Sociological Research Methods

Sociological Research Methods

Fall 2015

Course number: SOCI 318-02

Class time: 2:10-3:30pm

Class location: JRH 205

Instructor:

Dr. Megan Bahns

Email:

Phone: 406-243-5353

Office: Social Sciences 315

Office Hours: M/W 10am-11am, Tuesday 1-2pm and by appointment

TA:

Name: Tyson Kuntz

Email:

Office:SS 310

Office Hours:M 12:15-1:15pm, Tues 1-2pm and by appointment

Course Description:

Sociology is the objective study of society, paying close attention to how people organize and structure themselves into groups. In turn, sociologists reconsider assumptions about society and question that which is obvious in order to better understand human behavior and the construction of the social norms. This course looks at how social scientists empirically investigate and quantify behavior within the social world.

Learning Outcome:

1. Understand the guiding principles and ethics of sociological research
2. Describe and practice common methods of social science research, including observation, interviewing, survey research, content analysis, and experiments.
3. Devise a research question, prepare a research plan, collect and analyze data, and report results sociologically.

Required Course Materials:

• Chambliss, Daniel F. and Russell K. Schutt. 2015. Making Sense of the Social World: Methods of Investigation (5th Edition) ISBN-10:1483380610

Additional course materials on the course website

Course Requirements: (Total course points: 440 points)

Examinations (100 points or (23%) of course grade)

Two in-class exams (50 points each). Exams will cover course readings and lecture material. I only give make-up exams in emergency situations.

Assignments (250 points or (57%) of course grade)

Students will complete a group project (details provided in class). Throughout the semester, students will complete 7 components of this project, the last being a final report that combines all components. Groups will present their work in the final week(s) of the semester.

Late assignment will be docked 5 points for each day late. Do NOT turn in assignments or papers under my office door or via e-mail.

Course Participation/Workshops (90 points or (20%) of course grade)

I have designed the course to be interactive, with the idea that students learn best by doing. For that reason, the course will generally consist of hands-on interactive activities about the course topics, in-class group project work days, and in-class methods workshops.

Workshops. To encourage participation, the course consists of nine (9) graded in-class methods “workshops.” The workshops are a graded hands-on application of the week’s lecture material and are worth up to 10 points each. To earn full credit for workshop participation, a student must be present for the entire workshop and complete the in-class activity for that day. Participation in the workshop will serve as an excellent preparation tool for exams. Points for these in-class workshops cannot be made up. I will not accept a written workshop activity prior to or after a workshop occurs in class.

Attendance: You need to be engaged and present the entire class period during workshops to receive full points. See class schedule for details. If you must miss class, ask a classmate for notes, not the professor or TA.

Incomplete Grades: Incomplete grades will only be given in emergency situations.

Note: In the event that you do miss class, you are responsible for all of the material covered on that day, including announcements made by the instructor, etc.

Do not email me the weekend before an exam. I will not respond. Please ask questions in class, attend office hours, or make an appointment if you want help. If a student will not be able to take an exam on time, prior notification to the professor is required. Make-up exams will only be considered in extreme circumstances and appropriate documentation MUST be provided. Failure to provide prior notification can result in the student receiving zero points for that exam.

Final Grades

Course grades will be computed using the following scale: (Please note that course grades are not rounded up to the next letter grade)

A (93.00 & up)A- (90.00-92.99)

B+ (87.00-89.99)B (83.00-86.99)B- (80.00-82.99)

C+ (77.00-79.99)C (73.00-76.99)C- (70.00-72.99)

D+ (67.00-69.99)D (63.00-69.99)D- (60-62.99) F (less than 60.00)

Expectations:

Academic Integrity

The UM Student Conduct Code holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. All students must be aware of and carefully adhere to the provisions defining and prohibiting academic misconduct in the UM Student Conduct Code. A full version is available at

I am adamantly opposed to any form of academic dishonesty. This includes doing work that is not your own (tests, etc.), as well as forging signatures on the sign-in sheet. Failure to provide proper citations and attribute thoughts, words, or ideas to their original source constitutes plagiarism and makes you liable for sanctions from the instructor and/or the university. If it becomes apparent to me that you have cheated on an exam, plagiarized, or been otherwise dishonest academically, you may fail the course. Plagiarizing work or cheating on exams results in failure of the assignment, and can be brought to the proper venues of the University as a case of academic dishonesty.

