METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

SOCI 310

FALL, 2005

Instructor: Gene H. Starbuck, Ph.D.

Office: Lowell Heiny Hall, Rm. 414
Office Hours: 9:30-10:30 Tuesday, Thursday, or by appointment.
Phone: 248-1761
Fax: 248-1934
E-Mail: starbuck@mesastate.edu
Web Page: http://www.mesastate.edu/~starbuck

 

Grades, Fall, 2005: In the “Final Exam” columns, # = number correct out of 88. The final exam was worth 150 points; your points are # correct times 1.9. The course had 650 possible points, which determines your total %. The Grade is for the course. If you think a mistake has been made in the grading, email me as soon as possible.

 

Student ID

Asm

 

Final

Exam

Course

Totals

Course

Code

Ttl

Paper

#

Pts.

#

%

Grade

149

170

84

60

114

522

80

B

924

174

94

54

103

514

79

B

979

64

 

 

0

152

23

F

2697

185

75

64

122

575

89

B

5794

74

 

 

0

151

23

F

8890

126

75

 49

93

448

69

C 

10318

180

81

56

106

522

80

B

10788

93

 

 

0

220

34

F

11436

160

90

60

114

529

81

B

12146

158

 

 

0

255

39

F

18093

156

91

50

95

481

74

C

22222

153

 

52

98.8

421

65

 

24114

175

94

68

129

593

91

A

25250

151

75

72

137

542

83

B

30129

161

86

62

118

553

85

B

30368

181

80

54

103

492

76

C

34343

157

74

60

114

508

78

C

40026

129

75

47

89.3

447

69

D

43210

200

100

79

150

650

100

A

49870

135

    70

43

81.7

443

68

D 

51974

191

93

66

125

577

89

B

52982

183

83

71

135

592

91

A

61482

125

83

61

116

472

73

C

69830

150

76

49

93.1

439

67

D

72351

147

81

54

103

454

70

C

72880

186

95

70

133

606

93

A

73420

165

88

79

150

603

93

A

77777

170

74

40

76

479

74

C

90305

163

85

49

93.1

475

73

C

96605

176

88

58

110

537

83

B

98650

166

81

57

108

524

81

B

 

 

Required Books:

Contemporary Social Research Methods, 3rd ed. with A MicroCase Workbook for Social Research, by Rodney Stark, Lynne Roberts and Michael Corbett. MicroCase / Wadsworth; Power Point Slides.

 

Course Objective:

Students should develop sufficient understanding of social research methods to become intelligent consumers of research as reported in scholarly journals, textbooks, the popular press, and everyday life. Fortified with a knowledge base and critical thinking skills, students should become good sociological crap detectors.

 

 

 

 

DATE, READING, EXERCISE.

Aug 30

Class Assignment I: Turn in permission form from course webpage.

Sept 1

WB Introductory Exercise: Exploring Data Files

Sept 6

Labor Day Break

Sept 8

Class Assignment II: List five questions that are relevant to your major field of study. For each one, indicate a theory you have learned that might be used to address the question, indicate what the answer might be, and say why (save this assignment--you will need it later).

Sept 13

Chapter 1: Concepts and Theories

WB Exercise 1: Concepts and Theories

Sept 15

Chapter 2: Steps in the Social Scientific Process

WB Exercise 2a: The Research Process Using Aggregate Data

Sept 20

WB Exercise 2b: The Research Process Using Survey Data

Sept 22

Chapter 3: Measurement

Class Assignment III: Look at the five topics you selected in Class Assignment II. For each question: formulate a hypothesis, identify how the variables would be operationalized, and state their level of measurement. What is the unit of analysis of each variable?

Sept 27

WB Exercise 3: Evaluating Indicators

Sept 29

Exam One

Oct 4

No assignment

Oct 6

Chapter 4: Censuses and Samples

Oct 11

WB Exercise 4: Selecting Cases

Oct 16

Chapter 5: Causation and Causal Models

Oct 18

Fall Break

Oct 20

WB Exercise 5a: Control Variables

Oct 25

WB Exercise 5b: Causal Models

Oct 27

MicroCase system analysis: Use the full MicroCase analysis system, available only on campus-networked computers. Use data sets NOT included with your text. Formulate at least three hypotheses, using different variables for each hypothesis. At least one hypothesis should include control variables. Clearly identify your independent variables, dependent variables, and any control variables you use. Use the MicroCase system to test your causal hypotheses. Write your conclusions. Turn in at least one printout for each hypothesis. Counts 20 possible points.

