Research Methods for the Social Sciences

Prerequisites: MATH 2400

Course Description:

This course is designed as an introductory research methods course whose purpose is to familiarize students with the language, important concepts, and processes of social science research.  Students will acquire skills for understanding and critiquing research, designing a research project, performing elementary data analysis, and becoming a more critical observer and skeptical inquirer.  This is a writing intensive course.

Course Objectives:

Students should develop an understanding of the following topics:

1.        The history of social science research

2.        How to develop and research question and design a research project.

3.        Ethics and social research.

4.        How to conduct survey research.

5.        How to conduct experimental research.

6.        How to conduct field research.

7.        Secondary analysis and content analysis

8.        An understand of basic elementary data analysis

9.        An ability to analyze and critique previous published research.

Evaluation Methods:

There will be two equally weighted exams during the semester, one literature review (term paper), a class presentation, and 4 writing assignments. The exams will be a mixture of objective and essay.  The tests will not be comprehensive.  The requirements for the literature review, the 4 writing assignments, and the class presentation will be discussed in class.

Course Content:

Week 1: An Introduction to Social Research

Week 2: The Ethics of Social Research

Week 3: Measurement: Validity and Reliability.

Week 4: Samplings

Week 5: Survey Research

Week 6: Experimental Research

Week 7: Conducting Field Research

Week 8: Conducting Field Research

Week 9: Coding and Content Analysis

Week 10: Elementary Data Analysis

Week 11: Elementary Data Analysis

Week 12: Secondary Analysis

Week 13: Class Presentations

Week 14: Class Presentations