Methods of Social Research
SOCIAL SCIENCE 470/570

 

COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2005

Printer Friendly Version, SSC 470 Syllabus Printer Friendly Version, SSC 570 Syllabus

Readings

Course Overview

Course Objectives

Course Policies

Assignments & Grading, SSC 470

Assignments & Grading, SSC 570

Course Outline

Announcements:
 

General Information:

Meeting Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Meeting Place: Kethley Hall 206
 

Instructor: Dr. Alan Barton	Telephone: (662) 846-4097
Office: 201F Kethley Hall	E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu
Webpage: http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/

Office Hours:  The professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

      Monday:  10:00 − 11:30 am; 3:45 − 4:30 pm
      Tuesday:  10:45 − 11:45 am; 3:00 − 4:30 pm
      Wednesday:  10:00 − 11:30 am; 3:45 − 5:00 pm
      Thursday:  10:45 − 11:45 am; 3:00 − 4:30 pm

If you cannot make one of these times, contact the professor to set up an appointment.

Course Website:

Additional and updated information on the course can be found on the course website:

     http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SSC470, Sp 05/SSC470Syllabus.htm

Readings:

For students taking the course for SSC 470 (undergraduate) credit:

SSC 470 Text:  Neuman, W.L. (2004). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Boston: Pearson Education/Allyn and Bacon.

For students taking the course for SSC 570 (graduate) credit:

SSC 570 Text:  Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Fifth edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

SSC 570 Reader:  Babbie, E. (1986). Observing ourselves: Essays in social research. 1998 reissue. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.

All books are available at the university bookstore.  You should purchase the appropriate book, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course readings.

SSC 470 and SSC 570 Additional Readings:
 

Curtis, J.E., Baer, D.E., and Grabb, E.G. (2001). Nation of joiners: Explaining voluntary association membership in democratic societies. American Sociological Review, 66(6), 783–805.  Click here for instructions on downloading or printing this article.
 

Koeber, C. (2002). Corporate restructuring, downsizing, and the middle class: The process and meaning of worker displacement in the “new” economy. Qualitative Sociology, 25(2), 217–246.  Click here for instructions on downloading or printing this article.

 

Koons-Witt, B.A. (2002). The effect of gender on the decision to incarcerate before and after the introduction of sentencing guidelines. Criminology, 40(2), 297–327.  Click here for instructions on downloading or printing this article.

 

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Course Overview:
 

The purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the logic of social science inquiry, strategies of research design, and a variety of research methods.  In other words, this course is about how social scientists do research.  We will compare quantitative and qualitative approaches to social science research in terms of their epistemologies, their research design strategies, and the tools they offer for carrying out social science research.  You will engage the course material through readings, lectures, class discussions and activities, assignments, quizzes and exams.  In addition, you will collaborate with classmates to develop a research proposal, incorporating a logical design that addresses a specific research question.

 

This course uses a participatory, learner-centered, adult education approach.  An adult education approach recognizes that YOU are responsible for your own learning.  The professor can only provide opportunities to learn, but cannot force you to learn.  You are expected to work hard in this course, meaning that for every hour of class time, you should spend at least two to three hours outside of class preparing by doing readings, assignments, studying for quizzes and exams, and thinking about the course material.

 

You are expected to take responsibility for the success of the course, that is, you should take an active interest not just in the course material, but in the course itself, making it a success for all participants.  Factors such as interest, motivation, creativity, and initiative are important elements in evaluating your performance in the course and assigning a grade.

Course Objectives:
 

After you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:

 

(1)  Distinguish two methodological paradigms and explain characteristics of each;

 

(2)  Name steps in the research process and identify the basic elements of a good research design;

 

(3)  Discuss characteristics of quantitative and qualitative sampling, and apply various sampling techniques;

(4)  Discuss characteristics of quantitative and qualitative measurement, and understand how to operationalize concepts using each approach;

 

(5)  Apply various data collection techniques, for both quantitative and qualitative research;

 

(6)  Select and describe appropriate analytical techniques for quantitative and qualitative methods;

 

(7)  Find, read, understand and critique a scientific journal article.

 

These objectives contribute to the overall course goal of developing critical thinking skills.  The discussions, readings, assignments, quizzes and exams are designed to encourage you to develop and use higher order thinking skills, including analytical, synthetic and applied thinking.

 

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Course Policies and Expectations:

 
(1)  YOU are responsible for learning the course material and for your progress in the course

• You are expected to attend class regularly and complete all of the assignments.
• You are expected to know all material presented during class sessions, whether you attended the class or not.  If you miss a class session, you should check with another student to see what you missed.
• “I didn’t know” is NEVER a valid excuse.  If you don’t know something, it is your job to find out.

(2)  Missed assignments CANNOT be made up

• It is assumed that if you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class.  For this reason, none of the assignments or coursework can be made up.
• Assignments are due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted.
• If you miss a quiz or exam, you will receive a grade of zero.  In the first instance, this will count as your lowest grade and will be dropped.  Subsequent instances will be scored as zero.
• If you must miss a presentation or other in-class activity, it is up to you to arrange to trade with another student before the event.  Please notify the instructor of such changes.

