arts courses only, therefore you may not include out-of-college courses. 

For a list of courses that are approved to count as "Arts" courses in the BA please see the Bachelor of Arts Course Listing at the end of the College of Arts & Social Sciences entry in the Undergraduate Handbook or see the Undergraduate Courses offered by the ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences. 

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.