Students with Disabilities:

The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students. Students who may need academic accommodations due to a disability are encouraged to discuss their needs with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommason Center 154 or (406) 243-2243. Accommodations and related support services such as exam administration are not provided retroactively and must be requested in advance.

Classroom Environment:

I expect that you will view the classroom as a place to learn and not as a place to text, sleep, take phone calls, talk to your classmates about issues unrelated to class, read a magazine, or do the crossword puzzle. No cell phone activities or laptop use permittedduring class time unless otherwise directed by me. If it appears that you are viewing the classroom as anything other than a place to learn about the subject matter of the course, I consider this disruptive and disrespectful (to both me and your classmates), and I will ask that you leave the class. Furthermore, if you are only in class in body and not in mind, you will not get credit for having attended class.

PERSONAL ATTACKS AND CRITICISMS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ANY STUDENT THAT IS NOT RESPECTFUL OF THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.

Do not email me the weekend before an exam. I will not respond. Please ask questions in class or make an appointment if you want help. If a student will not be able to take an exam on time, prior notification of the professor is required. Make-up exams will only be considered in extreme circumstances and appropriate documentation MUST be provided. Failure to provide prior notification can result in the student receiving zero points for that exam.

Finally,

Let’s have fun with this class!

Course Schedule

*I may make changes to this schedule to better serve class needs. Any changes

will be made in advance and announced in class. You are responsible for keeping up to

date with any course changes.

Date Topic Reading Due Assignment Due

WEEK 1

Tues 9/1 Introduction

Thurs 9/3 Workshop 1Read: Science, Society and Social Research Chapter 1

WEEK 2

Tues, 9/8 Read: The Process of and Problems of Social Research Chapter 2

Thurs, 9/10Workshop 2 Read: Ethics in Research Chapter 3 Due: Component 1- Ethics Certification NIH Human Subjects Protection Training (10 points; Bring to Class Verification)

WEEK 3

Tues, 9/ 15Read: Conceptualization & Measurement Chapter 4

Thurs 9/17Workshop 3: Conceptualization & Measurement Due Component 2-Topic

WEEK 4

Tues, 9/22 Read: Sampling and Generalizability Chapter 5

Thurs, 9/24Workshop 4: Sampling

WEEK 5

Tues, 9/29Read:Causation and Experimental Design Chapter 6 Due: Component 3- Bib and Concepts

Thursday, 10/1 Test One

WEEK 6

Tues 10/6 Film

Thurs 10/8 FilmDue: Component 4- Sample

WEEK 7

Tues, 10/13- Read: Survey Research Chapter 7

Thurs, 10/15 Workshop 5: Survey Research

WEEK 8

Tues, 10/20 Read: Quant Methods Chapter 8

Thurs, 10/22 Workshop 6: Quant Methods Due: Component 5 Research Instrument

WEEK 9

Tues, 10/27Read: Qual Methods Chapter 9

Thurs, 10/29Workshop 7Qual Methods

WEEK 10

Tues, 11/3Read: Qual Data Analysis 10

Thurs, 11/5Work Shop 8 Qual Data Analysis

WEEK 11

Tues, 11/10Read: Unobtrusive Measures Chapter 11

Thurs, 11/11Workshop 9: Content Analysis Read: Evaluation Research Chapter 12

WEEK 12

Tues, 11/17 Read: Chapter 13 Review, Proposing, and Reporting Research Due: Component 6 Results

Thurs, 11/19 Test 2

WEEK 13

Tues, 11/24Work on Projects

Thurs 11/26Thanksgiving

WEEK 14

Tues, 11/31In-class presentations

Thurs, 12/1 In-class presentations

Week 15

M 12/8 In-class presentation

Thurs 12/10 Last Day of ClassComponent 7 Due

1