LAW8152 : Applied Research Methods in Law
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Gina Heathcote
- Lecturer: Dr Christine Beuermann, Dr Joshua Jowitt, Dr Emilia Mickiewicz, Professor Ben Farrand, Professor Darren McCauley, Dr Sakshi Sakshi
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module offers advanced research methods training for students wishing to pursue Doctoral level research in Law. It will cover important issues such as research design, epistemology, research methodology and the implementation of research planning for the successful completion of a PhD in Law. The module will use case study based teaching to give students appropriate training in research design for advanced research projects in Law. This will include issues of the relevance of qualitative data collection, constructing sample sets, and practical issues including questionnaire design and data analysis.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to the course
Library Skills - Introduction to the Library research
Computer Skills - Introduction to Computing and Databases
Referencing and OSCOLA
Drop-in Clinic for Lexis Research
Finding and Using English, Comparative and International materials, European Legal Materials (optional), Government Publications
Conducting a Lit Review
Principles of Research Design
Doctrinal Research
Socio Legal Research
Qualitative methods in Legal Research I and 2
Quantitative methods in research – an introduction
Presenting Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Case Studies I
Case Studies II
‘In the field’ experiences of empirical research
Ethical and Legal Issues in Socio Legal Research
Researching and writing papers for publication
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 50 | 1:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 117 | 1:00 | 117:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching methods have been adapted for delivery in the post-COVID environment and are based on the presumption that in person lectures, seminars and in-person drop-in sessions will be possible but that this shall need to be supplemented by making alternative arrangements under ‘FLEX’ in case of the possibility of more limited possibilities for on Campus teaching).
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 100 | Preliminary Literature Review 2000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A literature review in Semester 1 - 2,000 words. The learning outcomes are targeted to and tied in with, in terms of delivery, the timetable for Research Council Student Scholarship deadlines and, are intended to produce high quality fundable external Scholarship applications.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW8152's Timetable