RESEARCH METHODS
ON LINE
Dr. Alan Turley
Office: 217h
Office Phone: 254-501-5873
Office Hours: T Th 1:50-4.50 and by appt.
Required Texts: Earl Babbie The Basics Of Social Research
Stephen Gould TheMismeasure of Man
Course Description: This course requires students to integrate and use fundamental concepts learned in previous courses within the students’ degree concentrations including research and analysis of real-world phenomena and problems. A real-world aspect of the course will be maintained as assignments would be given in the modern work environment; college graduates will not be spoon fed their assignments, neither will be parts of this course. Discovering sources and success on one’s own will be emphasized.
Grades:
Class Participation - Participation 50
Quiz - 4 x 50a piece 200
Tests -4 x 100 a piece400
Research Paper -1 x 400 a piece400
900 - A 800 - B 700 - Cout of1050pts
Tests will be for the sections of readings and lectures prior to the test, not comprehensive.
A research paper will be required of all students. It will be between 17-25 pages in length (no shorter paper will be accepted, no longer paper accepted) written in Journal Style (it will be good for you to familiarize yourself with this style from either of the top journals in sociology). All aspects of this assignment will be evaluated closely and will count for/against one's grade accordingly. The paper must contain statistical analysis and demonstrate a firm grasp of quantitative methods, including statistical data presentations. A mandatory procedure log will also be required including all research, database, statistical, and evaluation procedures taken by the student. Log checks may be placed instead of quizzes so bring your log every day.
Quizzes will be of a surprise nature concerning the readings or assignments for that day; A special hint… those questions look like good quiz material that you are supposed to think about and prepare outside of class.
Scholastic Dishonesty of any kind will NOT be tolerated. Any example or hint of this will result in the student's recommendation for scholastic review and termination.
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
T JAN 20 Intro – Syllabus – Book – Believe it or not, Start thinking of a research question NOW!
Types of Social Research. Experimental vs. Non-Exp vs. Quasi-Exp. Quantitative vs. Qualitative [Historical Data]. Formulating questions/ Hypothesis Development/ Causality
Dependent vs. Independent Variables. Operationalizing the question.Ethics of human study and Spurious Connections of data. Bell Curve.
MJan 26 BOOK MUST BE PURCHASED BY THIS DATE!
Choosing a Research Question and Design. Choosing datasets.Longitudinal vs. Cross sectional data views.
[READING: Chapter 4 RESEARCH DESIGN & MISMEASURE]
Databases, secondary data, Census, NORC.
{?}How much childcare do we need for welfare recipients' families?
MFeb 2 Databases. Reliability vs. Validity. How to maintain your research log.
[READING: Chapter 5 CONCEPTUALIZATION& MISMEASURE]
Demography - Urban Sociology - Econometrics (and their pitfalls)
Quantitative Observations. Establishing Meaning of these variables.
{?}How do we teach minorities different because they have lower reading, IQ, and test scores?
MFeb 9 SURVEYS.Construction.Terminology.
[READING: Chapter 6 OPERATIONALIZATION]
SURVEYS Double Barrel. Measurement.
{?} Why questions of terms and double barrels matter?
MFeb 16 TEST I
MFeb 23 SCALES. Likert, etc.,. Bi and Multi variate
[READING: Chapter 7 Scales and Typologies]
MMar 2 Content Analysis. Historical/Comparative.
Choosing the right way to measure meaning.
{?} How Religious do you feel? How Sexy? How Minty Fresh? How Conservative?
[READING: Chapter 7 Scales and Typologies & Chapter 12 Content Analysis]
MMar 9 Probability. Weighting.
[READING: Chapter 8 Logic of Sampling]
Standard Error. Sampling Difficult Populations.
SPRING BREAK
MMar 23 Simple. Stratified. Cluster. Snowball…. Get your minds out of the gutter.
{?} How would you stratify and sample this class?
[READING: Chapter 11 Field Research] Classical. Hawthorne.
[READING: Chapter 9 Experiments]
MMar 30 Double Blind. Internal & External Validity. Focus Groups.
[READING: Chapter 9 Experiments]
FRIApril 3 TEST II
MApril 6 Mailing Response.Response Rates. Representativeness
[READING: Chapter 10 Surveys]
Case Study.Interviews. Telephone.
