SOC/CRJ 3610

SOC/CRJ 3610: Social Research, Spring 2011

Professor: Stephen M. Marson, Ph.D., ACSW
Office: D. F. Sampson 221; 521-6475 Inclement weather: (910) 521-6888
Office Hours: Monday 5:00 @ RCC; Tuesday 1:30; Wednesday 4:00; Thursday 1:30; Friday by appointment
Course Prerequisite: SOC 1020 or SOC/CRJ 2400
Course Description: This course is designed to develop an understanding of the basic research methods available to social scientists. The principal purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with these methods in order to aid the critical analysis of social science research from academia, government agencies, the media and other sources. The student will be given the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned by conducting a survey, analyzing the data, and presenting the results at the end of the semester. This class utilizes Blackboard for communication, posting of electronic readings, and turning in assignments.

Table of Contents
Assignments	Course Objectives	Grading
Attendance Policy	Course Outline	Late Assignments
Blackboard	Disabilities	Handouts & Powerpoints
Cell Phone Policy	Final Exam	Procedures
Computer Usage	Honor Code	Required Texts
Due Dates: Article due on February 7; Paper due decide on April 18

Course Objectives

1. To know how people learn and make mistakes.

2. To learn what makes science different from other ways of learning.

3. To understand the linkage of theory to research methods and statistics. The knowledge is the basis for the entire course.

4. To learn how to apply concepts of conceptualization, operationalization and measurement (reliability and validity)

5. To learn how to find, assess and use preexisting measures for research.

6. To learn the logic of sampling and the problems of not following the rules of sampling.

7. To learn when and how to employ data analysis options of experimental designs, surveys, qualitative and quantitative methods.

8. To learn basic strategies for social intervention.

9. To learn how to use interviewing as a data collection strategy.

10. To learn the basics of statistical analysis.

11. To learn various strategies for writing a research paper.

COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDAR

Date	Topic	Activities & Readings
Week 1	We'll examine how people learn about their world and look at the mistakes they make along the way. We'll also begin to see what makes science different from other ways of knowing. We'll examine sine if the theoretical points of view that structure social science inquiry. This lays the groundwork for understanding the specific research techniques discussed throughout the course.	Read: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Week 2	Social research takes place in a social context. Researchers must therefore take into account many ethical and political considerations alongside scientific ones in designing and executing their research. Often, however clear-cut answers to thorny ethical and political issues are hard to come by.	Read: Chapter 3 Film: Do Scientist Cheat?
Week 3	A wide variety of research designs are available to social researchers. We will learn who or what is to be studied and when, how and for what purpose.	Read: Chapter 4
Week 4 & 5	The research stages of conceptualization, operationalization and measurement are interrelated. Instrumental reliability and validity are addressed.	Read: Chapter 5
Week 6	Researchers often need to employ multiple indicators to measure a variable adequately and validly. Indexes, scales and typologies are useful composite measures made up of several indicators of variables.	Read: Chapter 6
Week 7	Social science can select a few people for a study discover important information regarding the population from which the come.	Read: Chapter 7
Week 8	The experimental design to assess cause is introduced. Most likely to be used by Criminal Justice Majors.	Read: Chapter 8
Week 9	Surveys are introduced. Most likely to be used by Sociology Majors.	Read: Chapter 9
Week 10	Qualitative research can produce a richer understanding of many social phenomena than can be achieved through other observational methods.	Read: Chapter 10
Week 11	Three unobtrusive research methods are introduced: Content Analysis, Analysis of Existing Statistics and Comparative and Historical Analysis.	Read: Chapter 11
Week 12	The most rapidly growing area of research is the evaluation of social intervention.	Read: Chapter 12
Week 13	Qualitative data analysis is the nonnumerical assessment of observations made through participant observation, content analysis, and interviews. Goal Attainment Scaling	Read: Chapter 13
Week 14	Social data are converted to numerical form for statistical analysis	Read: Chapter 14
Week 15	Social research is useless unless it is communicated effectively to others	Read: Chapter 15

Final Exam: Go to http://www.uncp.edu/registrar/calendars/exam_fall.htm for exam schedule

Procedures: Lectures and class discussion, role-playing games and related active learning class activities, occasional audio-visuals and guest speakers.

Required Texts: Babbie, Earl, (2011) The Basics of Social Research. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

About Computer Usage: Students are required to have an email account to submit and receive assignments. Students may apply for an account on Snappy (name of our computer) at no cost. Merely complete the "New User Account" form found at http://www.uncp.edu/ucis/accounts/. To use and check email, go to http://webmail.uncp.edu/.

Assignment: Due dates will be decided on first day of class.
1. Review ONE article from the approved list. Direct access to printed articles is available. If you have an article you would prefer to review, show it to the professor on the second day of class. Each article must be review by using the approved outline. An example of how a final product should look is also available. Students will give an oral report and the written copy must be in the hands of the professor during the oral report. Papers will be submitted to the professor in order that he review it during the oral presentation. Due date February 7.
2. A research proposal is required for this course. A research proposal is defined as a document that describes the design, schedule and budget for conducting a research project. The paper should be 10 to 20 pages long (excluding title and abstract page). Attached is an outline that students are required to follow. Due date April 18.
3. Avoid submitting a late assignment
4. Powerpoints and Handouts for this class.

Cell Phone Policy: Students are not permitted to conduct phone conversations during class time. Students are not permitted to have cell ring during class time. Students who use conduct a phone conversation or allow their phones to ring during class time will be drop 10 points on the next quiz or 5 points for their final exam.

Attendance Policy

Attendance and class participation are critical to the learning and integration of materials. Students are therefore encouraged to be mindful of absences and make every effort to be in attendance. Students are expected to have read assigned material prior to the class. Students are also expected to participate in class discussion, exercises, “minute” papers, and any Blackboard discussions that may be announced. Students are considered in attendance only if present for the entire class. Arriving late or leaving early is disruptive will be dealt with by the instructor. Attendance will be used as a criterion in determining the final grade. (Present 1 point; Tardy 1/2 point; Not present 0 points) For more details see “Class Attendance” in The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. WARNING: At the end of the semester, I do not negotiate changes in the manner in which I record Not present or Tardy. Students must review their record on the problematic day. For example, if a student attends class but is tardy, one is well-advised to check to make sure that the professor use a tardy marker rather than an absent.

Grading Components Scale:

A 92-100	B 82-86	C 72-76	D 62-66
A- 90-91	B- 80-81	C- 70-71	D- 60-61
B+ 87-89	C+ 77-79	D+ 67-69	F 0-59

Grading Components: Attendance 5%; Quizzes 20%; Article Review 10%; Research Paper 25%; Final Exam 40%

Honor Code
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice does not permit plagiarism Plagiarism constitutes projecting the an image that someone else's idea is your idea OR someone else's words are your words. You may also get help from University Writing Center hours during the spring semester are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. For an appointment, stop by the Writing Center, Dial 131, call 910.521.6168, or email writing@uncp.edu. Students must review the UNCP Academic Honor Code. This hot link will be reviewed on the first day of class.

Students With Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Mary Helen Walker, Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695.

When Blackboard is down: Occasionally, the technology for online doesn't work as it should. During the last year, I have experienced a great deal of problems sending and receiving email. If you email me and do not get a reply with 2 working days (weekends don't count), there is a good chance either, I never received your email or you never received my reply. If you believe that this has happened to you, stop by my office. Don't rely on voice mail.

Bibliography: The only bibliography for this course can be found in the assignment section.