SOCIOLOGY 302 SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS Section A

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1 SOCIOLOGY 302 SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS Section A Fall 2012 Monday, Wednesdays, & Friday 10:00am-10:50am 119 East Hall INSTRUCTOR AND OFFICE HOURS Dr. David Peters, Assistant Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology tel: East Hall fax: Iowa State University dpeters@iastate.edu Ames, IA web: Office hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00am to 1:00pm, or by appointment. Questions can be ed at any time. Course materials will be posted on ISU BlackboardLearn COURSE DESCRIPTION The purpose of this 3-credit hour undergraduate course is to introduce students to the principle research methods used by sociologists and other social scientists. Understanding such methods is important to conduct and, more importantly, interpret social research. Without shame we call our time the Information Age, which bombards one with large amounts of oftentimes conflicting information. Understanding research methods allows one to critically assess this multitude of information for effective decision-making. This course will cover such topics as the philosophy of scientific inquiry, hypothesis construction, the meaning of statistical error, measurement of concepts, creation of scales and indices, validity and reliability, experimental research, survey research, sampling, questionnaire development, basic quantitative methods, and basic qualitative methods. Lectures will be supplemented with in-class labs using statistical software. This course fills the research methods degree requirement for Sociology and Criminal Justice majors. This course replaces Sociology 202 Introduction to Research Methods which is no longer being offered. The prerequisites for this course are Stat 101 Principles of Statistics and either Soc 130 Introduction to Sociology or Soc 134 Rural Institutions and Organizations. Prerequisites may be taken concurrently with this course. SOC 302: Social Science Research Methods Page 1 of 5

2 PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND GRADING Student performance will be evaluated using exams and written assignments. Course grades are based on 200 total possible points to be earned in this course. Students electing to take this course as Pass / No Pass are expected to earn an average course score of C- or better to receive a Pass grade for the course. Incompletes will be given only for extreme circumstances and reasonable documentation may be required. Letter grades are assigned along the following scale: A A B B B C C C D D D F There will be five exams worth 25 points each. Exams will contain a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. All exams are in-class. Exams constitute 62.5 percent (125 points) of the course grade. There will be three small group research exercises worth 25 points each. Students will be assigned to small groups to complete assigned research tasks, and then will collectively write a report detailing their activities. The exercises are designed to give students direct research experience. The three exercises are: (1) conceptualization and operationalization of some research topic of interest to the group; (2) design of the questionnaire and selection of a sampling strategy; and (3) collection of the data and analysis using simple statistics. All reports are due at the beginning of class on the date they are due; and must be typed with double-spaces, 12-point font, and stapled. Only hard copies will be accepted. Research exercises constitute 37.5 percent (75 points) of the course grade. Class attendance and participation is essential and attendance will be taken daily. Students will be allowed 4 unexcused absences during the semester, after which each additional unexcused absence will result in 5 points being deducted from the course grade. For excused absences, students are required to the instructor beforehand with the dates absent and the reason. You are responsible for all information assigned through readings as well as that information presented solely in class. Ask questions any question or topic related to research methods is welcome. SOC 302: Social Science Research Methods Page 2 of 5

