This course provides students with the skills to understand, evaluate and carry out qualitative social research using digital tools. The course is organised around two themes: 1) digital ethnography and 2) qualitative approaches to big data. The focus will be on how to utilise these methods effectively when designing social research. The course will cover research design and data collection, digital research ethics and the relationship between evidence and conclusions in qualitative research using digital methods. As well as providing methodological training, the course will enable students to reflect on the difference between offline and online methods, and the potential and limitations of online research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:- evaluate qualitative research based on digital methods;
- design and carry out independent qualitative social research using digital tools;
- articulate the potential and limitations of digital methods in qualitative social research; and
- reflect on and discuss their learning in relation to qualitative social research.
Indicative Assessment
Class participation 10% (LO 4)Research proposal including methodological literature review 20% (1,500 words, LO 1, 2)
Research project 70% (4,500 words, LO 2,3)
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 1x 3 hour seminar and workshop per week
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $3570 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5460 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
