ASC250 - Contemporary Social Research
| Year: | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | 2025 Only: Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* From 2026: Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ASC161, ASC350, ASC450, ASC461 |
| Study commitment | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Scheduled learning activities - online | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Note: | *Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) |
Content
This unit focuses on the methodologies that underpin rigorous, ethical, and impactful social research.
In a world flooded with information—including misinformation and misleading data —ASC250 equips students with the conceptual tools to critically evaluate and distinguish between trustworthy research and data compromised by flaws, biases, or manipulation.
Students will explore how to identify good and bad data, understand research design, and connect theory, methodology, and data collection. Through thematic analysis, qualitative interviews, survey design, and basic quantitative survey design and data analysis, students will gain practical skills to investigate social issues and generate reliable evidence.
A student-led survey project and two research reports—one qualitative and one quantitative—offer hands-on experience in applying these concepts. By bridging theory and practice, ASC250 empowers students to critically assess data, address societal challenges, and apply research skills in their future careers.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.