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This assignment is an essay comprised of 3,500 words.
This assignment requires you to demonstrate your understanding of social research and the methodologies involved. You will be expected to provide an overview of the paradigm debate and explain your understanding of how researchers’ different ontological and epistemological positions impact what is gathered as research, and as a result, their research knowledge.
For this essay, we ask you to demonstrate your critical
understanding of the three broad challenges involved in social
research in relation to social theory. We also ask you to explain
your critical understanding of the principles underpinning quantitative and qualitative research. Through your explanation of your
understanding of these challenges and principles, you will write
an essay which provides an overview of the paradigm debate and explains the ways in which these challenges and principles impact social research.
Three Broad Challenges Involved in Social Research
Challenge 1 – Ontology: You must demonstrate your critical understanding of ontology. In what ways does an individual’s worldview impact how and what is researched? We ask that you critically consider what is social reality and how does this help you explain what exists?
Challenge 2 – Episteme: You must demonstrate your critical understanding of Episteme. What sort of knowledge is legitimate, preferred or considered superior? In the field of research, this is the challenge of epistemology. How does perspective affect research? What are considered legitimate and credible sources of knowledge and evidence?
Challenge 3 – Methodology: Once you have established what your worldview is and what you consider legitimate knowledge, you will then need to critically explain which social research methods you believe should be employed. (Qualitative or quantitative?)Three Broad Challenges Involved in Social Research
legitimate, preferred or considered superior? In the field of research, this is the challenge of epistemology. How does perspective affect research? What are considered legitimate and credible sources of knowledge and evidence?
Challenge 3 – Methodology: Once you have established what your worldview is and what you consider legitimate knowledge, you will then need to critically explain which social research methods you believe should be employed. (Qualitative or quantitative?)Three Broad Challenges Involved in Social Research
Challenge 1 – Ontology: You must demonstrate your critical understanding of ontology. In what ways does an individual’s worldview impact how and what is researched? We ask that you critically consider what is social reality and how does this help you explain what exists?
Challenge 2 – Episteme: You must demonstrate your critical understanding of Episteme. What sort of knowledge is legitimate, preferred or considered superior? In the field of research, this is the challenge of epistemology. How does perspective affect research? What are considered legitimate and credible sources of knowledge and evidence?
Challenge 3 – Methodology: Once you have established what your worldview is and what you consider legitimate knowledge, you will then need to critically explain which social research methods you believe should be employed. (Qualitative or quantitative?)Three Broad Challenges Involved in Social Research
itative?)
Module Learning Outcomes
In this assignment please refer to the following learning outcomes, and aim to demonstrate ability and skill across them in your
submission:
LO1: Critically evaluate key issues and debates associated with
social care research.
LO2: Critically discuss the distinction and application of qualitative / quantitative and mixed approaches.
LO3: Systematically explore and develop critiques of and for
research practice.Module Learning Outcomes
In this assignment please refer to the following learning outcomes, and aim to demonstrate ability and skill across them in your
submission:
LO1: Critically evaluate key issues and debates associated with
social care research.
LO2: Critically discuss the distinction and application of qualitative / quantitative and mixed approaches.
LO3: Systematically explore and develop critiques of and for
research practice.
Task
In order to achieve a pass, your final submission needs to demonstrate your ability and skill across all of the learning outcomes for
this module. (Please see the Module Learning Outcomes above).
In order to help you achieve this, we provide you with the following tasks to assist you with the writing process:
Your first task is to demonstrate your critical understanding of the three main challenges involved in social research.
Once you have achieved this, your next task is to critically explain
the principles underpinning quantitative and qualitative research.
You can do this by showing you have a critical understanding of the following:
The differing viewpoints of the philosophical positions,
interpretivism and positivism
The concept of research being value-free and value bound
Your final task is to present the strengths and weaknesses of both the positivist and the interpretivist positions and provide an
overview of the paradigm debate that critically explains the ways
in which these challenges impact social research.
Referencing
Your essay should be referenced throughout using the Harvard referencing system. Please see the course hub for more information
on referencing.
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