SOC/CRJ 3610: Social Research, Spring, 2016 --  ONLINE, WRITING ENRICHED

 Professor: Stephen M. Marson, Ph.D., ACSW

Office: NO Office    Inclement weather: (910) 521-6888

Office Hours:  Available by appointment on Skype  910 738-9522

 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.  This course is a writing enhanced course. 

 

Academic Honor Code Course Competencies Grading Procedures
Assignments Course Reading Assignments Handouts & PowerPoints Religion Policy
Attendance Policy Disabilities How I grade papers Required text
Blackboard Dropping Key Points Technical Support
Computers Final Exam Late Assignments Tutoring

Course Competencies

 Overview

1.    As a Writing Enhanced Course students will gain experience in the employment of strategic writing skills which meets the expectations of graduates from sociology and criminal justice.

2.   Gain insights into the groundwork associated with thinking about social research methods.

 3. Understand the relationship between theory and research and the degree to which natural science approach is an acceptable framework to study social science.

 4. Understand the fundamentals of social research design with emphasis placed on survey research, case study research and experimental designs.

 5. Comprehend the "research question" in conjunction with the uniquely suited research design.

 6. Will be able to complete a review of literature.

 7. Will comprehend research ethics.

 Quantitative Methods

 8. Understand the components of quantitative methods including but not limited to: sampling; data collection (interviewing, instrument construction, structure observations and content analysis).

 9. Understand the non-technical aspects of selecting a method of analysis.

 10. Will understand how computers are used in data analysis (Excel will be emphasized).

Qualitative Methods

 11. Understand the components of qualitative methods including but not limited to: subject selection, document selection and unit of analysis.

 12. Comprehend ethnography, participant observation, semi-structured & unstructured interviewing, focus groups, conversation & discourse analysis, and document examination.

 13. Understand the diverse research methods available for qualitative analysis.

 14. Will understand how computers are used in data analysis.

Comparisons of Methods

 15. Will comprehend the differences between qualitative and quantitative methods.

 16. Will understand the uses of the Internet for the social sciences.

 

Course Outline and Reading Assignments:

Topic

Requirements

DATES: Modules on Blackboard
READ ME FIRST! Overview of course. Assignments are laid out. We will explore ways in which social research is located in a wider context which will demonstrate why social research is complete in a particular manner. Much of what is addressed is an overview of the entire course. The goal is to gain ground work for the rest of the course. Watch video and schedule a time an interview in order to write individualize proposal via skype. Also get technical support.  The interview will save you a huge amount of time later. Make sure to have your computer on during the interview. Due: August 19, 2015
Tab labelled READ ME FIRST!

This is a Writing Enriched course.   However, it is important for you to realize that course requirements have never changed.   The writing requirements have not changed.

We are going to begin the course with the most challenging section:  The Review of Literature.  Once you complete that, the rest of the course will be easy.

First, you need to quickly read chapter 1 and review the powerpoint which goes with it:
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch01.ppt
Do not spend a great deal of time on chapter 1. 

Next you need to know how to find material in the library.  You can find a presentation at: http://www2.uncp.edu/home/alewine/crj_soc_3610/

Chapters 1 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

Module 1
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: August 23, noon

Writing a review of literature. Part 2

Chapter 4 and 5 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

Module 2
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: August 22, noon

Writing a review of literature. Part 3
The most difficult aspect of writing a review of literature is organizing it. 
Try to use one of the strategies within the article to organize your review of literature. Your grade will depend on it. Insert your review of literature for your research proposal in the outline that is provided on your syllabus.  This outline can be found at http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610paper.html Submit your paper to steve.marson@uncp.edu and upload it to SafeAssignment in "1st Draft."  Lated papers will be dropped a letter grade.

Read the article at: http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610reviewlit1.html
see review of literature at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q that will help you organize your review of literature which is the hardest part of writing the  paper.

