• Offered by School of Sociology
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Course subject Sociology
  • Areas of interest Sociology
  • Academic career PGRD
  • Course convener
    • Dr Maria Hynes
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Offered in First Semester 2024
    Second Semester 2024
    See Future Offerings

Research Theory and Design aims to provide students with a foundation in the theoretical elements of research design in Sociology. The course will assist students in formulating the research problem that will guide their thesis research. The course explores different ways of viewing, speculating upon and problematizing sociological issues through an examination of a selection of foundational texts in sociology.  The design of the course is based on the proposition that the persistent division between theory and method in Sociology is both necessary and problematic. The course therefore approaches theory as incorporating a methodological and practical dimension. However it also highlights the importance of reflection on truth claims and  approaches to knowledge production when investigating research design. 

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:
1. Develop familiarity with a small selection of foundational texts in Sociology
2. Critically analyze what it means to formulate a research problem in Sociology
3. Construct their own research problem and identify literature relevant to that problem

Indicative Assessment

Annotated Bibliography, including 15 core texts, 3000 words  (45%) Learning Outcomes 1 & 3
Essay, 4000 words (55%) Learning Outcomes 1, 2 & 3
 

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

 130 hours of total student learning time over 12 weeks made up from:
a) two one day intensive seminars; and
b) the balance in independent student research, reading and writing.

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must be enrolled in PhD Arts & Social Sciences

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees

Student Contribution Band:
14
Unit value:
6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2024 $4080
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2024 $6000
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

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.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

First Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
2968 19 Feb 2024 26 Feb 2024 05 Apr 2024 24 May 2024 In Person N/A

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
7941 22 Jul 2024 29 Jul 2024 31 Aug 2024 25 Oct 2024 In Person View

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions