The programme is aimed at social science graduates from the UK and overseas and mid-career health, social welfare and policy professionals seeking to develop their conceptual understanding of families and develop skills in research methodology. It is taught by leading researchers from the internationally renowned Centre for Research on the Child and Family, part of the ChildWatch International Research Network.

The programme is available on a full time or part time basis. The Masters in Child and Family Research has full recognition from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which provides the foundation first year training for doctoral study in a 1+3 programme.

Click to download the Social Work and Psychology Postgraduate Prospectus.

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For more information about this exciting new degree please click on the links below:

Aims   Course Programme   Assessment   Support   Research Environment   Eligibility
Full-time Route   Part-time Route   Fees   Teaching Staff   Further information   How to apply  International Applicants

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Programme Aims

The programme has been designed to provide advanced level training opportunities both to recent social science graduates (UK and overseas) and mid-career health and social welfare professionals looking to update their skills or to acquire new ones in the field of quantitative and qualitative child and family research, either as a precursor to doctoral research or as part of a career in research, policy or practice.

The primary aims of the programme are:
    1.    to extend knowledge and conceptual and theoretical understanding within the field of family studies.
    2.    to develop the ability to undertake original research, analysis and synthesis in the field of child and family research an policy.
    3.    to develop transferable skills in project management, team-working and oral and written communication.
    4.    to provide a sound basis for further postgraduate study at MPhil/PhD level where appropriate.

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Course Programme

The programme is divided into three main blocks:

    1.    Child And Family Studies
    
    All students complete three child and family studies modules: 

• Psychosocial Perspectives On Families Unit

• A developmental psychology unit: Understanding Children and Families 
• Social Policy and Child Welfare Unit

The core foundation module is Psychosocial Perspectives on Families which introduces core theory and concepts within family studies. The module identifies the core factors influencing family structures, processes and outcomes. The primary aim is to develop an integrated psychosocial approach to family studies drawing upon the cognate disciplines of social and developmental psychology (and psychopathology), family sociology and social policy. The module begins by exploring competing definitions of ‘family’ and then considers different levels of analysis (intrapersonal, interpersonal, group and societal processes) to identify factors/actors that make and shape ‘family’. The module is assessed by a narrative literature review on the topic of the eventual dissertation.

Social Policy and Child Welfare provides a more detailed examination of the role of social policy and socio-economic contexts in shaping the experiences of children and families, with a particular emphasis on cross-national and cross-cultural comparisons. The module aims explores how the concepts of need, rights and ‘best interests’ are interpreted in transnational and local contexts and how this impacts on interventions to regulate, support and protect children and families. Students may then choose between one of two developmental psychology modules, depending upon their experience and interests. Understanding Children and Families: A Developmental Perspective explores theory and research on children’s development in the context of family life and broader cultural perspectives on the role of children and families. Key issues covered in the module are variations in children’s development, the developmental impact of loss, maltreatment and adversity on children and attachment theory as a framework for exploring children’s needs and parenting capacity. 

    2.    Research Skills

• Introduction To Research
• Further Qualitative Research
• Further Quantitative Research

The three core research methods modules are designed to familiarise students with the range of research traditions in child and family research, and locate these within broader methodological approaches in the social  and health sciences. The training programme is designed to provide a comprehensive grounding in all stages of the research process, from formulating a theoretically informed and researchable question through to dissemination. The breadth of the curriculum ensures that students are competent in a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and are able to make informed decisions about appropriate designs.

The main aim of the foundation module, Introduction To Research, is to provide a basic methodological roadmap to orientate students to the language and techniques of child and family research and the social and health sciences more generally. It offers an introduction to the purpose and methods of qualitative and quantitative research and to the overall research process.

Further Qualitative Research builds on the coverage of qualitative methods and critical appraisal skills in Introduction to Research. This unit is geared towards developing practical skills in planning and design of qualitative studies, data collection, analysis and interpretation. Further Quantitative Research adds depth to the basic knowledge already acquired in the foundation module on measurement, survey instruments, trial design and statistics as well introducing the concept of systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Much of the second half of the module is in the form of practical sessions using a software package (SPSS) to apply the statistical knowledge gained to describe and analyse datasets. The two advanced research modules are taught within the School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice.

    3.    Independent Research Project

Conceptual understanding in family studies and research methods skills are brought together and developed further in the Independent Research Project. The project is an original piece of empirical research in an area of child and family studies. The topic is chosen by the student under the guidance of a supervisor. The final research report should not exceed 15,000 words and will include a two-page summary including research question(s), design, key findings and any implications for policy or practice.

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Assessment

All modules are assessed by coursework.

Coursework assessment methods include a literature review, oral presentations, essays, practicals and the dissertation.

Full Time Route - One Year

Autumn		Spring		Summer
Induction programme Introduction to Research Psychosocial Perspectives on Families Social Policy and Child Welfare Child Development		Further Qualitative Research Further Quantitative Research		Independent Research Project Transition phase (for 1+3 students)

Part Time Route - Two Years

 

Our full time programme is fully modular allowing the flexibility for complete adaptation to part time studies. The time constraints on part time students do vary and the course regulations allow some flexibility in the timing of modules and submission dates for coursework. Part time students will enrol in a sub-set of courses in each semester (selected in discussion with their advisor and Course Director), typically taking two years to complete the full required programme of modules. The recommended route through is set out in the table below:

Year 1
Autumn	Spring	Summer
Introduction to Research Psychosocial Perspectives on Families	Further Quantitative  Research	Further Qualitative Research Independent Research Project preparation
Year 2
Autumn	Spring	Summer
Social Policy and Child Welfare Understanding Child Development	Independent Research Project	Independent Research Project

The Teaching and Research Environment

The Masters programme is located within the School of Social Work and Psychology at UEA. The School is renowned for its strengths in both teaching and research. The quality of the School’s teaching has been rated as ‘excellent’ and the School has won four successive ‘5’ ratings in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Although the School has a number of areas of research excellence, its major strength, recognised at international level, is in the field of child and family studies. The School houses the Centre for Research on the Child and Family and staff are able to bring their experience of ‘real world’ research as well as their subject expertise to offer research-led teaching. The School is based in the award winning Elizabeth Fry Building on the main UEA Norwich campus offering first class student academic and leisure facilities.

Alongside the formal teaching units all Masters students will be encouraged to draw from, and contribute to, the School’s research culture, through, for example, informal interaction with leading researchers in the field, attending School research seminars.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for the Masters programme you must have, or be completing, an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as psychosocial sciences, psychology, sociology, social policy, social work or law. An alternative to a first degree is a relevant professional qualification (e.g. health, social work, education) and the ability to demonstrate that you can work at postgraduate level.

If you have any queries as to your eligibilty to apply to the programme please contact the programme secretary or director (see contact details at the end of this page).

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