Module SOCI41515: COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

Department: Applied Social Sciences

SOCI41515: COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• The module will involve students in identifying and undertaking an independent analysis of an identified community, which may be a community of place, interest or identity.

Content

• The community analysis will be carried out from within an appropriate organisation which will act as a base for the research.
• Students will be responsible for identifying a community as the subject of the analysis. This may be a community of place, interest or identity. The community must be agreed as appropriate by the module convenor. Where necessary the module convenor or other programme tutors may provide assistance in identifying suitable communities.
• The nature of the information which you collect for the purposes of analysis will depend to a large degree upon the nature of the community identified. Critical analysis of the process of decision-making about what type of information to target, about the methods used to collect the information and about the quality of the information gathered should form part of your Community Analysis.
• It is important to note that whilst this is not intended as a research project in the formal sense of the word, it does include the principles and practices of research. You must therefore complete a University ethics form before embarking upon your information gathering.
• You must ensure that all participants who are involved in providing you with information are aware of the purposes of your enquiry and data gathering. It will be useful to prepare information sheets and consent sheets if you intend to gather information directly from community participants, either as individuals or groups. All information and consent forms should be included within the Appendices of your Community Analysis.

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
• A critical understanding of the community that they have analysed;
• An ability to collect and collate relevant information relating to the community under study, including statistical information, perceptions of community members and service providers;
• An ability to carry out a community analysis and present findings appropriately.

• The Community Analysis module will enable students to mobilise and demonstrate skills in undertaking systematic research in a community context.
• The community analysis will be carried out from within an appropriate organisation which will act as a base for the research.
• Students will be responsible for identifying a community as the subject of the analysis. This may be a community of place, interest or identity. The community must be agreed as appropriate by the module convenor. Where necessary the module convenor or other programme tutors may provide assistance in identifying suitable communities.
• The nature of the information which you collect for the purposes of analysis will depend to a large degree upon the nature of the community identified. Critical analysis of the process of decision-making about what type of information to target, about the methods used to collect the information and about the quality of the information gathered should form part of your Community Analysis.
• It is important to note that whilst this is not intended as a research project in the formal sense of the word, it does include the principles and practices of research. Students must therefore complete a University ethics form before embarking upon your information gathering.
• Students must ensure that all participants who are involved in providing you with information are aware of the purposes of your enquiry and data gathering. It will be useful to prepare information sheets and consent sheets if you intend to gather information directly from community participants, either as individuals or groups. All information and consent forms should be included within the Appendices of your Community Analysis.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students will undertake this piece of work as an independent study supported by three tutorials, which will be arranged with the module leader.
• There is no standard format for approaching a community analysis. However it is expected that it will cover the following areas:
• A discussion and brief description of the community identified, including a discussion of the features that define it as a community.
• Literature Review.
• A rationale for the range of information to be collected and a discussion on methods, issues and quality of the information collected.
• Analysis of the information collected.
• Organisation of the information and data in order to present a coherent and comprehensive community analysis.
• Conclusion.
• Appendices.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A draft design for a community analysis (1000 words) – feedback will be given on this design by the tutor to enable students to make improvements. University Ethics Form to accompany the assignment.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University