This is a foundational course that aims to introduce students to the key principles of research design in the social sciences. Students will learn about the process and practice of conducting research in the social sciences, formulating research questions and the design of research projects. The course covers the fundamental aspects of conducting research in social sciences, including explanation of variables, processes of conceptualisation, operationalisation and measurement and how they can contribute to sound research design. In this course, students will be introduced to the interplay between theory and
empirical research. The course highlights how empirical evidence serves as a cornerstone for critically evaluating existing theories, testing their limitations, and further advancing theorising within social science disciplines. The course introduces students to the foundations of quantitative and qualitative research approaches and how they can be employed in research design. Finally, students will be introduced to principles of conducting social scientific research ethically.