Syllabus, Fall 2006

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Department of Sociology
Fall, 2006
(revised Sept. 15, 2006)

Soc. 920:311:04-05, Introduction to Social Research (MTh1, MTh2*)

Prof. Patricia Roos; TA: Anna Forster

Offices: Roos: Rm. A342, Lucy Stone Hall (Livingston campus); phone: (732) 445-5848
Forster: Rm. A257, Lucy Stone Hall (Livingston campus)

Office hrs: Roos: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 (or by appointment)
Forster: Mondays 11-12; Tuesdays 12-1 (or by appointment)

This course will present an overview of social scientific methods--that is, the process whereby researchers in the behavioral and social sciences investigate theoretically-informed hypotheses about the behavior of individuals and the organization of social institutions. We will address the major components of the research process, including the development of theoretically informed hypotheses, the operationalization of theoretical concepts, the collection of data, the testing of hypotheses through data analysis, and the presentation of research results. Through class discussions, readings, and assignments, you will gain expertise in the practice of social science research. You will develop the skills necessary to read and evaluate social science research in an intelligent and critical manner, learn statistical data analysis, and discuss the ethics of social research. You will use the web to do research, and you will test hypotheses on a representative sample of the U.S. population in 2004 (General Social Survey).

Note: you must have a Rutgers computer account for this class. If you don't have an account, it's time to get one!

There is one required book for this course, available at the Livingston College bookstore:

Chambliss, Daniel F., and Russell K. Schutt
2006. Making Sense of the Social World: Methods of Investigation. Second edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

Additional readings are (or will be) available online, as per the course outline below (see section VI below).

a. attendance at lecture twice each week (MTh1); we will take attendance; anyone with more than two unexcused absences for the course will automatically drop a grade (e.g., A to B+)

b. attendance at scheduled recitation section (either M2* or TH2*); this is a 4-credit course, and you must attend recitations to pass the course; we will take attendance (ditto above);

c. first examination (20 percent; tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 12th);

d. second examination (20 percent; tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 9th);

e. six assignments that require application of the techniques learned in class; these assignments will be available online on a regular basis; one of the assignments will involve class presentations; late assignments will be penalized (1/2 point each day they are late) and those not turned in within one week of due date are still required but will not be graded (40 percent);

Tentative due dates:
Ass. 1, online 9/7, due 9/18
Ass. 2, online 9/18, due 10/2
Ass. 3, online 10/2, due 10/9
Ass. 4, online 10/16, due 10/26
Ass. 5, online 10/26, due 11/16 (panels 1&2), 11/20 (panels 3&4), 11/21 (panel 5)
Ass. 6, online 11/21, due 12/7

f. a final project involving hypothesis construction, data analysis, and presentation of research results that builds on the written assignments; selection of topics will be based on data available from a representative sample of the U.S. population in 2004 (20 percent; due Thursday, December 14th).

g. class participation will be taken into account for those who are on the borderline between grades (e.g., B to a B+; C+ to B).

The two examinations will be open book and will consist of both short essays and problems. You will need a calculator that allows for scientific notation for the two exams and for some of the assignments. There are NO makeups for the two examinations without a WRITTEN excuse from your physician.

NOTE: ALL course requirements must be completed to get a C grade or higher in the course.

This year, I'm involved in an interview project on how class and race/ethnic groups vary in how they integrate their work and family lives. I will allow up to five students to integrate their course work with this research project. To participate in this opportunity, you must contact me prior to October 1st. For additional details and requirements, see this description. Note that this opportunity is probably most useful for those contemplating graduate studies in sociology, and will be more of a time commitment than the traditional route of secondary data analysis of GSS data.

You must attend class sessions and recitations and participate in discussions. You will not pass this course if you do not attend class and recitations regularly. Assigned readings should be completed prior to class meetings to facilitate class discussion, and you should come to class prepared to ask questions about the lectures, assignments, and/or reading material.

Because unforeseen circumstances may require changes in the assigned readings, the course outline, or examination dates, you are responsible not only for due dates specified in the syllabus, but also for any handouts or announcements made in class. Please let me or the TA know if you must miss class for a religious holiday or major medical issue, and we will ensure that you can make up the material.

You are encouraged to consult with the instructor and/or teaching assistant about any problems you may encounter with lectures, reading material, or class assignments. Do not wait until the class is almost over before coming in for assistance. Remember: If you are a Sociology major or minor (or a Criminal Justice major) you must get at least a C in this course to have it count toward your degree.

This course will be conducted in full accordance with the university's "Policy on Academic Integrity." Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) quoting or paraphrasing without attribution; submitting work for more than one course without the instructor's permission; copying from, or assisting, other students on exams; plagiarizing major portions of assignments; using a purchased paper; presenting other's work as your own; altering a graded exam; theft of exams. [For the complete policy, click here.]

We will not accept any exams, assignments, or papers from student involved in dishonest behavior, and we are required to report such students to their college dean. Because grades in this course will be based on a curve, students engaging in dishonest behavior hurt all students. As the Policy on Academic Integrity states: "Students are responsible for knowing what the standards [for academic integrity] are and for adhering to them. Students should also bring any violations of which they are aware to the attention of their instructors."

I. Introduction to Social Science Inquiry (Sept. 7-11)
A. The scientific method
B. Theory and method
C. Deduction and induction

II. The Research Process (Sept. 14-18)
A. Research design
B. Variables and variation
C. Units of analysis
D. Ecological fallacy
E. Conceptualization, operationalization, measurement
F. Reliability and validity

III. Association and the Logic of Causation (Sept. 21-28)
A. Association vs. causality
B. Cause and effect
C. Determinism
D. The elaboration paradigm

IV. Testing Causal Hypotheses: Qualitative Research (Oct. 2-9)
A. Field research
B. Roles of observers
C. Sampling and data collection

V. Testing Causal Hypotheses: The Classic Experiment (Oct. 16-23)
A. Independent and dependent variables
B. Experimental and control groups
C. Quasi-experimental designs

VI. Testing Causal Hypotheses: Survey Research (Oct. 26-Nov. 6)
A. The logic of sampling
1. Concepts and terminology
2. Sampling theory and sampling distribution
3. Sampling design

VII. Ethics in Social Science Research (Nov. 13-21)
A. Ethics in the research process
B. The politics and use of social research

Readings: Reread ethics sections in Chs. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Rutgers Policy on Human Subjects Research (read in its entirety)
(additional readings online for class presentations; see Assignment 5, when available)

VIII. Data Analysis: The Empirical Testing of Research Hypotheses (Nov. 27-Dec. 11)
A. Descriptive statistics: univariate analysis; measures of central tendency and dispersion
B. Descriptive statistics: bivariate analysis, chi square

FINAL PAPER: Thursday, Dec. 14th, in Rm. A-342 Lucy Stone Hall (put under the door)