Nov 1

Exam Two

Nov 3

Chapter 6: Basic Research Designs

Nov 8

WB Exercise 6: Selecting a Study Design

Nov 10

Class Assignment IV: Submit your research proposal topic. Include your research question and a hypothesis, if applicable. Indicate which of the major research designs would be most appropriate for this research, and why

Nov 15

Chapter 7: Survey Research

WB Exercise 7: Survey Analysis

Nov 17

Chapter 8: Comparative Research

WB Exercise 8: Comparative Methods

Nov 22

Chapter 9: Field Research

WB Exercise 9: Field Methods (no printout)

Nov 29

Chapter 10: Experimental Research

Dec 1

WB Exercise 10: Experimental Methods

Dec 6

Chapter 11: Content Analysis and Other Unobtrusive Techniques

WB Exercise 11: Content Analysis

 

 

 

Dec 8

 

 

 

 

Research Proposal Due: This research proposal will be done on a topic of the student's choosing. It might be suggested by a MicroCase database, but does not need to be. See pages 249-262 of your textbook for more information. Example papers will be on reserve in the library. The paper must have a "references" section and each quote and paraphrase must be properly cited.

Part I: Proposal Abstract: This summary of your paper should not exceed 100 words.

Part II: Review of Literature: Find at least six references to the topic in the academic journals. Summarize and discuss the articles. (Append copies of the article abstracts to your proposal; at least two should be from an on-line search print-out, and at least two should be photocopies from journals held by Mesa State College's library).

Part III: Original hypothesis: Propose an original hypothesis suggested by the related research. State why your proposed research will add to the body of knowledge.

Part IV: Method: Explain how you would go about doing your research. What concepts, theories, and indicators are relevant? How are you operationalizing your concepts? What level of measurement are your variables? What are the units of analysis? What methods would you use to gather information? If relevant, what sampling technique would you use, and why? What statistical or other methods of summarizing data would you use? Append relevant information, such as a copy of your questionnaire or coding form.

Style: Use the American Sociological Review (ASR) format. Information may be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_docsocio.html or in any issue of ASR. It is also the style used in your Stark and Roberts textbook, so you can use that as a guide. An excellent resource is:

The Sociology Writing Group, 1998. A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. 4th ed. New York: St. Martins.

See the scoring sheet for the paper.

 Dec 15

Final Exam: 10:00

 

GRADING

Point Summary

Assignment Type

 
Points
 
Daily Assignments: 19 @ 10 each plus 10
 
200
 
Research Proposal
 
100
 
Exam One and Two @ 100 pts. each
 
200
 
Cumulative Final Exam 
150
 
     Total Points Possible
 
650
 
 
 
Point percentages for letter grades:
                               A = 90-100
                               B = 80-89
                               C = 70-79
                               D = 60-69
                               F < 60

Daily Exercises

Unless otherwise noted, all workbook (WB) assignments that require access to the MicroCase analysis system must be turned in with at least one printout of a table or figure from the MicroCase program. If the workbook itself does not specify which printouts to use, the student may select any one that is relevant to the exercise.

Assignments represent your professional output, and should be neat and complete. They must be assembled with the pages in order and stapled, with the printout as the last page. Other instructions will be given in class.

An assignment not turned in when called for in class is considered late. Each student may turn in up to two late assignments with no penalty, no questions asked, if they are turned in before the relevant exam. No additional late assignments will be accepted, no exceptions granted. Assignments turned in early are not late, although they run the risk of being lost in the professor's complicated office filing system.

 

 

Exams

All exams will be objective. Scores will be calculated as a percentage of the highest reasonable score. Missed exams must be made up, but they cannot be used to improve the student's overall average. The final exam is comprehensive.

Expectations

The instructor is expected to be on time and prepared for each class. He will return assignments and test scores as soon as possible, usually the next class period. He will try to be in or near his office during all scheduled times, and will be available at other times as well. He will check his E-mail regularly and respond as soon as possible.

Students are expected to be in class, on time, mostly awake, throughout every class period.

Advanced approval from the instructor is required before bringing guests. Guests under age 18 are discouraged.

Students with special needs that are certified by the Educational Access Services office (248-1801) must notify the instructor as soon as possible. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for special accommodations of any kind.

Plagiarism will result in a grade of "F" for the course and possible expulsion from college.

Active beepers or cell phones are not allowed in the classroom.

All other normative expectations of classroom behavior will apply.

 

 

 

Permission and Agreement Form

 

I, __________________________ (print student's name) have read and agree to abide by the terms of the above syllabus.

 

I agree to the following (check one condition):

 

[ ] Post my grades using this five-digit number: _ _ _ _ _.

 

[ ] Do not post my grades.

 

Student's signature: ________________________________________

 

Created August 10, 2005