 

(3)  Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented

• If you must miss class due to illness or a personal issue, notify the instructor BEFORE the missed class period either by e-mail or telephone.
• If you cannot notify the instructor in advance due to an emergency situation, bring a note from a doctor or other professional to the next class meeting.
• Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others.
• If you must miss class for an official university activity, you should make arrangements with the instructor BEFORE the missed class.  Appropriate documentation is required.
• Notified absences (i.e. you notify the instructor before the event) count as one-half absence.  Excused absences (i.e. you bring a note from a doctor or other professional) will not count against you for the first two; after that, each excused absence counts as one-half absence.
• You are responsible for all material presented in the class, even during an excused absence.  You should get class notes from another student for all class sessions you miss.
• It is in your interest to provide the instructor with written notification (e.g. note or e-mail) or documentation for any missed classes.  It is risky to simply tell the instructor and expect him to remember.
 

(4)  Class discussion and participation are important elements in this course
• Class discussions provide you with an opportunity to practice thinking skills in a safe environment.
• In discussions, you are encouraged to explore ideas presented in the readings and lectures, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.
• You must demonstrate appropriate respect for the opinions and ideas of other students.  If you repeatedly show disrespect toward other students, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
• Class discussions are NOT a time to chat with other students about topics not related to the course.  Talking privately with other students while the rest of the class is trying to carry on a discussion is disruptive, bothersome, and disrespectful to other students and to the professor.  If you repeatedly talk out of turn, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
• It is acceptable (and encouraged) to disagree with the perspectives of other students, the instructor, and the readings; however, you should be careful to indicate disagreement with the idea or opinion, not with the person presenting the idea or opinion.
• Any work missed by a student that was asked to leave the classroom cannot be made up under any circumstances.

 

(5)  Out-of-class assignments must be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1" margins.  Multi-page papers MUST be attached with a staple or paper clip BEFORE they are tuned in.  DO NOT fold over the corner or use some other method of attaching the pages.  Find a stapler or paper clip before class.  Papers that are not attached with a staple or clip WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

 

(6)  Please make sure that all pagers, cell phones, etc. are turned off during class time.  If your phone or pager repeatedly interrupts class, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
• DO NOT bring cells phones, pagers, etc. to quizzes or exams.  If the instructor sees a cell phone or pager during a test, he will pick up your test immediately and you will not be allowed to continue.
 

(7)  You are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook
• You are expected to do your own work in this course.  Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.
• Click here if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism.  The DSU Library's "Plagiarism Prevention: A Guide for Students" is also a good resource.  If you still are unsure what plagiarism is, see the instructor.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES.  If at some point in the semester you are suspected of committing plagiarism, pleas of “I didn’t know what plagiarism was” will not be accepted.
• The policy on plagiarism includes the sanctions – use the above link.  These same sanctions will be applied for any form of cheating that is detected in the course.  Make sure you are aware of these sanctions BEFORE you submit any work in this class.
 

(8)  Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with medical problems or diagnosed disabilities.  Have Dr. Richard Houston at the Reily Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor to make arrangements.
 

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Assignments and Grading:

 

Assignments and Grading, SSC 470:

 

You must complete the following assignments:

 

(1)  Attendance and Class Participation (10 points)

      You are expected to attend class regularly and participate actively in class discussions.  You should come to each session having already read and thought about the assigned material, with questions and points to discuss.

Click here for tips on taking effective notes.
Click here for tips on getting the most out of class sessions.
Click here for more tips on getting the most out of class sessions.

 

(2)  Quizzes (20 points)

     Three in-class quizzes will be given, designed to take 20–30 minutes to complete.  The quizzes will consist of short answer questions (e.g. true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, etc.).  The first quiz covers material presented since the beginning of the course, and subsequent quizzes cover material presented since the previous quiz.  The quizzes are worth 10 points each.  The lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.
 

     Click here for suggestions on studying for quizzes.
     Click here for an explanation of quiz grading.
 

(3)  Research Proposal (20 points)

      You will pair up with a classmate to complete a project throughout the semester.  Each group will prepare a 12-page research proposal, due April 20.  Both group members will receive the same grade on the proposal.

Click here for information on the group project assignment.
Click here for groups and topics.
Click here for more information on preparing research proposals and examples of research proposals.
 

(4)  Preparation of the Research Proposal (25 points)

     Assignments pertaining to the final project are assigned throughout the semester.  You will hand in a research topic (2 points), an annotated bibliography (7 points), a concise research question (3 points), a draft of your methodological approach (7 points), and a critique of another group’s approach (6 points).  You will do the first four assignments with your group partner, and turn in only one assignment per group.  The fifth assignment (critique) is done individually.

Click here for guidelines on the proposal preparation assignments.

 

(5)  Presentation of Research Proposal (10 points)

     With your group partner, you will prepare and give a final presentation to the entire class on your project at the end of the semester.  The presentation is as a group, but each member will receive an individual grade on the final presentation.

