Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the concepts and techniques used to define research
questions and to structure an appropriate research design to answer these questions. Topics will include the
connection between theory and research design, variable measurement, sampling, the differences between
experimental and non-experimental designs, data analysis, and the social context of scientific research.
Research methods are used to develop and organize data before the application of statistical techniques;
therefore, no prior knowledge of statistics is required for this course.
Course requirements include three exams and an observation project. Exams will cover both text and class
materials and usually consist of matching, multiple choice and true/false questions. Each exam is worth 25% of
your overall grade. A review will be provided before each exam. Observation projects will involve defining
social research questions of your choice and creating your own research design that will eventually help you
answer these questions. Research choices are subject to the approval of the professor. The project will be
assigned in stages throughout the semester and is worth 25% of your overall grade. The final grade will be
calculated as follows:
EXAM I 25%
EXAM II 25%
EXAM III 25%
OBSERVATION PROJECT 25%
Please note that (1) there will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS AVAILABLE for this course and (2) CHEATERS
WILL BE PROSECUTED. Your signature on each assignment and exam is your guarantee that the work you
have done is your own.
Required Text: The Practice of Social Research, Tenth Edition, by Earl Babbie
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
[REVISED]
Jan 9: Introduction
Chapter 1: Human Inquiry and Science
Jan 16: NO CLASS - MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Jan 23 Chapter 2: Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research
Chapter 3: The Ethics and Politics of Social Research
OBSERVATION PROJECT TOPIC DISCUSSION