Sociology
4395
Fall
2003
Monday
4:30-7 PM
Sara Horsfall,
Ph.D.
Dan Waggoner
Annex, 3008 Avenue D
Phone:
531-4264
Email: shorsfall@txwes.edu
http://www.txwesleyan.edu/sciology/
Office Hours:
Mon 1:30 AM - 4:30 PM, 7-8 PM
Tues 10:30 – 1:30 PM (except first Tues of the month
3:30-5:30 PM)
Thurs 4 – 7 PM,
Sat 12 - 2 PM (Track B)
Text: The
Basics of Social Research by Earl Babbie, Wadsworth - Thompson Learning, 2002.
Objectives: This course
introduces the student to basic concepts and skills needed to conduct and
understand social research. Upon completion of the course the student should be
able to design a research project, including the selection of the appropriate
data collection method, selection of appropriate sample, evaluation of the
research concepts, and analysis of the collected data. The student should also
be able to read and understand published research papers in the social
sciences.
Grades: Quizes and Class Assignments 25%
Midterm 25%
Final 25%
Research Project 25%
Exams
and quizes will cover assigned readings and class lectures and discussion. Make
up examinations will be given only for officially excused absences.
Final
grades will be based on the following scale – A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79,
D = 60-69, F = 59 or below. A final grade of A signifies that the student has
excelled in this course, going beyond the expected requirements. A final grade
of B signifies that the student has mastered all the concepts, has a working
knowledge of what it means to do sociological research as demonstrated in the
tests, the project and class discussions. A final grade of C signifies that the
student’s understanding of the subject matter is acceptable. A final grade of D
signifies that the student is familiar with the subject matter, but may not
understand or recall some important ideas. A final grade of F signifies that
the student has not mastered the material of this course.
1. Publisher Study Site: The publisher has a
site devoted to material related to the textbook, including an online quiz. Go
to: http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&discipline_number=25&product_isbn_issn=0534519040
2. West
Library http://library.txwes.edu
You need to
have a current ID card issued at the Front Desk of the Library.
Click on iLINK
3. Sociology Virtual Library: Web links for this course can be found on the Sociology Virtual Library. http://www.txwesleyan.edu/sociology/library.html
4. Sample
Paper: “Campus Crime and Safety
of Students at Texas Wesleyan University” by Daniel Gonzales http://www.txwesleyan.edu/futurestudent/CrimeonCampus.htm
5. Web page
for this course. You will find the syllabus, notes, and important links
there. Also updates about the course
will be posted there. Please check it regularly. http://web.txwesleyan.edu/sociology/horsfall/Methods.html
6.
Additional Internet Sites
The following are some that
you might want to refer to when analyzing census data.
·
US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/
·
US Census Bureau News http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/news.html
·
US Census Bureau
Rankings, Comparisons and Summaries. This page includes ranking tables,
historical comparisons, summary data, and Census Briefs and Special Reports.
These are Census 2000 data products not currently searchable through American
FactFinder. http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
·
US Census Bureau News
Releases http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000.html
·
Overview of Race and
Hispanic Origin (US Census) http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf
·
Texas State Data Center
http://txsdc.tamu.edu/
·
Census 2000 Student
Guide (to download) http://www.wadsworth.com/sociology_d/census.html
·
Population and Society
Course Page http://web.txwesleyan.edu/sociology/horsfall/Population.html
Procedures: The class
will consist of lecture, discussion, individual research and personal assistance
in preparing a research presentation. Every attempt will be made to help the
student master the material, including the use of various teaching aids and
materials. During the course of the semester, students will analyze written
studies, do practice analysis, compose a survey, analyze existing surveys,
download a data set, and prepare a research presentation.
Discussion
and questions are encouraged. A free flow of ideas is essential to a college
education. No student should hesitate to express him/herself for fear of being
wrong. All ideas are valuable and all contributions are welcome.
