Drexel University
SOC 250-701
- Research Methods I
Instructor:
Larissa M. Verta
Summer Term 2007
Mondays 6:00 – 8:50 pm
Course Syllabus
Email Address – lmv32@drexel.edu
Office Hours – prior to
or following class (alternate times can be arranged)
Course Description
This course will provide the
student with the fundamentals needed to understand, evaluate, and carry out
social research. Research Methods
I covers research design, including ethics of research, sampling, survey
research, interviewing, field experiments, and content analysis. It involves multidisciplinary examples
and application in seminar format with student production of original projects. This course is the first in a
two-course series in which mastering the material presented in SOC 250 is
essential to understanding the material in SOC 350 (Research Methods II).
Textbook
Babbi, E. (2007). The
Practice of Social Research (11th edition). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
* Accompanying website (http://sociology.wadsworth.com/babbie_practice11e)
includes an array of chapter-specific resources for students including tutorial
practice quizzes, web links, and flashcards.
* Supplementary scholarly journal articles and/or websites
given for review will be provided throughout the course to aid in the learning
of the course objectives.
Methods of Instruction
A variety of teaching
strategies and techniques will be utilized to help students succeed in the
classroom and to develop intellectual depth and critical thinking skills. This instructor will continuously
assess the needs of all students and welcome feedback in terms of the method of
instruction that works best to aid in the learning process. Lecture will be utilized to promote the
understanding of key concepts/course objectives while additional
activities/strategies will be used to promote the application of
concepts/objectives. Students will
be exposed to an array of skill building exercises designed to help students
apply the material learned from the textbook, lecture, and reading
assignments. Class participation
will be mandated from all students.
Active learning formats will be utilized on a regular basis. This includes the assignment of
students to small group formats for discussion and activities.
Academic
Honesty/Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism are
serious ethical violations that will not be tolerated. Plagiarism includes submitting someone
elseÕs work as your own or not appropriately acknowledging, through correct
citation, material you have used from other writers including the World Wide
Web. If caught, a failing grade on
the assignment and/or for the course will occur as well as a letter submitted
to the University Judicial Board.
For more information, please go to http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/policies/student_handbook_03_04.html.
(Judicial Affairs).
Disabilities Statement
Students with disabilities
requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need to present a
current accommodation verification letter (AVL) to faculty before
accommodations can be made. AVLÕs
are issued by the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 3201 Arch St., Ste.
210, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For additional information on ODS,
refer to www.drexel.edu/edt/disability
or call (V215-895-1401 or TTY215-895-2299).
Course Withdrawal
Undergraduate students may
withdraw from a course up to the last day of the sixth week of the term in
which the course is taken.
Students must obtain the instructorÕs signature on the drop slip.
Course Requirements
Attendance and
Participation
Students are expected to attend
all classes, read required material, and complete assignments. This provides the student with the
ability to contribute knowledgeably to classroom discussions. Students must come to class prepared
and ready to learn. Communication
via personal meeting or professionally composed email must accompany absences,
tardiness in attendance, and in assignment completion.
* Following a third absence, procedures
may begin toward course withdrawal.
Evaluations
Four (4) exams will be given
during the course of the semester (including final exam). The exams will consist of both multiple
choice and short answer questions.
The short answer questions must be written in paragraph format with
thesis statement and support then given for such statement. Proper grammar and punctuation must be
utilized. Any responses related to
student opinion must be supported with reasoning as to why such an opinion
exists. The exam dates are
indicated on the session topic/assignment schedule. Please note that evaluations may change dependent upon the
needs of the class. In the event
that class is cancelled on the date of the exam, it will be given the next
class date.
* All exams are required. No make up exams will be given.
* Practice examinations on the textbook
website are encouraged for study purposes and will be used for extra credit
points if submitted to instructor on the date of exam.
Assignments
Reading and research
assignments are given for classroom discussion. Individual and group supplemental and in-class written/oral
activities will be provided throughout the semester to foster the learning
process. These assignments are
indicated on the session topic/assignment schedule. Additional readings and assignments may be introduced during
the semester. Students are
expected to read the textbook and complete all assignments when required on the
session topic/assignment schedule or as instructor indicates.
1. Scholarly Journal Article Abstract. Each
student will identify a sociological issue that is of interest to them. One sociological scholarly journal
article on that particular subject will be located and read. Each student will then write an
abstract or a synopsis of the significant information of that article and
present this to the class. This
journal article review will enable each student to be aware of sociological
issues and to help determine what type of sociological subject one would want
to explore and conduct research on.
ASA writing format must be utilized for citations and references.
a. Students will also locate a research journal article on the
topic of interest and one that coincides with the sociological research method
that the student would like to use for their own research proposal. This will be used as an example for the
development of their research proposal.
This article can be the same one that is utilized for writing the
abstract.
2. Student Portfolio. All
students will keep a folder containing all completed individual and group
assignments. These assignments
will be given on a weekly basis from this instructor. Such assignments must be completed for the next class
session to generate classroom discussions.
3. Seminar Topics.
Students will submit seven
assignments related to the research proposal. This instructor will provide detailed descriptions of each
section for students to utilize as a guide for completing each section of the
proposal. Feedback from instructor
will be provided on each assignment to provide the student with areas that are
in need of modification prior to be submitted as part of the final research
proposal. The seven sections are
indicated under the grading procedures section of this syllabus. Instruction related to the completion
of these projects will be provided during class time. Many of the individual and group assignments that will be
part of the student profile will be in relation to these seminar topic
assignments in order for the students to receive practice and develop skill in
regard to research methodology in order for them to be more prepared when
completing their own five assignments and research proposal. The date due for each component is
indicated on the session topic/assignment schedule. On the date due, students will provide the class with a
brief presentation of the completed assignment in order for the class to
provide feedback to the student.
4. Final Research Project/Research Proposal. Each
student will compose a research proposal that will consist of all group
projects combined and written into a sociological research paper. The final proposal will adhere to the
writing social research organization and guidelines indicated in chapter
17. In addition, this instructor
will provide students with the grading rubric that will be utilized for the
completed proposal.
* All assignments must be submitted on
the documented due date as indicated on the session topic/assignment schedule
or as instructor indicates during class times. A zero (0) will be received until the assignment is submitted. Assignments handed in late, will be subjected
to point deductions.
Grading Procedures
Students will be graded
through the use of a point system.
This is subject to vary should any changes occur in relation to exams or
assignments. Should such occur, the
new grading procedures will be reviewed in class. A total of 700 points per student can be achieved at the
completion of the semester with the following points assigned for each course
requirement:
Exams – 100 points
each, yielding a total score of 400 points
Student Portfolio – 50
points
Sociological Scholarly
Journal Abstract and Presentation – 50 points
Seminar Topics and
Presentation – 100 points total for all projects
1. sociological research proposal topic – 5 points
2. literature review of research proposal sociological
topic – 20 points
3. theory, conceptualization, operationalization in
research proposal – 20 points
4. selection of participants in research proposal –
20 points
5. description of research methods utilized in research
proposal – 5 points
6. description of research in research proposal – 20
points
7. collection and analysis of data in research proposal
– 10 points
Final Research
Project/Research Proposal – 100 points
At the completion of the
course, students can total all of their scores and divide this amount by 700 to
determine their grade point average.