SURVEY-ology and Secondary Analysis.
{?} What do bosses/clients/public think about surveys and surveying? This could be the most important question of the course.
MApril 13 Evaluation
Computers.Codebooks. Procedures.{THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING}
[READING: Chapter 14 Quantify, Chapter 13 Example of Evaluation, MISMEASURE]
{?} How important is procedure?
MApril 20 Distribution. Tendency.
[READING: Chapter 15 Analysis]
Mode, Median, Mean. Average.Bi-Variate
{?} How does education effect income? Journal Construction.
MApril 27 TEST III
MMay 4 Descriptive and Regression
[READING: Chapter 16 Statistics] [+25 Points if paper turned in today]
{?} What stats are relevant in the real world and why?
Regression. Chi-square, Relevance Testing.
[READING: MISMEASURE] REVIEW for Finals
PAPER DUE IN MY BOX BY4PM
MMay 11 MINUS 100 Points if paper turned in today. After today, no papers accepted
FINAL EXAM
Course Objectives:
Knowledge Outcomes:
1. The students will know the nature of scientific inquiry.
2. The students will understand the process of forming research questions.
3. The students will know the techniques of conducting sociological research and critiques of these techniques.
4. The students will understand issues of measurement and sampling,
5. Students will understand the ethical considerations of research
Skills Outcomes:
1. Critical thinking: students must have “sociological insight” in order to see through official explanations of social life, common sense conclusions, and conclusions based solely on personal experience. Using the tools of the discipline, sociologists analyze social life while minimizing the influence of personal emotions and political agendas.
2. Abstract thinking: sociology is a discipline of theory testing. Research techniques and statistics help us describe social phenomena and allow us to evaluate theoretical statements.
3. Persistence: just because we live in a society does not mean we automatically know everything about it. Hard study is required, and thinking is mandatory! Research methods help us see through the veneer of official accounting of the world around us. Research is about persistent curiosity.
4. Flexibility: Students will learn the discovery of hidden social processes. It is imperative that we become flexible in our thinking and willing to process what we already know. Students should be active agents in their own learning.
5. Expansion of knowledge; this course aims to expand students’ breadth of knowledge of social behavior, organization, and diversity within populations. Research techniques help us see how social processes affect individual development and life chances.
Value Outcomes:
1.Students will value scientific inquiry.
2. Students will be able to discern false information from factual information.
3. Students will understand the appropriate method to utilize given the scientific question.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1. Develop the reasoning and communication skills expected of a person holding a Bachelor of Science degree.
2. Develop proficiency in the use of online research retrieval methods.
3. Understand the use of quantitative and qualitative methods.
4. Be able to apply these methods in real world circumstances.
Note: This is an UPPER level course. Be prepared to make the appropriate time commitment to study, volunteering and writing that this course requires.
Incomplete Grades:
I do not give out INCOMPLETE GRADES. ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS ARE DUE ON THE DATES OUTLINED IN THE SYLLABUS. It is the responsibility of the student to notify me if they cannot make a test. If I do not hear from you prior to the class, I will not allow an excuse for the absence.
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the student. The record’s office will provide a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. Should you still be enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately? You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
Academic Integrity Statement
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonestly are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. Plagiarism entails using the words or ideas of another person without giving him or her credit (e.g. not citing both the words or ideas of authors in papers); based on this understanding, it is also plagiarism to copy an author’s exact words without putting them in quotation marks. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonestly and report the incident to the Director of Student Affairs. More information can be found at
If you believe that this course may present barriers to learning due to a disability, please contact Disability Support and Access at (254) 501-5831 in Warrior Hall, Ste. 212. For more information, please visit their website at Any information you provide is private and confidential and will be treated as such. The instructor cannot accommodate your disability unless you communicate with Disabilty Support.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building. Visit click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions or if you're interested in becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-519-5830 or by .
Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for any subject on your computer. To access Tutor.com, click on
Library Services
Library distance education services aims to make available quality assistance to A&M-Central Texas students seeking information sources remotely by providing digital reference, online information literacy tutorials, and digital research materials. Much of the A&M-CT collection is available instantly from home. This includes over half of the library's book collection, as well as approximately 25,000 electronic journals and 200 online databases. Library Distance Education Services are outlined and accessed at:
Dr. Turley’s SPECIFIC class policies:
*On all assignments, papers, etc., if the printer failed to print, you are late - period. Plan for this, just like the real world. If your presentation were due on a Monday at work, and you didn’t have it… you would be fired. Do not turn in handwritten assignments; if you do not have access to a computer in your home, plan ahead to make sure you can get to the computer lab in time.
**I will not accept any work past the last scheduled class day for the semester, unless you confront an emergency situation and have contacted me about that situation.
***If anyone is deemed to be abusive or derisive AT ALL by the instructor, that student will be asked to leave the class or discussion assignment immediately. This is not open to debate, and depending on the level of the incident, may be turned over to the Dean or Campus Security. This is part of your student code of conduct and I take this VERY seriously. By signing the syllabus agreement below, you are agreeing to participate by these rules.
****Arguing grades. When a real incident occurs where you feel the machine or instructor has made a legitimate error in grading, then politely bring it to my attention. Do not however engage in an all too common practice of arguing a grade with the idea of “Well I have nothing to lose if I waste the instructor’s time in a vain attempt to manipulate a few more points on an assignment.” This will not work or be tolerated, an occurrence of this will drop said assignment by a letter grade.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT
You will be responsible for getting the notes for any classes you may have to miss. This class will be run according to the code of conduct established by the University. Any student who is intentionally disruptive will be asked to leave. You are expected to show respect to yourself, other students, and your instructor. Class discussion is encouraged. Please frame your questions and comments online with respect. We all come from different perspectives and belief systems.
Please be aware—if you plagiarize your work, you will receive a failing grade for that work. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, you may also receive a failing grade for the course. You will also be turned over to the Dean for disciplinary action.
IV. Academic Resources
Religious holidays: If you need to be absent for religious observance please notify me at least one week in advance so that arrangements may be made for you to obtain lecture notes, turn in assignments, or schedule exams. These are YOUR responsibility.
Library Resources are accessed at.
Posting of Grades:
All student grades will be posted on the Blackboard Grade book and students should monitor their grading status through this tool.
Grades for Quizzes will be posted 3 days after the availability period has passed. Grades for Weekly Assignments and Papers will be posted the Wednesday following the due date.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT
Technology Requirements This course will use the new TAMU-CT Blackboard Learn learning management system for class communications, content distribution, and assessments.
Logon to to access the course.
For this course, you will need reliable and frequent access to a computer and to the Internet. You will also need a headset with a microphone or speakers and a microphone to be able to listen to online resources and conduct other activities in the course. If you do not have frequent and reliable access to a computer with Internet connection, please consider dropping this course or contact me (see page 1) to discuss your situation.
Blackboard supports the most common operating systems:
PC: Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000,
Mac: Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.5 “Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.4 “Tiger®”
Check browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the TAMU-CTBlackboard logon page. (tamuct.blackboard.com) This is a CRITICAL step as these settings are important for when you take an exam or submit an assignment.
Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student Orientation under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this orientation course. The new Blackboard is a brand-new interface and you will have to come up to speed with it really quickly. This orientation course will help you get there. There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the left-hand menubar. The first week of the course includes activities and assignments that will help you get up to speed with navigation, sending and receiving messages and discussion posts, and submitting an assignment. Your ability to function within the Blackboard system will facilitate your success in this course.
Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your computer is configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.
7.1Technology Support
For technological or computer issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard Support Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Support Portal:
Online chat (through the support portal at:
Phone: (855)-661-7965
For issues related to course content and requirements, contact your instructor.
Note: The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course, and deviations may become necessary.
V. Calendar and Readings List: (Please note, you are expected to complete assigned reading PRIOR to the class for which they are assigned.)
The Operation of the Online Course and Being an Online Student
Online learning requires students to be very self-disciplined, be sure you understand and are prepared to comply with all required class assignments and deadlines. For this course, the new Weekly Assignment will be posted on the Course Home Page By Monday or Tuesday morning (latest) and will be due to the associated Discussion Forum, my email IN the BB course or Quiz the following Friday night at midnight. Always be checking the Announcements section!
Term Paper Project
I. Expectations for the Paper