Respect
is an essential element of academic discussion and interaction between students
and between instructor and students. Prejudice, resentment and other hostilities
are not a part of academic behavior. Disagreements can be settled by
clarification of the issues, reference to Texas Wesleyan University guidelines,
and amicable discussion between parties. Agreeing to disagree is an acceptable
academic resolution.
Class
attendance is expected and absences will affect your final grade. Leaving the
class early will also be noted and could affect your final grade. More than two
unexcused, successive absences could result in a drop by the instructor. If for
some reason – legitimate or not – you miss a deadline, or are continuously
absent from class but intend to continue, please notify the instructor as soon
as possible. Disastrous situations can sometimes be salvaged, albeit not
without consequences.
Students
absent for whatever reason are responsible for all material, including
announcements, that they missed.
Anyone
caught cheating on a test or quiz will receive a zero for that paper.
Anyone
guilty of plagiarism will receive a zero on that assignment. Plagiarism is
copying someone else’s writing and claiming that it is your own. This includes
ANY AND ALL material from the Internet, papers of other students,material from
the text or any other book.
No
late papers will be accepted.
Students
with questions or complaints about anything having to do with the course are
encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss the situation.
Misunderstanding and inadvertent human error – on the part of the student or
the instructor – can cause unnecessary problems. The easiest solution is
informal discussion. No concern is too small to be addressed.
Students
are encouraged to use common sense when approaching the course procedures and
grading. Evaluation is based on expressed knowledge. Instructors cannot presume
you know something if it is not explained. If the course material is difficult,
it is not unusual for a student to receive a low grade for new material early
in the semester. It is not an evaluation of the student’s ability to perform or
an indication of the course grade.
Every
attempt is made to judge and grade all students fairly. Please note, however,
that a portion of the final grade rests on the subjective judgment of the
instructor. If you feel this assessment is in error, you may appeal to the
instructor with evidence to support your reasoning. Further grade appeals must
go through the procedure outlined in the University catalog.
Students
should read the current Texas Wesleyan University Catalog and Student Handbook
to become familiar with University policies. This includes but is not limited
to grade appeal, sexual harassment, student access to records, and others;
policies specified in the current catalog are applicable unless otherwise
stated in this syllabus.
Texas
Wesleyan University adheres to a disability policy which is in keeping with
relevant federal law. The University will provide appropriate accommodation as
determined by the Director of Counseling Center, Dr. Michael Ellison. Students
must notify instructors of any permanent or temporary disabilities and must
provide documentation regarding those disabilities prior to the granting of an
accommodation. For assistance, students should consult with Michael Ellison.
Note: Course syllabi are
intended to provide students with basic information concerning the course. The
syllabus can be viewed as a 'blueprint' for the course; changes in the syllabus
can be made and students will be informed of any substantive changes concerning
examinations, the grading or attendance policies and changes in project
assignments.
Inductive-Deductive
Circle
Qualitative-Quantitative
Research
Concepts,
Hypotheses
Operationalization
Paradigms
Correlation
Unit
of analysis
Cross
sectional Study, Longitudinal Study
Trend,
Cohort and Panel Studies
Population
and Sampling
Nominal
and Ordinal measures
Reliability
and validity
Dimensions
Indexes
and Scales
Bogardus, Thurstone, Likert, Semantic
Differential, Guttman Scales
October 6 Literature
Search is Due
The Logic of
Sampling – Chapter 7
Nonprobability
Sampling – Quota, snowball
Random
sampling – systematic, stratified, multistage cluster
Sampling Bias
Questionnaires
– closed ended, open ended, self administered
Mail
surveys, telephone surveys
Response rate
Experimental
and control groups
Pre
and post tests
Double blind
experiment
Solomon four
group design
October 27 Qualitative Field Research -
Chapter 10
Observation,
Content Analysis, Field Observation, Participant
Observation,
Phenomenological Research
Triangulation
Content
Analysis, Historical Comparative analysis
December 1 Final Projects are Due.