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| Douglas Smith | |
| 104 Grise Hall | Phone: (270) 745-2152 |
| Department of Sociology | Email: Douglas.Smith@wku.edu |
| Western Kentucky University | Webpage: www.wku.edu/~Douglas.Smith/ |
| 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11057 | |
| Bowling Green, KY 42101-1057 | |
| Office Hours: MW 3:00-4:30pm or by appointment | |
Wolfer, Loreen. 2007. Real Research: Conducting and Evaluating Research in the Social Sciences. Boston: Pearson.
In this course, we critically survey the assumptions, strategies, and techniques sociologists use for systematically observing the social world. Moreover, we examine the processes by which research problems are formulated, research designs selected, data gathered and interpreted, and inferences and conclusions drawn. We engage in this examination both theoretically, through reading and discussion, and practically, through quantitative analyses data and exposition).
 | To develop an understanding of what it means to do sociology as a profession (i.e., to give you some skills you will need to make a difference.). |
| To appreciate and understand the issues involved in systematically observing the social world |
| To provide a solid foundation for critically reviewing the reliability and validity of research findings. |
| To provide familiarity with the dominant research designs and research strategies used by social scientists. |
| To demonstrate key decision points in the research process. |
| To provide "hands on" experience with the research process and specific research skills that can make students employable as sociologists. |
| To make students critical (and, it is hoped, intelligent) consumers of social research as reported, for example, in the mass media. This involves, at the least, the ability to identify and disregard utter nonsense. |
It is essential that each student come to class prepared to ask questions about things that they do not understand and turn in assignments as scheduled. Active class participation is required.
Readings are generally assigned the class meeting prior to the in-class discussion. Thus, students are expected to read the assignments prior to class. Exercises are usually given out after in-class discussion and be due 3-5 days after their assignment.
Helpful hint: Learn the location of computer rooms on campus. You may locate machines which have low demand and this will be important to you (not only in this class, but in your other classes in the future).
In compliance with university policy,
students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations
for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in
Downing University Center, A-200. The phone number is 270 745 5004.
Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor
without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability
Services.
Student performance will be evaluated through chapter exercises, the mid-term, the final, and the student's research project.
The weight of each of these pieces is as follows:
| Participation | 10% |
| Class Exercises | 30% |
| Exam 1 | 10% |
| Exam 2 | 15% |
| Research Project | 35% |
| 100% |
Monday, January 26
Topic: Introduction to Course, the Professor, the Syllabus, and the PaperPART I: Shaping a Research Problem
Wednesday, January 28 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 1-"The Role of Social Research"
Topic: The Sources of KnowledgeFriday, January 30 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 2-"Research Process and Considerations"
Topic: The Research Process
Monday, February 2 -- NO CLASS
Wednesday, February 4 Film: Obedience: The Milgram Experiment
Friday, February 6 WATCH: The Slideshow of the Stanford Prison Experiment: http://www.prisonexp.org/
Topic: Being an Ethical Researcher
Monday, February 9 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 3-"Getting Started" and Orcher, Lawrence T. 2005. "Grant Funding," pp. 116-124 in The Ultimate Grad School Survival Guide.
Topic: Problem Selection, Research Feasibility, and the Search for FundingWednesday, February 11 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Appendix A, Chapter 2-"Writing a Research Report"
Discussion of Empirical Sociology Papers
Getting on the Computer and Accessing DataFriday, February 13 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Orcher, Lawrence T. 2005. Chapter 2-"Locating Literature and Refining a Research Topic." and Chapter 3-"Preparing a Literature Review"
Searching for articles and data
PART II: Measurement
Monday, February 16
Topic: Hypotheses, Causality, Internal and External ValidityWednesday, February 18 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 4-"Operationalization and Measurement"
Topic: Operationalization: The Relationship between Theory and ObservationFriday, February 20
Topic: Measurement Validity and Reliability
Monday, February 23 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 5-"Sampling"
Topic: Probability Sampling
In Class Sampling Exercise (Bring a Calculator if you have one.)Wednesday, February 25
In Class Sampling Exercise Continues (Bring a Calculator if you have one.)Friday, February 27 -- NO CLASS
Monday, March 2
Topic: Nonprobability Sampling
******NOTE: PAPER TOPIC DUE TODAY******Wednesday, March 4
Friday, March 6
EXAM ONE
Monday, March 9 -- NO CLASS
Wednesday, March 11 -- NO CLASS
Friday, March 13 -- NO CLASS
PART III: Research Designs and Sampling
Monday, March 16 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 6-"Experimental Research"
Wednesday, March 18
Friday, March 20 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 7-"Survey Research"
Monday, March 23
DRAFT OF INTRO AND LITERATURE REVIEW DUE TODAYWednesday, March 25 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 8-"Field Research"
Friday, March 27 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 9-"Unobtrusive Methods"
Monday, March 30 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 10-"Evaluation Research"
Wednesday, April 1 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 11-"Qualitative Research Analysis"
Friday, April 3 BEFORE GETTING TO CLASS READ: Wolfer, Chapter 12-"Quantitative Research Analysis"
Monday, April 6
Review for FinalWednesday, April 8
EXAM TWO (Comprehensive)PART IV: Data Processing and Analysis
Friday, April 10
Topic: Data Cleaning and Distribution
Monday, April 13
Topic: Univariate Analysis and Data TransformationWednesday, April 15
Topic: Barcharts and HistogramsFriday, April 17
Topic: Using the Univariate Analysis
Monday, April 20
Bivariate Analysis: Crosstabulation and Significance (Chi-Square)Wednesday, April 22
Bivariate Analysis: Crosstabulation and Measures of Association ( Lambda, Gamma, Tau-b)Friday, April 24
Bivariate Tables Workshop
Monday, April 27
Multivariate Analysis: Elaboration methodWednesday, April 29
Multivariate Analysis: Elaboration method interpretationFriday, May 1
Elaboration Method Workshop
Monday, May 4
Regression: What is it? Why do it?Wednesday, May 6
How to Format and Interpret Regression analysisFriday, May 8
Topic: Putting it all together in the paper
Finally, my disclaimer.
| DISCLAIMER | The university may adopt a business model; however, education is NOT a business. Moreover, the syllabus is not a sacred contract (at the very least, the course calendar is not a sacred contract), but a road map. The readings in the course calendar are places we are scheduled to visit. Anyone who has taken a preplanned road trip or vacation knows that the trip is not fun unless you stop at interesting roadside attractions even though they might divert from your original route or time table. It's the process of getting there that is fun/relaxing/intriguing. In that light, the above schedule and procedures for this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. | DISCLAIMER |
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