Course Content
1. Introduction
a. Science and sociological investigation
b. Theory and explanation in sociological research
c. Ethical issues and social research
d. Social, political and financial constraints of social research
2. The Structure of Social Research
a. Research Design
b. Concepts and variables
c. Measurement
d. Quantitative research
e. Qualitative research
3. Sociological Methods
a. Experiments
b. Surveys
c. Field research – semi-structured interviews, focus groups and observation
d. Unobtrusive research
4. Data Analysis
a. Simple and complex relationships
b. Using statistics and software
c. Analysing qualitative data
d. Writing Research Reports
- Introduction
- Science and sociological investigation
- Theory and explanation in sociological research
- Ethical issues and social research
- Social, political and financial constraints of social research
- The Structure of Social Research
- Research Design
- Concepts and variables
- Measurement
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
- Sociological Methods
- Experiments
- Surveys
- Field research – semi-structured interviews, focus groups and observation
- Unobtrusive research
- Data Analysis
- Simple and complex relationships
- Using statistics and software
- Analysing qualitative data
- Writing Research Reports
Learning Activities
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the
following: a combination of lectures, discussion groups, working groups and seminar presentations. The course
will involve students in the design and implementation of an actual research project on either an individual,
group or class basis.
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: a combination of lectures, discussion groups, working groups and seminar presentations. The course will involve students in the design and implementation of an actual research project on either an individual, group or class basis.
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College
policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
Mid Term 15%
Literature Review 15%
Individual/Group Project 25%
Research Report 25%
Final Exam 20%
Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
| Mid Term |
15% |
| Literature Review |
15% |
| Individual/Group Project |
25% |
| Research Report |
25% |
| Final Exam |
20% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
1. show an understanding of the philosophical, theoretical and ethical issues involved in doing sociological
research
2. distinguish between different sociological approaches to research
3. discuss the practical and policy implications of social research
4. locate and use a variety of research resources
5. evaluate research design and design a simple research project
6. gather data using a variety of different techniques, both qualitative and quantitative
7. provide a simple analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data
8. write a research report.
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- show an understanding of the philosophical, theoretical and ethical issues involved in doing sociological research
- distinguish between different sociological approaches to research
- discuss the practical and policy implications of social research
- locate and use a variety of research resources
- evaluate research design and design a simple research project
- gather data using a variety of different techniques, both qualitative and quantitative
- provide a simple analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data
- write a research report.
Textbook Materials
Texts will be updated periodically. A typical example would be:
Babbie, Earl and Lucia Benaquisto (2014) Fundamentals of Social Research Third Canadian edition Nelson
Education
Texts will be updated periodically. A typical example would be:
- Babbie, Earl and Lucia Benaquisto (2014) Fundamentals of Social Research Third Canadian edition Nelson Education