ENV 298.235 ~ Social Science Research Methods and Design

Social Science Research Methods and Design

The Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences

Duke Environmental Leadership Program

ENV 298.235 ~ Spring 2012

Wednesdays8:00 –9:15pm EST

Elizabeth Shapiro (Professor)

Office: A LSRC 142-B

Tel: (919) 681-7781

Fax: (919) 613-8061

Email:

Sarah Crittenden Fuller (Teaching Assistant)

Email:

Course Overview

The goal of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the theory and practice of social science research methods and design. It is appropriate for students who wish to learn both qualitative and quantitative research methods or who wish to combine natural and social science questions and methods in their research. Through lecture, discussion of readings and case studies, and review of the research proposals of their peers, students will become proficient at not only social science theory, but at producing a sound and well-designed research proposal.

Course Structure

This is a 3-credit graduate course, to be held remotely from 8-9:15pm every Wednesday. Enrollment in limited to 16 students.

There are three core elements of this course in which you will be expected to actively participate:

WebConference Calls

During the distance portion of the course, we will convene Adobe Connect WebConference sessions on Wednesdays from 8-9:15pm EST. Each call will focus on the week’s topic, but we are always open to broader questions and comment and will also expect some discussion concerning progress on the development of your research proposals. You can link in to the Adobe Connect sessions either through the internet or by calling in.

1.800.977.8002

(International/Atlanta: 1.404.920.6650)

Moderator Code: 711799#

Participant Code: 448832#

You are expected to actively participate in each WebConference session. However, we also understand that your lives are complicated and that circumstances may dictate that you not be able to attend all sessions. In these cases you will be expected to listen to the recordings of the session. You will be allowed to miss one session without penalty, but after that 1 pt will be subtracted from the 100pts total that you will constitute the grade for the class.

Research Proposal Development

At the end of the semester, you will have completed a revised, fully developed research proposal, which will include the following:

  1. Problem statement
  2. Literature review
  3. Hypotheses and/or research questions
  4. Research Design
  5. Sampling strategy
  6. Methods for data collection
  7. Plan for analysis

VIII. Significance and application of research results

The development of your proposal will be iterative: various sections of your proposal will be due throughout the semester and you will receive critique and suggestions from both your instructors and your peers that you will incorporate into the final proposal.

Peer Reviews

In addition to completing your own assignments, you will be asked to evaluate and critique each other’s work thoughtfully and carefully. You will be expected to turn in a review sheet detailing your suggestions and critique of the work of each person in your group after each peer review session.

Course Evaluation

Your grade in this course will be based on:

10% Participation in WebConference sessions

15% Participation in the peer-review process

15% Assignment #1 -Literature Review & Research Questions

15% Assignment #2 -Research Design, Sampling Strategy & Significance of Research

15% Assignment #3 - Methods for Data Collection & Plan for Data Analysis

10%Final Research Proposal Presentation

20% Final Written Research Proposal

Course Materials

We will be drawing our readings for the course primarily from the following books:

Creswell, John W. 2002. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, 2nd Edition. Sage Publications.

Babbie, Earl. 2009. The Practice of Social Research, 12th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing.

You will also be required to read short newspaper and academic articles as part of our Discussion Board dialogues. These will be posted directly to Sakai.

Honor Code

Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service and to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability. Citizens of this community commit to reflect upon and uphold these principles in all academic and nonacademic endeavors, and to protect and promote a culture of integrity.

To uphold the Duke Community Standard:

  • I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors;
  • I will conduct myself responsibly in all my endeavors; and
  • I will act if the Standard is compromised.

Course Outline

Date / Topic(s) / Readings / Assignments
Introduction
Dec. 11
Washington, DC / Introduction to Social Science Research Methods and Design / NONE (During break read Creswell Chpt 2) / Over the break you should be reading literature related to your research interest and formulating a problem statement
Week 1
Jan. 18 / Inquiry in the Social Sciences: Deductive vs. Inductive / Babbie Chpts 1 & 2 / Initial Problem Statement Due (Jan 22)
Week 2
Jan. 25 / Structuring of Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative / Babbie Chpt 4, Creswell Chpts 6&7
Week 3
Feb. 1 / The Logic of Sampling / Babbie Chpt 7 / Literature Review & Research Questions (Feb 5)
Week 4
Feb. 8 / Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement / Babbie Chpt. 5; Creswell Chpt 1 / Peer Review of Literature Review & Research Questions (Feb 12)
Week 5
Feb. 15 / Secondary Source and Evaluation Research / Babbie Chpts. 11&12 / Final version Literature Review & Research Questions (Feb 19)
Week 6
Feb. 22 / Experiments / Babbie Chpt 8
Week 7
Feb 29 / Surveys / Babbie Chpt. 9 / Research Design, Sampling Strategy & Significance of Research (March 4)
Spring Break
March 3-11
Week 8
Mar. 14 / Qualitative Field Research / Babbie Chpt. 10, Creswell Chpt 9
Week 9
Mar. 21 / Quantitative Data Analysis / Babbie Chpt 14, Creswell Chpt 8
Week 10
Mar. 28 / Qualitative Analysis / Babbie Chpt 13 / Methods for Data Collection & Plan for Data Analysis (April 1)
Week 11
April 4 / Mixed Methods / Creswell Chpt 10 / Peer Review of Methods for Data Collection & Plan for Data Analysis (April 8)
Week 12
April 11 / Ethics & Politics of Social Research / Babbie Chpt 3 / Final version Methods for Data Collection & Plan for Data Analysis (April 15)
Week 13
April 18 / Presentation of Final Proposals
May 2 / Final Written Proposal Due (May 2)
May 10-11 / Place based session for 2nd years

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