Socially Engaged Scholarship in the Social Sciences
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| EDUC4281 | Education | 4 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- EDUC4281
- School
- Education
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module explores relationships between academic knowledge, professional and political practice, and social change in the social sciences. It focuses on critically interrogating the nature, politics and consequences of different models of ‘socially engaged’ scholarship, including but not limited to evidence-based, policy, community, public, action and participatory research as well as feminist, anti-oppressive, movement-based and solidarity approaches. The module will also open key questions relating to interpersonal and geopolitical power and inequality, knowledge, representation, disciplines, institutions, epistemic justice, the political economy of research and theories of change, and ask students to reflect on them in relation to their own and collective scholarship.
Target Students
This module is designed for (1) postgraduate students enrolled on the ESRC MA in Social Science Research Methods (across schools in Social Science) and (2) doctoral research students in Education who are completing MA-level research education and training.
Classes
- One 3-hour seminar
Assessment
- 50% Participation: Participation will be assessed on the basis of an agreed forms of participation rubric.
- 50% Coursework: 4000-word essay.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to: (1) introduce postgraduate students to critical debates in the broad field of ‘socially engaged scholarship’, (2) illustrate the varied and situated relationship between academic knowledge, professional and political practice, and social justice and change in the context of social research; (3) provide students with opportunities for advanced discussion of the politics of academic scholarship; and (4) facilitate students’ critical reflection on their positionality and responsibilities as a researcher in society.Learning Outcomes
In this module, students will, in the area of knowledge and understanding:
• become familiar with key debates about the benefits and problems of ‘socially engaged scholarship’ in the social science
• formulate informed and critical understandings of factors influencing relationships between academic knowledge, professional and political practice, and social justice and change
In this module, students will, in the area of intellectual skills:
• develop a sophisticated understanding of, and learn the tools necessary for articulating positions in relation to, the politics of academic scholarship
In this module, students will, in the area of professional practical skills:
• learn and develop practices for reflecting critically on their positionality and responsibilities as a researcher when engaging in local and global social processes
• develop and practice capabilities for making generative connections between research and social action
In this module, students will, in the area of transferable (key) skills:
• gain experience in reading, analysing and evaluating academic writing at an advanced postgraduate level.
Conveners
- Dr Sarah Amsler