SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Postgraduate Diploma: Social Research Methods

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
19380	Postgraduate Diploma: Social Research Methods
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 7	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

To enable students to obtain a thorough understanding of the logic and processes of social research
To provide students with an overview of the main approaches and paradigms in empirical social research
both qualitative and quantitative.
To encourage students to reflect on their own research practices, thereby improving the quality of their own research
To equip students with the skills involved in selected research approaches.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

1. Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement or equivalent university admission qualification

2. First Degree - Bachelor's Degree or a qualification considered equivalent by Senate

3. Other qualification(s) Higher (4-year) Technikon diploma

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

General Outcomes:

On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma In Social Research Methods the student will be:

1. Able to use appropriate methods for solving academic problems

2. Able to argue critically and convincingly

3. Familiar with the opportunities, challenges, demands and code of conduct of the professions associated with the field.

Specific Outcomes:

On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research Methods the student will have:

1. Systematic knowledge of a chosen area of specialisation

2. An understanding of the principles and concepts underpinning a chosen area of specialisation;
3. The necessary skills and conceptual knowledge of basic research methods to become a competent social researcher;
4. The ability to communicate research findings effectively in a form appropriate to a discipline.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. The assessment used for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research Methods ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.

2. A range of formative and summative assessment methods such as written assignments and essays oral and group presentations and examinations is used.

3. The required range of modalities is used intergratively to assess whether the specified outcomes have been achieved.

4. From the assessment of samples, generalising to a domain takes place in a judicious and planned way in order to ensure reliability.

5. The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 7.

Integrated Assessment:

Integrated assessment is accomplished by evaluating:

1. An interdisciplinary practical research assignment requiring the student to integrate, in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, knowledge and basic competencies acquired in coursework;

2. Several assignments in capstone modules across disciplinary boundaries.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

1 Titles of related qualification(s): MPhil SSM

2 This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s).

MODERATION OPTIONS

The University of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner in accordance with the quality assurance system of the University.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	Stellenbosch University