CORCOM300 SOCIAL RESEARCH SYLLABUS
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Instructor Information |
Course Description |
Objectives |
Assignments |
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Text and Readings |
Requirements and Expectations |
Course Evaluation |
Student Code |
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Disability Accommodation |
Discussions |
Physical Office Hours |
Getting Help |
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: William Holmes; Welcome to Social Research Video
Physical Office: W4-144/09, Physical Office Hours: M, 10:00-11:15, 4:00-5:00; T, 10:00-11:15; W, 3:00-4:00
Phone: 287-7328, FAX: 287-7274
E-mail: william.holmes@umb.edu; Website: http://www.faculty.umb.edu/william_holmes/
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will examine social research methodology to understand how research is done and what differentiates good research from bad. Experience in research will be provided during the term. Students will define a research topic, develop sampling and measurement procedures, prepare and summarize data, examine the use of computers for research, interpret findings, and critique the research of others.
OBJECTIVES
This course will provide students with experience in designing, interpreting, and critiquing research. Students will gain competency in: developing research questions; measuring variables; sampling; choosing research designs; analyzing and interpreting data; and critiquing and the results of research. This instructional activity also fulfills the social research requirement of CPCS.
TEXT AND READINGS
Adler & Clark, How It’s Done. 4rd edition. Thompson/Wadsworth Publications.
REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
There will be one online class meeting per week. It will be an asynchronous chat in which students may ask questions about research or discuss issues of that week’s topic. Students must participate in at least two chats during the semester. Each is worth one point.
Discussions
There are twelve discussion threads posted. Students must participate in at least seven discussion threads. This involves answering the questions that are asked in a given week and in commenting on the response of at least one other person. If you are the first person to respond to a discussion thread, you are exempt from commenting on the response of others. Discussions are worth four points.
Assignments
There are five assignments to be turned in. Assignments are posted on the course website. The assignments will address preparation of a problem statement, samples, measures, data description, and research critiquing. Students are expected to submit a critique of a research article at the end of the class. Assignments are worth ten points.
There are 100 points maximum. Grades will be based on a 100 point scale, with adjustments based on the difficulty of the assignments.
COURSE EVALUATION
Students who satisfactorily complete all assignments and participate in at least seven discussions and two chats will meet all requirements for the competency. Students that do not complete all assignments or who do not participate in the minimum number of discussions will receive no points for the missing assignments, chats, or discussions. Discussions and assignments will be assessed on content and delivery. Content will be evaluated on accuracy and completeness or the requested discussion. Delivery will be based on clarity, timeliness, and logical consistency of the arguments. Assignments will also have delivery evaluated based on adherence to APA formatting.
All students are expected to attend class and participate in discussions. Plagiarism is forbidden. Students with a disability who need an accommodation are encouraged to discuss this with the instructor.
STUDENT CODE
Students are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct for the University of Massachusetts at Boston. This includes prohibitions against plagiarism, disrupting classes, or harassing or intimidating other students.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION
Students who have a disability for which they wish an accommodation are encouraged to discuss this with the instructor. Such discussions will be held confidential. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate a student’s disability.
GETTING HELP
Help links for accessing Blackboard are available on the Blackboard login page. If a student has a problem not resolved by use of the links, he or she is encouraged to notify the instructor at william.holmes@umb.edu. He can also be reached by phone during his physical office hours at 617-287-7328.
CLASS CALENDAR
Week Topic
1 Overview. Uses, and Process of research. Readings: A&C, chap. 1.
ASSIGNMENTS ONE AND TWO RELEASED.
2 Ethics of Research. A&C, chap. 3
3 Problem Formulation. Literature Review and Problem Statement. Readings: A&C, chap. 4, Appendix E (2nd edition) or Appendix C .
4 Research Design and Causal Inference. Readings: A&C, chap. 2.
PROBLEM STATEMENT ASSIGNMENT DUE.
5 Sampling. Readings: A&C, chap. 5.
6 Measurement. Readings: A&C chap 6.
7 Survey Designs. Readings: A&C, chapd. 7 and 9. SAMPLING ASSIGNMENT DUE
8 Field Research. Readings: A&C, chaps. 10 and 11.
9 Experiments: Readings: A&C chap. 8. MEASURMENT ASSIGNMENT DUE.
10 Computers, Data Design and Preparation. Readings: A&C, chap. 12.
11 Data Description. Readings: A&C t, chap 15.
12 Examining Relationships. Readings: A&C, chap. 14 DATA DESCRIPTION ASSIGNMENT DUE
13 Inferences from Data and Report Writing. Readings: A&C, Appendix C (4th edition) or Appendix A (3rd edition).
ASSIGNMENT SEVEN (Research Critique) DUE.
ASSIGNMENT ONE: PROBLEM STATEMENT
Choose a topic or problem in your major. Write a short problem statement (3-5 pages, excluding a reference page). APA style format is required. Links are on the instructional web site on APA formatting. Use subheadings to separate problem definition, importance and relevance of the study, and conceptual framework and literature. See that the problem statement includes the following elements.
Definition of the Problem
A concise statement of the problem you are proposing to study. Define any concepts used that might be unclear. Give an example if necessary to clarify what problem you are studying.
Importance of the Problem and Relevance of the Research
Justify the problem as an important issues. Explain how it is every severe, extensive, or why it matters in some way. Provide documentation (literature citation or statistics) if available.
Describe: 1) how your research will refine, revise, and extend existing criminal justice or other knowledge, and 2) how your research will contribute to policy and program operation. You may also cite publications that call for research addressing this issue.
Literature
Discuss: 1) prior research, theory, opinions, or practice that relates to the problem, 2) facts included must contain a citation of their source. Direct quotations must have a page citation. 3) your conclusions about what needs to be studied based on the literature. The references must contain at least five (5) professional research citations.
Conceptual Framework
Summarize the conceptual framework you will use. This means restating:
1. The research question or hypotheses that will focus your study. You must have an explicit research question or hypothesis.
2. A statement of the most important variables contained in your hypothesis or question.
References
At least five professional research references in some recognized format are required. Media, journalistic, or non-professional sources do not count toward the five sources unless there are no other types of sources at all. A full bibliographical reference must be provided.
Competency will be evaluated or grades will be assigned on how clearly and specifically you define the problem, discuss its importance, justify the importance of the research, cite relevant literature, and provide a conceptual framework and complete references for your citations.
Writing Portfolio Use
Students who wish to use this paper in their writing portfolio are responsible for assuring that their paper meets the portfolio criteria.