3 REQUIRED TEXTS Babbie, E The Practice of Social Research (11 th Edition). Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth. The 9 th, 10 th or 12 th editions of the above text are also acceptable. COURSE SCHEDULE Introduction to Inquiry August 20, 2012 Introduction & Philosophy of Science (Chp.1) August 22, 2012 Philosophy of Science & Hypothesis Construction (Chp.2) August 24, 2012 Philosophy of Science & Hypothesis Construction (Chp.2) August 27, 2012 Standard Error & Research Methods August 29, 2012 Standard Error & Research Methods August 31, 2012 Example Science and Intelligent Design September 3, 2012 No Class Labor Day September 5, 2012 Review September 7, 2012 Exam 1 in class Exam 1 Measurement of Concepts September 10, 2012 Measurement of Abstract Concepts (Chp.5) September 12, 2012 Indices, Scales, Typologies (Chp.6) September 14, 2012 Indices, Scales, Typologies (Chp.6) September 17, 2012 Validity & Reliability September 19, 2012 Validity & Reliability September 21, 2012 Validity & Reliability September 24, 2012 Lab & Review September 26, 2012 Lab & Review September 28, 2012 Exam 2 in class Exam 2 Observation and Sampling October 1, 2012 Experimental Research (Chp.8) October 3, 2012 Survey Research (Chp.9) Exercise 1 Due October 5, 2012 Survey Research (Chp.9) October 8, 2012 Questionnaire Development (Chp.7) October 10, 2012 Logic of Sampling (Chp.12) October 12, 2012 Logic of Sampling (Chp.12) October 15, 2012 Evaluation Research October 17, 2012 Review October 19, 2012 Exam 3 in class Exam 3 SOC 302: Social Science Research Methods Page 3 of 5

4 Quantitative Design and Analysis October 22, 2012 Elaboration Model (Chp.15) October 24, 2012 Elaboration Model (Chp.15) October 26, 2012 Elaboration Model (Chp.15) Exercise 2 Due October 29, 2012 Research Design (Chp.4) October 31, 2012 Research Design (Chp.4) November 2, 2012 Quantitative Data Analysis (Chp.16) November 5, 2012 Quantitative Data Analysis (Chp.16) November 7, 2012 Quantitative Data Analysis (Chp.16) November 9, 2012 Lab November 12, 2012 Lab November 14, 2012 Lab November 16, 2012 Exam 4 in class Exam 4 Qualitative Design and Analysis November 19, 2012 No Class Thanksgiving Break November 21, 2012 No Class Thanksgiving Break November 23, 2012 No Class Thanksgiving Break November 26, 2012 Qualitative Methods (Chp.10) November 28, 2012 Qualitative Methods (Chp.11) November 30, 2012 Qualitative Methods (Chp.11) December 3, 2012 Qualitative Data Analysis (Chp.13) December 5, 2012 Qualitative Data Analysis (Chp.13) December 7, 2012 Research Ethics & Review (Chp.3) Exercise 3 Due December 11, 2012 Exam 5 in class (9:45am-11:45am) Exam 5 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Academic honesty is essential to the existence and integrity of an academic institution. The responsibility for maintaining that integrity is shared by all members of the academic community. All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. Student disciplinary regulations will be followed in the event of academic misconduct. Depending on the act, a student could receive an F grade on the test/assignment, F grade for the course, and could be suspended or expelled from the University. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically-related matter and any knowing attempt to help another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to each of the following acts when performed in any type of academic or academically-related matter, exercise, or activity: Obtaining unauthorized information. Information is obtained dishonestly, for example, by copying graded homework assignments from another student, by working with another student on a take-home test or homework when not specifically permitted to do so by the instructor, or by looking at your notes or other written work during an examination when not specifically permitted to do so. SOC 302: Social Science Research Methods Page 4 of 5

5 Tendering of information. Students may not give or sell their work to another person who plans to submit it as his or her own. This includes giving their work to another student to be copied, giving someone answers to exam questions during the exam, taking an exam and discussing its contents with students who will be taking the same exam, or giving or selling a term paper to another student. Misrepresentation. Students misrepresent their work by handing in the work of someone else. The following are examples: purchasing a paper from a term paper service; reproducing another person s paper (even with modifications) and submitting it as their own; having another student take their exam. Bribery. Offering money or any item or service to a faculty member or any other person to gain academic advantage for yourself or another is dishonest. Plagiarism. Unacknowledged use of the information, ideas, or phrasing of other writers is an offense comparable with theft and fraud, and it is so recognized by the copyright and patent laws. Literary offenses of this kind are known as plagiarism. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Any student who may require an accommodation under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the course instructor in this matter as soon as possible and no later than the end of the first week of classes. NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) SOC 302: Social Science Research Methods Page 5 of 5