Submit the Review of Literature

Module 3
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: September 4, noon
Late papers will be dropped a letter grade

Sampling

After completing module 2, you are prepared to write the section on your proposal entitled: Discussion of Sample Survey Between one and three paragraphs -- not to go over one page.  Describe how you derived your sample.  In the number of subjects, etc.  Use your SOC/CRJ 3610 textbook for labeling your sample type.  Thus, your textbook (Chapter 8) MUST be used as a citation within this section. Submit your paper to steve.marson@uncp.edu and upload it to SafeAssignment in "2nd Draft."  Lated papers will be dropped a letter grade.

Chapter 8 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch08.ppt
video entitle Sampling at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q  

Submit the Discussion of Sample Survey

Module 4 
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: September 9, noon
Late papers will be dropped a letter grade

Reliablity and Validity.
After completing module 2, you are prepared to write the section on your proposal entitled Questionnaire.  Between one and three paragraphs -- not to go over one page.  Explain how you constructed questionnaire, instrument or survey.   You may look at other questionnaire.  If you find a questionnaire that someone wrote, you may use it.   A listing of books in that library can be found by clicking here!  Students are required to use Survey Monkey.  See the video to learn how to use Survey Monkey.  If you have experience using Survey Monkey, students can immediately go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurvey_Wizard.aspx.   To gain experience using real data, all students will be required to complete each student's measurement tool. 

Submit your paper to steve.marson@uncp.edu and upload it to SafeAssignment in "3rd Draft."  Lated papers will be dropped a letter grade.

Chapters 7, 10 and 11

submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch07.ppt

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch10.ppt

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch11.ppt

Videos:
a. Reliability and Validity
b. How Results can be Misleading: Reliability & Validity 

Module 5
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: September 16, noon
Write and submit the Summary, Introduction and abstract Module 6
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: September 20, noon
Entire proposal submitted after , noon will be dropped a letter grade.
Make sure you follow the outline at: http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610paper.html
 See: http://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html Module 7
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline October 15, noon

Research Strategies & Designs. Understand the relationship between theory and research. Operationalization (or operationalize) means transferring and idea (concept) into a measurable form (variable). Know the difference beween deductive and inductive.  Compare aulitative and qualtitative research methods. Know thedifferences among Exploratory, Descriptive and Explanatory Research.

Chapter 2 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch02.ppt
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610researchtheory.pdf   
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610INDE.pdf  

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/Qualitative.ppt

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/purposes-of-research-exploratory-descriptive-explanatory.html#lesson

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q and watch the video entitled How to Read and Understand a Research Study.

Module 8
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: before December 4 noon

Make sure to understand the difference between experiment validity and measurement validity.  They are NOT the same thing.  In terms of experimental validity, it is critical to understand the difference between internal and external validity.   Your book gives the best explanations. Make sure that you understand the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. 

Chapter 3 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch03.ppt  

 http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/GoodExper.ppt  will help to understand chapter 3.

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3610_Longitudinal.html  will help!

http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610casestudyoutline.pdf  will help.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q and watch the videos entitled "How Results can be misleading: Problems in Experimental Designs" and "Research Design: Observational and Correlation Studies."

Module 9
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: before December 4 noon

Ethical issue arise at variety of stage in social research. A NOVA film entitled Do Scientists Cheat? will be used as a basis for discussion and analysis. You'll be tested on your knowledge from the videos.

Chapter 6 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

The films are available on YouTube. An old but very important citation:

An old but very important citation: Environment, Heredity And Intelligence. Reprint Series No. 2.

Module 10
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: before December 4 noon
Quantitative data anlysis
There are 4 members in the family of Measures of Central Tendency (Averages).  Know them and make sure you can do the math.  Non-technical.
Read Chapter 15 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch15.ppt
They are:
The Mean: http://www.animatedsoftware.com/statglos/sgmean.htm
The Median: http://www.animatedsoftware.com/statglos/sgmedian.htm
 The Mode: http://www.animatedsoftware.com/statglos/sgmode.htm
The Harmonic Mean: http://mathworld.wolfram.com/HarmonicMean.html (used for factions)
The Geometric Mean see: http://www.aboutscotland.com/harmony/prop5.html (used for rates like interest rates at a bank)
Module 11
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline:  before December 4 noon
Overview of Quantitative Research
Emphasis on words rather than numbers.
Chapter 17 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

Review the Powerpoint at http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch17.ppt

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q and watch the video entitled Qualitative Methods and take notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWb-M4rnxlY and take notes.

