Objectives: To provide the student with a general understanding of empirical research methods and resarch process in social sciences. The student learns the basics of doing empirical research and learns to understand the significance of research questions and research frame as well as aspects related to choosing certain data and techniques of analysis. The student learns how one can approach the same phenomenon with various research methods and how those methods and approaches produce different kind of information. The module provides the student with basic abilties to understand empirical research conducted with various methods, to evaluate the methodological choices and research results.

Modes of Study: In English: book exam on
Gilbert (ed.), Researching Social Life. Sage, Second edition,  2001. (reprinted 2003).

The book exam is available in the Electronic Exam Service: https://tenttis.uta.fi/login/index.php?lang=en_utf8 (see under ISSS/ Sociology). The exam is open until 16.11.2009.