Doctor of Applied Social Research

Contents

Structure and Content The programme is designed to change the way you think as a professional. It is expected that you will be able to make a significant difference to your professional environment from the very beginning of the programme. Ideas and methods from a range of disciplines will be applied to your own fields of expertise. Candidates on all
Professional Doctorate pathways work together on a range of ‘core’ research modules: * Research Design and Process
* Quantitative Data Analysis
* Qualitative Data Analysis
* Policy Analysis and Evaluation Research

This gives the opportunity both to build high-quality research skills and to learn from each other’s experiences as professionals. Each professional pathway then offers a choice of modules from which candidates may select their own tailored programme.

* Our Housing pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Policy and Strategy; Managing Information; Preventing Homelessness; Management and Change; Paying For Housing; Renewal and Regeneration and Housing Health and Wellbeing
* Our Social Work pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Risk and Decision Making; Developing Practitioner and Organisational Capacity; Managing Change and Innovation; Collaborative Practice; Health, Illness and Disability; Crime, Welfare and Justice and Children, Families and Society
* Our Criminal Justice pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Criminological Perspectives; Criminalisation, Social Control and Human Rights and Research Methods in Criminology and Socio-legal Studies
* Our Dementia Studies pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Evaluation and Assessment in Dementia Care and Researching Dementia
* Our Drug and Alcohol Studies pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Understanding Addiction: Society, Policy and Practice and Understanding Addiction: Treatment and Recovery
* Our Applied Social Research pathway includes a choice of specialist modules in Comparative Social Research; Thinking Sociologically; Advanced Quantitative Research; Advanced Qualitative Research; Strategic Public Relations Planning; Social Marketing and Organisational Behaviour and Analysis

The aim is to bring you up to date with the latest ideas, findings and methods, challenging assumptions and changing how you as a professional think about the relationship between research, scholarship and expertise. You will be encouraged to look at new ideas about systems, how decisions are made and how to design the professional environment so that you can see, understand, evaluate, plan and take action with maximum speed and efficiency.

* A further module assesses your expert practice in a professional setting. It requires an ability to reflect upon and analyse your role as a professional in an advanced workplace-based assignment and report.

Following completion of the taught modules, you progress to the empirical research stage and ultimately construct a thesis of approximately 45,000-55,000 words on a topic that will enhance the knowledge base in your field of practice.

Methods of Study Teaching methods are adapted to suit the aims of each module, and include lectures, seminars, computer-based workshops and group work. There are many opportunities for discussion and feedback from peers and teaching staff. Students experience a range of different forms of assessment — these include coursework essays, critical review essays, book reviews, research proposals, research papers, conference posters, group project reports and oral presentation. At the thesis stage each professional doctorate student will have 2 supervisors, with the Principal Supervisor having expertise in your chosen area of interest. In addition, you will also have access to courses, seminars and development opportunities offered by Stirling Graduate Research School (SGRS) and the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences, giving access to advanced training and summer school programmes.

Timetables For the convenience of part-time students, attendance for each of the ‘core’ Applied Social Research modules is concentrated into either three or four one-day blocks. The professional modules are also designed for part-time students, several being offered online (Housing and Dementia Studies). On-campus attendance is kept to a minimum.

Alternative Routes The flexibility of the DASR programme means that there are a number of entry and exit routes. This flexibility also means that breaks in programmes are available. The maximum study period is eight years.

The achievement of 60 credits at level 11 will lead to the award of a PG Certificate in your chosen subject discipline. The achievement of 120 credits at level 11 will lead to the award of a PG Diploma. The addition of a further 60 credits at level 12 through the professional assignment will lead to the award of MSc in Applied Social Research (Professional). Students successfully completing the Thesis will be awarded the Doctor of Applied Social Research.