Sociology 391.101

Research Methods

Fall 2009

 

Instructor:  Dr. Marion Hughes

Class meeting:  Mon & Wed, 5 - 615 p.m.

Office:  Linthicum 301C

Classroom:  Liberal Arts 4105

Office hours: Mon, 330 – 430 p.m.

                       Fri, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Social Science Computer lab:  Linthicum 211

English Computer lab: Linthicum 207

Office phone:  704 -2930

Course home page / Internet readings:  

       http://pages.towson.edu/mhughes

E-mail:  mhughes@towson.edu

 

 

            This course is an introduction to the methods used to conduct social science research, with an emphasis on the research process and the relationship between sociological theory, research methodology, and quantitative data analysis.  Specific topics covered in the course include ethical and political considerations in social research; methods of collecting data with an emphasis on survey research design and administration; definition and measurement of concepts; sampling; and using PASW (Predictive Analytics Software, formerly known as SPSS) for data analysis.

 

Course Learning Goals

 

By the end of the semester, you will be able to:

•          critically consume sociological research presented in the popular media;

•          formulate basic sociological research questions;

•          develop hypotheses based on sociological theory;

•          define and develop ways to measure abstract concepts;

•          write survey questions and evaluate questionnaires;

•          conduct basic analyses of survey data using PASW (SPSS);

•          legitimately claim to have collected and analyzed original survey data on your resume;

•          clearly present research findings in written and verbal formats.

 

Course Materials

            Readings for the course are assigned from one required text available as an E-book through CourseSmart or in print from the publisher (http://www.pearsonhighered.com/), and readings available on the Internet.

 

Text

Neuman, W. Lawrence.  2008.   Understanding Research.  Boston; Allyn and Bacon. 

ISBN: 978-0-205-64618-0 (E-book)

 

Additional Supplies

            Students also need a blank 3.5" IBM-formatted floppy disk or a USB flash drive on which to save the survey data set and in-class work.  We will be using the computer program PASW Statistics 17 (SPSS) at the end of this course to analyze the data collected from our survey.  PASW (SPSS) is available in many of the computer labs on campus, including the Social Science lab in LI 211, the Psychology lab in Psychology 406, and the SCS Computer Lab in the basement of Cook Library.  It is also possible (but unnecessary) to purchase a student version for home use through the PASW (SPSS) website.

 

 

 

 

Course Requirements

Attendance policy

            Due to the cumulative nature of the course material, regular attendance and keeping up with the readings are critical.  It is your responsibility to obtain class notes from your classmates if you miss class for any reason.  Readings are assigned for every class meeting and listed on the schedule for the day we will cover them in class.  Nearly every week of the semester you will have a quiz, graded in-class assignment and / or written assignment due in class.  In addition, the construction of the class survey will involve collaboration with classmates, consequently your absence will negatively impact your group as well as affecting your in-class grade.    

            Only students with a documented excused absence who have notified me in advance will be allowed to make up missed quizzes, exams or graded in-class assignments.  Excused absences are defined in the academic regulations section of the Undergraduate Catalog.  Make ups for missed quizzes will be given only at the time of the first and second exams.  Students who miss a quiz, exam, or graded in-class assignment without a verifiable valid excuse or advance notification will receive a 0 on the affected work.

            Cell phones, pagers, 2-way radios, etc. must be turned off during class.  Failure to do so will result in nasty glares from other students and a potentially embarrassing greeting from the professor, i.e. “I’ll have her return your call after her mustache wax...”  or a similarly brusque text (e.g. L8R G8R). No part of your course grade is determined simply by your presence, therefore if you really need to be on the phone (text messaging, chatting, surfing the Web, etc.) during class time, then you need not to be in the class room.

           

Class Survey

            This semester everyone in the class will be doing original research.  As a class we will construct and administer a survey of Towson University students.  This is both an individual and group effort.  Individual students will focus their research within the scope of three or four broad topics agreed upon by the class.  In the two written assignments, you will develop a research question, review the research literature, and develop questions to measure the main concepts that interest you.  In groups, students interested in similar topics will evaluate and revise these questions, which will be compiled to create the first draft of the class survey.  After pilot-testing and revising the survey in groups, we will administer the questionnaire to Towson undergraduates.  Each student will then analyze the data we have collected to answer their individual research questions.

 

Grading policy

            Grades are based on quizzes, in-class assignments, two in-class exams, two written homework assignments, and a final research project and presentation.  Quizzes are worth 20% of the course grade and will be based on class readings and topics discussed during the current and prior class meetings.  In addition, credit for all the ungraded assignments completed in class will count as one quiz grade, and the presentation of your research findings during the last week of class will count as one quiz grade.  For students who complete all the quizzes, the lowest grade will be dropped in computing the quiz average.  Make-ups for quizzes missed due to a documented excused absence will be given at the time of the first and second exams only.

            The exams each count for 20% of your final course grade and comprise multiple-choice, short answer and essay questions.