Click here for a schedule of research proposal presentations.

 

(6)  Final Exam (15 points)

     A final exam is given at the regularly scheduled time.  The exam will include short answer questions (as in the quizzes) and essay questions.

Click here for tips on taking essay tests.
Click here for the final exam questions.
 

(7)  Engagement (+/- 10 points)

     The instructor can add or subtract up to 10 points from each student’s final grade, based on the student's overall engagement in the course.  Engaged students demonstrate qualities such as motivation, extra effort, interest in the course material, improvement over the course of the semester and leadership.  Lack of engagement is manifested by frequent absences, talking with others or dozing off in class, lack of interest in the course material, lack of preparation, and lack of participation in course activities.

Click here for guidelines on student engagement.

 

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Assignments and Grading, SSC 570:

 

You must complete the following assignments:

 

(1)  Attendance and Class Participation (10 points)

      You are expected to attend class regularly and participate actively in class discussions.  You should come to each session having already read and thought about the assigned material, with questions and points to discuss.  Participation for students enrolled in SSC 570 includes attendance at three graduate student discussions scheduled throughout the semester; these are 15-20 minute advanced discussions on the course topics and readings.
 

(2)  Mid-Term Exams (20 points)

     Three in-class exams will be given, consisting of short essay questions.  The first exam covers material presented since the beginning of the course, and subsequent exams cover material presented since the previous exam.  The exams are worth 10 points each.  The lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Click here for tips on taking essay tests.
 

(3)  Research Proposal (15 points)

     You will pair up with a classmate to complete a project throughout the semester.  Each group will prepare a 12-page research proposal, due April 20.  Both group members will receive the same grade on the proposal.

Click here for information on the group project assignment.
Click here for groups and topics.
Click here for more information on preparing research proposals and examples of research proposals.
 

(4)  Preparation of Research Proposal (25 points)

     Assignments pertaining to the final project are assigned throughout the semester.  You will hand in a research topic (2 points), an annotated bibliography (7 points), a concise research question (3 points), a draft of your methodological approach (7 points), and a critique of another group’s approach (6 points).  You will do the first four assignments with your group partner, and turn in only one assignment per group.  The fifth assignment (critique) is done individually.

Click here for guidelines on the proposal preparation assignments.
 

(5)  Presentation of Research Proposal (10 points)

     With your group partner, you will prepare and give a final presentation to the entire class on your project at the end of the semester.  The presentation is as a group, but each member will receive an individual grade on the final presentation.

Click here for a schedule of research proposal presentations.
 

(6)  Research Paper (10 points)

     You will research and prepare a 10-page analytical paper in which you critique the methodological approaches of four research articles.

Click here for information on the graduate student research paper assignment.
Click here for tips on writing papers for this course.
 

(7)  Final Exam (10 points)

     A final exam is given at the regularly scheduled time.  The exam will include  essay questions, similar to those on the mid-term exams.

   Click here for tips on taking essay tests.

(8)  Engagement (+/- 10 points)

     The instructor can add or subtract up to 10 points from each student’s final grade, based on the student's overall engagement in the course.  Engaged students demonstrate qualities such as motivation, extra effort, interest in the course material, improvement over the course of the semester and leadership.  Lack of engagement is manifested by frequent absences, talking with others or dozing off in class, lack of interest in the course material, lack of preparation, and lack of participation in course activities.

Calculating Grades:

There are a total of 100 points available for the semester.  Your final score is simply the sum of all points earned over the semester.  If you accumulate 90 or more points over the course of the semester, you will get an “A” in the course.  If you accumulate 80 to 89 points, you will get a “B,” for 70 to 79 points you will get a “C,” and for 60 to 69 points will get a “D.”  If you get less than 60 points, your final grade will be an “F.”  Note that you start with zero and earn points; you do not start with 100 and lose points.

 

If you comply with all course requirements and submit all of the assignments satisfactorily and on time, you can expect a “C” in this course.  To receive a higher grade, you must demonstrate a superior grasp of course material and an ability to apply the material in productive ways.  It is also helpful to show an interest in the course material and in learning, and an achievement-based orientation.

 

Summary of Grading:

 

Assignment	SSC 470	SSC 570
Attendance/Class Participation	10	10
Quizzes (3, drop 1)	20	N/A
Mid-Term Exams (3, drop 1)	N/A	20
Research Proposal	20	15
Preparation of Research Proposal	25	25
Presentation of Research Proposal	10	10
Final Exam	15	10
Research Paper	N/A	10
Discretionary	+/-10	+/-10
Total	100	100

 

SSC 470 vs. SSC 570:

 

You can take this course for undergraduate (SSC 470) or graduate (SSC 570) credit.  Those registered for graduate credit will complete a 10-page research paper that not required of those registered for undergraduate credit.  In addition, those registered for graduate credit will use a more advanced text, as well as a reader.  Graduate students will also meet with the professor five times during the semester for 15-20 minute advanced discussions on course material, and will take exams that are more challenging than the undergraduate versions.

 

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