Catalog Description:

The logic and skills involved in the design and execution of social science research. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be covered, with an emphasis on the latter. Topics include: measurement, sampling, experiments, survey research, field research, unobtrusive measures. 

Earl Babbie, The Practice of Social Research, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2007.
Theodore Wagenaar and Earl Babbie, Guided Activities for The Practice of Social Research, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2007.

 This course has two major objectives: (1) to train students in the design and execution of scientific social research and (2) to enable students to read and evaluate the research of others. This course will also lay the groundwork for the study of social research analysis, completing the process of studying human social life scientifically.

1. Human Inquiry and Science
2. Theory and Research
3. The Nature of Causation
4. Research Design
5. Conceptualization and Measurement
6. Operationalization
7. The Logic of Sampling
8. Experiments
9. Survey Research
10. Field Research
11. Unobtrusive Research
12. Evaluation Research
13. Ethics and Politics of Research
14. Overview of Data Analysis

Your grade for the course will be determined as follows:
 
Mid-term examination................. up to 100 points

Final examination......................... up to 100 points

Workbook assignments............... up to 200 points
 

Letter grades will then be calculated as follows:

380 or more points....... A              293-306 points............. C
360-379 points............. A-            280-292 points............. C-
347-359 points............. B+            267-279 points............. D+
333-346 points............. B              253-266 points............. D
320-332 points............. B-             240-252 points............. D-
307-319 points............. C+            239 or fewer points....... F

  The following pages detail the sessions of the course and show how the workbook exercises fit in. For each workbook exercise, you will note two pieces of information: a maximum number of points and a deadline.

The maximum points shown beside an exercise is the most points you can earn for that exercise: given only for those exercises done perfectly. If an exercise is done imperfectly, you will receive some portion of the maximum points associated with it. (e.g., you might get 17 points for an exercise with a maximum of 20.)

You may do as many or as few exercises as you choose. None are required, so you can do or skip whichever ones you choose. In planning the ones you will do, however, you should not assume that you will always earn the maximum points available.

IMPORTANT: To earn any points for an exercise, you must turn it in no later than the beginning of class on the date indicated as a deadline. There are no exceptions to this rule. You may turn exercises in early but never late.

Jan 30   (Tue)  1. Introduction to the Course
 Reading: None

Feb 01 (Thu)  2. Human Inquiry and Science
 Reading: Chapter 1

Feb 06 (Tue)  3. Theory and Research
 Reading: Chapter 2
 Workbook assignments due:  2.3 (10 points)

Feb 08 (Thu)  4. Objectivity and Reality
 Reading: Chapter 2

Feb 13 (Tue)  5. Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts
 Reading: Chapter 2

Feb 15 (Thu)  6. The Nature of Causation
 Reading: Chapter 4

Feb 20 (Tue)  7. Research Design I
 Reading: Chapter 4
 Workbook assignments due: 4.2 (30 points)

Feb 22 (Thu)  8. Research Design II
 Reading: Chapter 4

Feb 27 (Tue)  9. Conceptualization
 Reading: Chapter 5
 Workbook assignments due: 5.2 (20 points)

Mar 01 (Thu) 10. Operationalization
 Reading: Chapter 5

Mar 06 (Tue) 11. Composite Measures
 Reading: Chapter 6 

Mar 08 (Thu) 12. The Logic of Sampling
 Reading: Chapter 7
 Workbook assignments due: 7.2 (40 points)

Mar 13 (Tue) 13. Sampling Examples
 Reading: Chapter 7

Mar 15 (Thu) 14. Review for Mid-term
 Reading: Chapters 1-2, 4-7

Mar 20 (Tue) 15. Mid-term Exam

Mar 22 (Thu) 16. Experiments I
 Reading: Chapter 8
 Workbook assignments due: 8.2 (60 points)

Mar 27 (Tue) 17. Experiments II
 Reading: Chapter 8

Mar 29 (Thu) 18. Survey Research I
 Reading: Chapter 9
 Workbook assignments due: 9.3 (60 points)

- - - - - - - Spring Break - - - - - - - - -

Apr 10 (Tue) 19. Survey Research II
 Reading: Chapter 9

Apr 12 (Thu) 20. Field Research I
 Reading: Chapter 10
 Workbook assignments due: 10.1 (60 points)

Apr 17 (Tue) 21. Field Research II
 Reading: Chapter 10

Apr 19 (Thu) 22. Unobtrusive Measures I
 Reading: Chapter 11
 Workbook assignments due: 11.3 (70 points)

Apr 24 (Tue) 23. Unobtrusive Measures II
 Reading: Chapter 11

Apr 26 (Thu) 24. Evaluation Research I
 Reading: Chapter 12

May 01 (Tue) 25. Evaluation Research II
 Reading: Chapter 12

May 03 (Thu) 26. Overview of Data Analysis
 Reading: Skim Chapters 13-16

May 08 (Tue) 27. Ethics and Politics of Research
 Reading: Chapter 3

May 10 (Thu) 28. Review of the Course
 Reading: Chapter 3, 8-12