Social Research (Taught)

Social research helps us understand human behaviour, providing insights into social issues, personal experiences, public opinion, patterns of collective behaviour and what causes them. The MSc Social Research offers a thorough grounding in a range of professional research skills and methodologies. Thus, you’ll gain practical experience of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method analysis techniques and develop valuable transferable skills in critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving. Excellent preparation for further research or doctoral study, you’ll also be well placed for roles in business or government, marketing, policy-making, charitable organisations, education and training, or law.

Why study this course?

• Flexible in its delivery, this course can be studied as either full-time over one year, part-time over two years, or on a modular basis up to five years, accumulating degree credits as you go

• The MSc is recognised by and meets the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) postgraduate social science research training and development guidelines

• Excellent student support, supervision and flexibility, allowing you to pursue a topic of interest - your choice - as part of the final dissertation

• Keele is a member of the ESRC’s North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), which opens up opportunities for PhD research funding

• High staff-to-student ratio enhanced by small-group tutorials and a strong, inclusive research community

Generating knowledge that can ultimately ease suffering and improve individual, community and even international relations, the impact of social science research cannot be underestimated. It helps policy makers recognise and understand social issues, informing decisions about the design and implementation of appropriate responses to anything from economic aid and education, to health and immigration.

Constantly evolving, social phenomena – the individual, social and external influences that affect our behaviour and opinions about life and our relationships with others – can have a profound effect on people’s lives and development.

Blending theory, methodology and practice, this course provides systematic introductory and interdisciplinary research and researcher training. It is mapped against the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), which articulates the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful world-class researchers.

You will learn how to plan, conduct and manage social research projects, developing theoretical models and recommendations to inform responses to real-world social issues as diverse as multiculturalism, political discourse and right-wing populism or extremism, volunteering, transitions to adulthood and employment.

The School of Social Sciences benefits from internationally respected expertise within the disciplines of criminology, education, international relations, philosophy, politics and sociology.

About Keele

Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.

We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.

Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.