            The two written assignments each determine 10% of your grade and will build towards the final research project.  The first assignment is a review of the research literature on your research topic for the semester.  The second includes a revision of the literature review, as well as defining your main concepts and developing questions to measure them for inclusion on the class survey.  I do not accept e-mailed written assignments.  Late assignments will be penalized a letter grade for each day they are late (including non-class days).  No late assignments will be accepted after the last class meeting.

            Students will turn in a final research project and present their findings to the class during the scheduled final exam period.  The final project is worth 20% of the final course grade.  The project will include revisions of the first and second written assignments as well as a data analysis section based on class survey data.  No late final projects can be accepted.  Students will give a very brief presentation of their research hypotheses and results from the class survey during our scheduled final examination period.  In addition to presenting their own findings, students will critically evaluate their peers’ presentations.  The presentation and peer evaluations will count for a quiz grade. 

            In accord with university policy, students will earn plus/minus grades in this course. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for the university policy on plus/minus grading and corresponding quality points.  The C- grade has been suspended by the university and will not be awarded.   As a reminder, a grade below C will not count for credit in the SOAN major or SOCI minor.  Final course grades will be awarded as follows:

           


            93 – 100:  A                77 – 79:  C+

            90 – 92:  A-                 70 – 76:  C

            87 – 89:  B+                 67 – 69:  D+

            83 – 86:  B                   60 - 66:  D

            80 – 82: B-                  Below 60: F or FX

           

 

Due Date

% of course grade

Quizzes

See class schedule

20

Assignments

Literature Review:  Mon, October 5

Operationalization:  Weds, October 21

10

10

Exams

First:  Weds, October 7

Second:  Mon, November 23

20

20

Final research project

Mon, December 14, 515 – 715 p.m.

20

 

 

100%

 

 

Department Statement on Academic Dishonesty

 

The faculty of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice takes a strong stand against Academic Dishonesty of all forms.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any class.  It includes, but is not limited to, any form of cheating or unapproved help on an exam or academic exercise, copying someone else’s written work without citation, presenting fabricated information as legitimate, any unauthorized collaboration among students, or assisting someone to cheat in any way.  All students have the ethical responsibility for doing their own work.  A student who is uncertain about whether or not something constitutes academic dishonesty in a particular class has the obligation to see their instructor for clarification.  Consistent with university policy, the minimum penalty for academic dishonesty in any form is determined by the individual faculty member in each class, and may consist of “a reduced grade (including “F” or zero) for the assignment; a reduced grade (including “F”) for the entire course,” or other options as stipulated in Appendix F of the Undergraduate Catalog.  Students who are charged with academic dishonesty must remain enrolled in the course and cannot withdraw.  Instructors who make the determination that academic dishonesty has occurred will notify the student in writing of the finding, the penalty, and the process for appeal.  The same written notice will be forwarded to the Office of Judicial Affairs on campus, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and to the Chair’s Office in the department.  Academic Dishonesty undermines the legitimate efforts of students and involves serious repercussions.  The faculty of the department urge all our students to act with integrity with regard to work submitted.

 

In my courses, I have a zero tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty.  Regardless of the form, academic misconduct will result in a final course grade of F.

 

University Policies

Academic Standards Committee: Students may not repeat a course more than once without prior approval of the Academic Standards Committee.  If you have received a grade for this course twice before, you should not be registered for it now, unless you have been approved to take it again.  Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog or Enrollment Services about the procedure for petitioning the Academic Standards Committee.

 

Disability Support Services:  Students with disabilities that may affect their performance in this course in any manner, should immediately register with Disability Support Services if they have not already done so, and contact me so that we can make any necessary arrangements.  A memo from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodations will be required.

 

H1N1Influenza Policy:  Students should not attend classes or other university events from the onset of flu-like symptoms until at least 24 hours after the fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications.  Such absences will be considered excused absences; however, students are responsible for the material covered during the period of their absence.

 

University wide emergency:  In the event of a university-side emergency, course requirements, classes, deadlines and grading schemes are subject to changes that may include alternative delivery methods; alternative methods of interaction with the instructor, class materials and /or classmates; a revised attendance policy; revised semester calendar; and a revised grading scheme.  In the case of a university-wide emergency, please refer to the course home page (http://pages.towson.edu/mhughes) or email from the instructor

 

For more general information about any emergency situation, please refer to the following:

o   University web site:  www.towson.edu

o   TU Text Alert system – service designed to alert the TU community via text messages to cell phones when situations arise that affect the ability of the campus to function normally; sign up at http://www.towson.edu/adminfinance/facilities/police/campusemergency

Class Schedule

 

Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment due

August

31

M

Course overview

 

 

September

2

W

Nature of social science research

Neuman, ch. 1

Contract from syllabus

Complete Paragon Learning Style Inventory (I)

 

7

M

Labor Day – no class

 

 

 

9

W

Planning research

Neuman, ch. 2

 

 

14

M

Reviewing the research literature

Neuman, ch. 2

Meet in Cook 526

 

 

16

W

Ethical issues in research

Neuman, ch. 3

Babbie (I)

ABC News (I) – read story and view webcast

Towson University IRB (I)

Zimbardo (I) – watch slide show.