Module 12
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: before December 4 noon
Focus Groups
Among Qualitative Methods, Focus Groups are held in the highest esteem and you are likely to be involved in conducting a focus group after you graduate.
Chapter 21 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu

Powerpoint at http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch21.ppt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2Eo1ggkjc and take notes.

Here is an example of research that used a focus group: http://www.marson-and-associates.com/syllabi/3000churners.pdf

Module 13
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: before December 4 noon

Breaking Down Q and Q!

 Chapter 26 submit notes to steve.marson@uncp.edu
http://www.marson-and-associates.com/Powerpoints/3610/brymansrm4e_ch26.pp

Module 14
Start: August 19, 2015
Deadline: December 4 noon
Go to test tab and take the "End of Grade Exam" "End of Grade Exam" Module 15
Deadline: December 4 noon

 

*Although we have starting dates, students may begin the module before the starting date!

Key Issues: On iTunes -- which can be found on Blackboard -- is a series of instructional films.   Students are required to watch each film and submit the assignment (mostly by email). There are NO required public posting of student work.  The instructor will NOT retain of students' work.  This includ discussion board material.

Final Exam: Go to  for exam schedule: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/opportunities-programs-resources/academic-resources/registrar/university-academic-calendars-and-exam-schedules/2014-spring-exam-schedule
Since this is a 3 hour class, the above schedule affords this class to two different exams times.   On the first day of class, the students voted for Monday at 1:30 PM.

 

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

 

Required Texts: Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. NY: Oxford University Press.

 

About Computer Usage: Students are required to have an email account to submit and receive assignments.  All students receive an email account from the university at the point of application. Student email addresses are all of the form that ends in @bravemail.uncp.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to check his or her university supplied email account in order to stay current with university communications. Following admission, his or her UNCP email account will be closed after the first regular semester in which he or she is not enrolled.    Students are encouraged to store and backup all their assignments on the space of the server that is allocated to them.   By following directions found at http://www.uncp.edu/student-life/student-services/information-technology/help-desk/faqs/emailconnectivity/download-and-install-filezilla-client  (download Fillzilla), students can save and upback all their material from any location off campus.  

 

Assignments: Due dates are listed on the course outline.

Task

Purpose

Grade Basis

Proportion

See information within the MODULES

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 17 to 20 pages long (excluding title and abstract page).   The required outline can be found by clicking the hot link.  Must be written in the following order (these headings must be included in the paper):

  1. Review of Literature

  2. Discussion of Sample Survey

  3. Questionnaire

  4. Results and Findings

  5. Summary

  6. Introduction and Abstract

  7. Reference (drop letter grade if incorrect)

  8. Appendix

Apply and practice research skills.

Research Proposal

Rubric and Blackboard SafeAssignment

70% of total grade

  1. Review of Literature  45%

  2. Discussion of Sample Survey 10%

  3. Questionnaire 20%

  4. Results and Findings 15%

  5. Summary 5%

  6. Introduction and Abstract  2.5% each

See information within the MODULES

Notes on the chapters

Demonstrate level of knowledge from text, lectures and assignments.

Answers to items will be assessed individually

30%

 

EOG

Required for SACS

Answers to items will be assessed individually

0

 

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be addressed by the deadlines for the assignments. 

 

Grading Components Scale:  For more information how grades valued in percentages see: Assignments

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

 

Students with Disabilities: Federal laws require UNCP to accommodate students with documented learning, physical, chronic health, psychological, visual or hearing disabilities.   In post-secondary school settings, academic accommodations are not automatic; to receive accommodations, students must make a formal request and must supply documentation from a qualified professional to support that request.Students who believe they qualify must contact the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) in DF Lowry Building, Room 107 or call 910-521-6695 to begin the accommodation process. All discussions remain confidential.  Accommodations cannot be provided retroactively. More information for students about the services provided by ARC and the accommodation process may be found at the following link:  http://www.uncp.edu/arc

 

Religion Statement: The University of North Carolina at Pembroke has a legal and moral obligation to accommodate all students who must be absent from classes or miss scheduled exams in order to observe religious holidays; we must be careful not to inhibit or penalize these students for exercising their rights to religious observance.    To accommodate students’ religious holidays, each student will be allowed two excused absences each semester with the following conditions:

 1.      Students, who submit written notification to their instructors within two weeks of the beginning of the semester, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy day of their faith.  Excused absences are limited to two class sessions (days) per semester. 

