SCOPE AND METHODS PS 3550 – 01 DR. CHARLES KELLY
SYLLABUS FALL 2009
WED 4:30 – 7:15 PM
In the event of misplacing your syllabus, , you can acquire an additional copy of my web page at http://www.kean.edu/~ckelly. You should go to my webpage for the steps in social scientific research design packet of guidelines.
Scope and Methods is designed to introduce students to the main approaches to the study of political and social phenomenon. Students will study the nature and scope of social science and the logic of social inquiry. There will be a comprehensive examination and research design proposal. Each week students will discuss and review their research design proposal. Students will be asked to critique the proposal as it develops and submit feedback assignments monthly.
THE BOOK FOR THE COURSE IS:
Earl Babbie – The Practice of Social Research (Latest Ed.)
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF:
Wed. – Sept. 9 Introduction
Handouts
Babbie, overview
Wed. -- Sept. 16 Conducting Research
Babbie, Chapter 1
Wed. – Sept. 23 Theory and Research
Babbie, Chapter 2
Wed. – Sept. 23 First Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Wed. – Sept. 30 The Nature of Causation
Babbie, Chapter 4
Wed. – Oct. 7 Conceptualization
Babbie, Chapter 5
Wednesday – Oct. 14 Second Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Mid-term Exam Review
Wed. – Oct. 21 MID-TERM EXAM
Wed. – Oct. 21 Operationalization
Babbie, Chapter 6
Wed. – Oct. 28 Indexes, Scales and Typologies
Babbie, Chapter 7
Wed. – Nov. 4 Logic of Sampling
Babbie, Chapter 8
Wed. – Nov. 11 Experiments
Babbie, Chapter 9
Wed. – Nov. 18 Survey Research
Babbie, Chapter 10
Third Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Wed. – Nov. 25 Field Research
Babbie, Chapter 11
Wed. – Dec. 2 Data Analysis
Babbie, Chapter 15
Wed. – Dec. 9 Fourth Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Exam Review
Wed. – Dec. 16 Final Research Design Due
FINAL EXAM
All students are required to take the exams and present assignments on dates specified. Please note that “INC” grades will NOT be given simply because a student fails to complete an assignment. If an illness or other severe problem beyond the student’s control occurs, it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the student to initiate the request for a make-up exam or for an extension of a deadline. The student MUST initiate this request immediately upon discovering that he/she will not be able to meet the above requirements. FAILURE to get EXPLICIT (in writing) PERMISSION to miss an exam or deadline will result in a grade of failure for the assignment.
All students are expected to attend all classes, be on time for class, stay for the entire class period, and leave when excused or when the class is dismissed. If students need to leave class during the class period, he or she shall speak to me as soon as possible (preferably before class begins) as to the necessity. Please turn off your cell phone. Text messaging is not allowed during class time.
The exams are weighed equally, 20% for the midterm, 20% for the final and 20% for class participation (feedback assignments and quizzes). The final draft of your research project design will be worth 40%. No substitute work is allowed. Office hours are posted on my homepage: www.kean.edu.
Students are responsible for becoming familiar with, and will be held accountable for, the Kean University Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Code of Conduct. The Academic Integrity Policy is available at www.kean.edu/forms/AcademicIntegrity,pdf or the Web site for The guide at www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuide2007.pdf., and the Student Code of Conduct is available at www.kean.edu/~conduct or the Web site for The Guide at www.kean.edu/publications/Theguide2007.pdf.