Course description
Programme description
- Students are taught together with other Social Science & Public Policy students, ensuring an exciting forum for studying a wide range of contemporary issues in social science.
- Students are taught by leading experts in their fields, with extensive backgrounds in UK and overseas-based research.
- An unrivalled location, which allows students access to a cosmopolitan environment, with one in five King’s students from outside the UK.
Core Modules
- Principles of Gerontology.
- Applied Social Science: Research Design & Project.
- Qualitative Research Methods.
- Quantitative Research Methods.
- Theories & Methodologies of the Social Sciences.
- Gerontology Research Project.
Optional Modules
- Healthcare Services in Gerontology.
- Social Policy in Gerontology.
- Population Studies in Gerontology.
- Ageing in Society.
Subjects covered
- Principles of social science research design and methodology.
- Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
- Epistemological traditions in the social sciences and their significance for research design.
- Theoretical social science debates and their relationship to traditions of gerontological scholarship.
Students also undertake a dissertation.
Programme format and assessment
Lecture and tutorial-based teaching using problem-based tasks and projects, assessed through coursework essays, written examinations, oral presentations and a dissertation.
Programme modules for MRes Gerontology
Gerontology Research Project (Core Module)
A dissertation based on original research in a field chosen by the student. Maximum length 20,000 words.
Principles of Gerontology (Core Module)
The aim of this 30 credit module is to provide a broad education in the major areas of gerontology, to encourage a multidisciplinary approach to studying, and to provide a foundation for later in-depth study in one area. The five primary areas studied are: Population Studies in Gerontology Biological Gerontology Healthcare Services in Gerontology Ageing in Society Social Policy in Gerontology
Ageing in Society
Considers how approaches, knowledge and methods from social gerontology apply to the study of ageing and later life. Topics addresed include: the different ways in which adult ageing is socially constructed, how to apply concepts from social gerontology to practice and family settings, the individual, interpersonal and social aspects of adult ageing and the problems of an ageing society and their relevance to professional practice.
Applied Social Science: Research Design and Project Management
The course develops your skills in applying social science methodologies and concepts to the design and implementation of actual research. Through the use of active learning techniques, you will be introduced to a range of skills and activities necessary to carry out high quality research. This course is taught by the Department of War Studies.
Health and Healthcare in Gerontology
To enable students to learn about the range and scope of healthcare problems and delivery in later life. The module covers the interrelationships between health and social policy and between illness and the social/psychological principles of gerontology. It will also illustrate the central role of health care sciences in informing effective practice. The module objectives include: the contribution of ageing to the diseases/disabilities experienced by older people, the key characteristics of interdisciplinary health and social care of older people, the general principles of health promotion and preventative health strategies for older people, current health care and social policy developments, the rationale for specialist services for older people, the legal/ethical framework for the provision of health care, the role of carers, social policy and legal issues affecting carers and the causes/consequences of dementia.
Population Studies in Gerontology
To provide an understanding of population dynamics and the causes of population ageing, to provide awareness and knowledge of major population trends and their micro/macro implications, and to teach knowledge of demographic data sources. Module elements include: population trends and issues, the forces behind population ageing, future trends and implications for society, changes in family behaviour and its effects on past/current/future generations of older people, the impact of changing demographic factors on living arrangements in later life, data needs of an ageing population and knowledge of key datasets used in demographic research on ageing and later life in Britain, migration patterns in later life, migration theories and the nature of exchanges between generations.
Qualitative Research Methods
The objective of this course is to equip students with qualitative methodological skills. It is designed to introduce students to a range of qualitative methodologies and analytic techniques. It will also provide experience of qualitative interviewing, ethnographic observation and qualitative data analysis. The course is split into two parts: the first part of the course covers intersubjective methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnography. The second part focuses on methods of qualitative analysis, including textual and discourse analysis, archival scholarship, and computer-based qualitative data coding, using packages such as NVIVIO NUD*ist and AtlasTI. Please contact the lecturer responsible for further information on the content of the course.
Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research
The first part of this course focuses on collecting quantitative data and introduces survey and questionnaire design; sampling and error measurement; and the access and use of major public databases such as the census. The second section covers basic techniques of quantitative data analysis, including: descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis; statistical inference; regression analysis and measures of association; and provides computer training in the use of Excel and SPSS. This course is taught by the Department of Management.
Research Methods and Statistics in Gerontology
To enable students to identify and apply a range of research methods and statistics commonly used in gerontological research. By the end of this 30 credit module students should be able to: formulate research questions, describe the basic characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research, critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative research, select the most appropriate research design to address a specific research problem, undertake the collection and simple analysis of research data and apply simple statistical tests and interpret results
Social Policy in Gerontology
The aim of this 15 credit module is to consider key areas of social policy and current policy debates, and assess how they relate to older people. By the end of the module, students should be able to: demonstrate a critical understanding and evaluate major national initiatives in social policy for older people, understand critically the factors that affect the implementation and delivery of social policy, crtically assess and appraise key issues and debates in social policy that are relevant to the lives of older people in areas such as housing, financial circumstances, health, long term care and social care
Theory and Methodologies of the Social Sciences
Through seminar discussions, students will consider a range of philosophical approaches to the social sciences, from positivism and empiricism, to hermenuetics, marxism, and post-structuralism, and discuss the relationship between theoretical debates in particular disciplines to those within the wider social sciences. Each seminar will begin with student-led discussion of readings and then end with a more formal presentation from the instructor to introduce the material for the coming week.
Duration
One year FT, two years PT, September to September.
