lst3slr socio legal research

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIO-LEGAL AND POLITICAL RESEARCH

LST3SLR

2016

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject, students become familiar with the basic principles and tools used to carry out research in Legal Studies and Politics. Specific objectives include: Learning what makes socio-legal and political research distinctive; how to write research proposals; how to create a literature review; how to critique scholarly work; how to create and develop an original argument; and how to select suitable research methods to test it (including a selection of qualitative and quantitative research methods typically used in socio-legal and political inquiry)

SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points15

Subject Co-ordinatorRaul Sanchez-Urribarri

Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes

Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG

Exchange StudentsYes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites 30 credit points of second year Legal Studies or Politics subjects and 30 credit points of any second year Humanities or Social Sciences subjects or subject coordinator's approval.

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjects LST2SLR, LST3RML, LST2RML, SOC2MSR, SOC3MSR

Equivalent subjectsN/A

Special conditions This subject is Core for the LBLS-Bachelor of Legal Studies degree, and must be completed at EITHER second or third year.

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsWeekly readings available via LMS and/or e-reserve in the library.PrescribedN/AN/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Become familiar with how original research questions, research topics and basic theoretical elements are formulated - create an original research question

Activities:
Discussion with students in the one (1) hour tutorials about their research questions and/or research topics. Assessment via research proposal, critical essays and research plan.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

02. Identify and critique the distinctive features of socio-legal and political research

Activities:
In-class discussion about socio-legal and political research designs, and critiquing research designs carried out in published and unpublished works. Assessment via research proposal and research plan.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

03. Learn different research methods, assess their relative merit, and identify the most suitable for their research plan

Activities:
Practical discussions about a selection of quantitative and qualitative methods, plus tutorials with supervised exercises to learn the foundations of the methods. Assessment via review essays and research plan.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

04. Learn to critique sophisticated scholarly work and write a comprehensive literature review

Activities:
Detailed lecture on how to develop an original literature review, and special sessions on how to find, compile and analyze relevant literature. Assessment via review essays and research plan.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Writing(Writing)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

Subject options

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Start date between: and    Key dates

Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment sizeN/A

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorRaul Sanchez-Urribarri

Class requirements

TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
one 1,000-word research proposal (about topic, research questions and hypotheses)2501, 04
one 1,000-word review essay (critiquing two research papers)2502, 04
one 2,000-word research plan (summary of theory, literature review and research strategy)5001, 02, 03, 04