Fundamentals of Social Research

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
POLI 1006
Course ID icon
Course ID
201050
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East, Adelaide City Campus West, Magill
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Society and Culture
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Djordje Stefanovic
Course level icon
Course level
1
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

Is the job market for university graduates in Australia improving or worsening? Are youth attitudes to alcohol or drug consumption changing? This course will provide students with the basic tools to be an informed and critical user of social research methods to address important questions like these. It offers students a basic introduction to the various ways that social research is designed, carried out, and communicated. By learning how to discriminate between different methodological approaches and research methods, and the importance and complexities of social research ethics, students will develop the capacity to evaluate the methodological aspects of social research studies. 

  • Identifying social research topics and developing questions 
  • Designing social research
  • Data collection, analysis and evaluation research

Course learning outcomes

  • Understand the purpose of social research and its potential to investigate contemporary issues through both quantitative and qualitative approaches
  • Identify the range of methods, techniques, and skills used in contemporary social research and their capacity to solve specific problems
  • Critically evaluate the methodological aspects of published social research
  • Locate, analyse and synthesise academic literature into a Literature Review, and develop a research question in a timely and effective manner.

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 59729
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 70
Available
Available 69
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
- Adelaide City Campus East ,
Class number
Class number 56782
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Horace Lamb, 422
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Horace Lamb, 422
Class number
Class number 56783
Section
Section WS02
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 4:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Schulz, 307
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 4:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Schulz, 307
Class number
Class number 58067
Section
Section WS03
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Helen Mayo South, SG20
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Helen Mayo South, SG20
Class number
Class number 56960
Section
Section WS04
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed CRIM1002 Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology

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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.