Typed paragraph on your research topic and reference list of at least 3 sources

 

21

M

Politics of social science research

Rohde (I)

Jaschik (I)

Quiz 1

 

23

W

Nature of causality

Testing association:

   Contingency tables

Neuman, ch. 9

 

 

28

M

Elaboration: Ruling out third factors

Neuman, ch. 9

Quiz 2

 

30

W

Sampling

Neuman, ch. 4

 

October

5

M

Elements of research

   design

Neuman, ch. 5

Assignment 1 (Literature Review) due

 

7

W

Exam 1

 

 

 

12

M

Conceptualization & measurement

Neuman, ch. 5

 

 

14

W

Operationalization of concepts for survey

 

Quiz 3

 

19

M

Survey research

Neuman, ch. 6

 

 

21

W

Survey construction

Neuman, ch. 6

Assignment 2 (Operationalization) due

 

26

M

Questionnaire revision

 

Two pilot tested questionnaires with comments

 

28

W

Experiments

Neuman, ch. 7

 

November

2

M

Experiments

Neuman, ch. 7

 

 

4

W

Field Research

Neuman, ch. 10

Quiz 4

 

9

M

Field Research

Neuman, ch. 10

 

 

11

W

Other qualitative methods

Neuman, ch. 11

 

 

16

M

Nonreactive Research

Neuman, ch. 8

Quiz 5

 

18

W

Quantifying data

Neuman, ch. 9

 

 

 

23

M

Exam 2

 

 

 

25

W

No Class: Happy Thanksgiving!

 

30

M

Inferential statistics

Neuman, ch. 9

 

December

2

W

Inferential statistics

 

 

 

7

M

Data analysis

 

 

 

9

W

Last class: Data analysis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

M

515 – 715: Research presentations

Research project due

Notes:  Class schedule is subject to change.

            I = Internet reading

R = online reserved reading

           

 

Internet readings and resources (available from course home page):

 

ASA Style: Print and Electronic Resources.  2005.  Reference Department, Cook Library, Towson University.

 

Babbie, Earl.  2004.  “Laud Humphreys and Research Ethics.”  International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 24 (3/4/5): 12-19.

 

Borge, Caroline.  2007.  “Basic Instincts: The Science of Evil.”  Primetime,  ABC News. January 3. (read the article and view the Webcast (5:50 min))

 

Jaschik, Scott.  2006.  “Torture and Social Scientists.”  Inside Higher Education.  November 22.

 

Paragon Learning Style Inventory. 2004.  State University of New York – Oswego.

 

Rohde, David.  2007.  “Army Enlists Anthropology in War Zones.”  New York Times.  October 5.

 

Towson University.  Institutional Review Board website.

 

Zimbardo, Philip G.  2008.  “Stanford Prison Experiment” website – watch slide show.

 

 

Extended Bibliography

 

Babbie, Earl.  2007.  The Practice of Social Research, 11th ed.  Thomson Wadsworth.

 

Chambliss, Daniel F. and Russell K. Schutt.  2010.  Making Sense of the Social World; Methods of Investigation, 3rd ed.  Los Angeles; Pine Forge Press.

 

Cook, Thomas D. and Donald T. Campbell.  1979.  quasi-Experimentation: Design & Analysis Issues for Field Settings.  Boston; Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

Esterberg, Kristin G.  2002.  Qualitative Methods in Social Research.  Boston; McGraw Hill.

 

Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava and Anna Leon-Guerrero.  2006.  Social Statistics for a Diverse Society, 4th ed.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

 

Orcher, Lawrence T.  2007.  Conducting a Survey: Techniques for a Term Project.  Los Angeles; Pyrczak Publishing.

 

Patten, Mildred L.  2001.  Questionnaire Research:  A Practical Guide, 2nd ed.  Los Angeles; Pyrczak Publishing.

 

Sedlack, R. Guy and Jay Stanley.  1992.  Social Research: Theory and Methods.  Boston; Allyn and Bacon.

 

Singleton, Royce, Jr.,  Bruce C. Straits, Margaret M. Straits, and Ronald J. McAllister.  1988.  Approaches to Social Research.  New York; Oxford University Press.

Sociology 391.101 Fall 2009                           Name ______________________________________

Due:  in class September 2, 2009

 

 

I have read and understand my rights and obligations under the terms of this course syllabus.

 

 

Signature ________________________________

 

Date     __________________________________

 

 

4-letter Learning Style from Paragon Learning Style Inventory:  _____  ______  ______  ______

 

 

** Attach or print a recent photo on the back for 1% extra credit on course grade.

 

 

Sociological research interests for class survey (please check your top 3):

 

____ Academic achievement / study habits

 

____ Crime / deviant behavior

 

____ Political orientations, attitudes, voting, opinions on policy issues

 

____ Race & ethnic relations / prejudice

 

____ Religion

 

____ Sexuality / sexual behavior

 

____ Social networking sites

 

____ Substance use

 

____ Other; please specify ________________________________________________

 

 

Any questions about the course?