Applied Social Research (Criminology) MSc/Postgraduate Diploma

www.dass.stir.ac.uk

The programme prepares students for undertaking social research and evaluation in criminal justice and criminology, leading to careers in research, research management, and commissioning or using research.

Programme Objectives

Our MSc is a new programme that has been designed to run concurrently with the MSc in Applied Social Research, a long-standing programme in the Department of Applied Social Science that is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting the standards of their Research Training Guidelines.

The objectives are to:

• Provide you with the skills and knowledge base required to collect, analyse and report qualitative and quantitative data, taking account of ethics, reliability and validity
• Enable you to examine critically the theoretical foundations that underpin criminological and socio-legal research
• Enable you to examine issues concerning comparative criminological and socio-legal research
• Develop your understanding of the relationship between criminological research and policy and the meanings of evaluation, its terminology, practice and use

Entrance Requirements

An Honours degree, or equivalent in a relevant subject, from a university in the UK, or equivalent academic or professional qualification or equivalent relevant experience. Preference is given to candidates with upper second class degrees or better. Candidates with other qualifications or experience may be admitted to the Diploma in the first instance.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or TOEFL 577/233/90 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

ESRC quota awards are available on a competitive basis for students who wish to pursue the MSc plus a PhD on a 1+3 basis. Please contact the Department for details.

For further information on possible sources of funding, visit: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance

Modes of Study

Full-time: 1 year, 5 modules per semester
Part-time: 2.5 years, 2/3 modules per semester
Day-time teaching

Programme Start Date

Full-time: September
Part-time: February and September

Programme Director

Dr Richard Simmons

Department of Applied Social Science

Structure and Content

The MSc Applied Social Research (Criminology) comprises eight compulsory taught core modules, a group project and (for the MSc) a dissertation.

The modules are: The Nature of Social Enquiry; Research Design and Process; Introduction to Information Technology and Library Services; Quantitative Data Analysis; Qualitative Data Analysis; Comparative Social Research; Research Methods in Criminology and Socio-legal Studies; Criminological Perspectives.

In addition to the modules, you will complete both of the following:

• Group Project: An opportunity to obtain first-hand experience of research techniques, data collection strategies and group work with the guidance of staff.
• Research Dissertation: MSc students must undertake an original criminological or socio-legal research study and complete a research dissertation with academic supervision.

Examples of recent dissertation topics include:

• Explaining Crime through Narrative
• Nurses Perceptions of Workplace Violence and Aggression within an A&E Department
• Policing a Democracy
• The Effect of Anti-Terror Legislation on Liberty

Delivery and Assessment

Teaching methods are designed for each module to facilitate your acquisition of skills and progressive development. You are expected to participate in lectures, seminars, tutorials, computer-based workshops and group work.

Full-time and part-time MSc/Diploma students experience a range of different forms of assessment across the compulsory taught modules. These include essays, critical review essays, book reviews, research proposals, a computer lab-based assessment for quantitative data analysis, group project reports and the research dissertation. There are no examinations.

Timetable

Contact the Department for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Career Opportunities

Accreditation

The programme is recognised as research training by the ESRC for those who are studying or going on to study for a PhD (+3), and is also recognised by the ESRC for Master’s Course plus Research Studentship (1+3) purposes.

Research Opportunities

Our researchers, including postgraduates, form a network of research connections across the Department. Much research is underpinned by study of policy formation, implementation and the evaluation of services e.g. in social work and health-related fields. We also undertake basic and strategic research, emphasising relevance to users. We have significant strength in both quantitative and qualitative research. We aim to provide you with the necessary support and supervision to complete a PhD within three years.

Our research strategy and ethos emphasise the communication of research findings to various audiences, including policy-makers in local government, practitioners and service users. The promotion of research-based policy and practice is greatly assisted by our wide-ranging and close links with policy-makers and practitioners at local, national and international levels.

We currently have more than 30 ongoing research projects, including:

• Food Practices in an Institutional Context: Children, Care and Control (ESRC)
• Coordination of Programmes in Children (Department for Education and Skills)
• Someone to talk to: Public Views and Experiences of Emotional Support in the UK (ESRC)
• The Family Life Project: A Qualitative Longitudinal
• Study of Children’s Experiences of Family Life in the Context of Parental Drug Use (Department of Health)

Find out about these projects and others at: www.dass.stir.ac.uk

Doctor of Applied Social Research (DASR)
This programme is for professionals who may need to commission, evaluate, direct, administer or design research into aspects of the applied social sciences. It is directed towards analysis of policy, practice and the development of professional practice. Taught modules focus on aspects of social science research, also emphasising the critical understanding of research and research methods.

RAE Rating

The UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed the quality of the work being done by our researchers. 85% of the University of Stirling’s research has been judged to be internationally excellent and internationally recognised, with the top 10% of that judged to be world class.

View the full outcomes of Stirling’s RAE performance

Use the online enquiry service to find out more or to request a prospectus.

If you are ready to apply you can fill out an online application form now.