2.      Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up tests or other work missed due to an excused absence for a religious observance.

3.      Students  should not  be penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances.  

A student who is to be excused from class for a religious observance is not required to provide a second-party certification of the reason for the absence.   Furthermore, a student who believes that he or she has been unreasonably denied an education benefit due to religious beliefs or practices may seek redress through the student grievance procedure.  

 

Office of Academic Excellence

Tutoring  is available by subject with peer tutors who show proficiency in courses and have been trained in effective tutoring strategies.  The tutoring sessions can host up to five students per session.  To get the most effective results students should sign up for tutoring as soon as possible.  Students should also come to tutoring sessions with specific questions prepared regarding course material.  The more consistent the attendance to tutoring sessions, the better students will understand the material and perform at a higher level in class.  Sign up for tutoring in the Center for Academic Excellence office.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is available to assigned classes that present historically difficult material.  An SI Leader is an upperclassman, model student who has taken the course and shown proficiency, and has been trained in effective Supplemental Instruction leadership strategies.  An SI Leader is assigned to the course to attend all lecture sessions and host at least three study sessions per week for students to attend voluntarily.  SI sessions will provide supplemental material for students to use to improve their understanding of the course material.  SI sessions also provide an opportunity for students to ask questions, and gain insight from their classmates.  Students are encouraged to attend as frequently as possible to review the class material consistently.  The more frequent the attendance at SI Sessions, the better students will understand the material and perform in class.

The Resource Learning Lab offers computer based, self-paced tutoring in basic writing skills from composing sentences, paragraphs, and essays, to addressing common writing problems, basic reading comprehension, and word problem dissection.  These programs are 4 – 8 weeks long and offer non-credit, collectable test performance data on each student during their progression through our programs. The Resource Learning Lab also offers tutoring that improves academic study skills through self-help DVD’s, such as Values and Goals, Time Management, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving, Active Listening and Note-Taking, Researching, Reading and Writing, and Studying and Test-Taking.  These programs are designed to enhance college-level reading comprehension and writing skills, and to improve the areas where students find they have deficiencies.  The Resource Learning Lab is available to all students, whether right out of high school or non-traditional students needing a refresher.

 
T
echnical Support This is the first time I have taught this course on Blackboard.  If you need to talk to me on the phone or Skype, please do so.  However, I cannot change the deadlines. Problems with online material, connection with the Internet contact the DoIT Help Desk at 910 521-6260910  or  helpdesk@uncp.edu or you may go to their webpage at http://www.uncp.edu/student-life/student-services/information-technology/students/doit-student-welcome-packet/doit-helpdesk

If you have problems with the videos, read the following:Visit the iTunes U login page athttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1k_DkCGCZcHuvUjm3WdF-Q.  Be sure to click the Log In link and login using the same username and password you use for Bb, email, etc.  After logging in, a popup window will appear which will automatically open iTunes on your computer and take you to the UNCP iTunes U site. If needed, click the appropriate semester icon and you will see the classes that you are enrolled in.  Click the desired course and you will see a list of class videos which you can download or stream directly from iTunes.  To download individually, click the "Get" button to the right of each video. To download all the tracks, click the "Get Tracks" button next to the UNCP Logo on the top left.  After downloading, you can play the video on any computer or sync the video to your mobile devices.  To stream the video without downloading, simply double click on the name of the desired video and after a few seconds the video should begin. If you have any problems please call the UNCP HelpDesk at 910-521-6260.

Blackboard Usage:  Explorer version 8 does not function well with Blackboard.  As a result, the computer staff recommend that student use Firefox .  If you do not have these browsers on your desktop, download them now.   Both browsers are free and the hotlinks are provided on this syllabus.