SOC 2205
RESEARCH DESIGN
FALL, 1998
Dr. Kathleen Blee
Department of Sociology
2J22 Forbes Quad or
2632 C of L
PHONE: 648-7590 or 624-6485
E-MAIL: kblee+@pitt.edu
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
Course Objectives
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the multiple research methodologies used in sociological research. Since this is a survey course, the emphasis is on breadth of coverage, rather than depth. I will be glad to recommend additional reading or courses to sharpen your skills in the methodologies covered in this course.
The objectives of this course are: (1) to acquaint you with the basic methodological issues of sociological research; (2) to increase your ability to critically evaluate sociological research; (3) to assist you in developing methodological approaches and strategies for your own research efforts; and (4) to introduce you to the range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in contemporary sociological research.
Course Content
The course is divided into four sections. The first section examines the philosophical and epistemological foundations of sociological research. The second section focuses on basic issues of research design. The third -- and longest -- section surveys a wide range of types of data collection and research designs. In the final short section we will discuss some ethical and political issues of sociological research.
Course Requirements and Grading
This course covers a lot of material and moves at a fairly rapid pace. As such, it is important that you keep up with the work and submit assignments on time.
Make-up exams will be permitted only for situations that are extremely serious; you must notify me in advance if you need to take an exam at other than the scheduled time.
Written assignments must be submitted on time; late assignments will be penalized 1/2 letter grade per day from the due date.
Grades will be based on the following:
1. Exams: an in-class midterm and a (non-comprehensive) final exam, each worth 25% of final grade.
2. Written Assignments: These will be assigned in class. Together, these are worth 30% of final grade.
3. Research Design: worth 20% of final grade. This will be discussed in more detail in class. A brief proposal for this design is due Nov 9. The research design is due Dec 14.
Additionally, you are required to attend all class sessions, to prepare for classes by completing the required reading and reviewing your notes before class, and to participate actively in class discussions.
Required Reading
Earl Babbie, The Practice of Social Research (Wadsworth, eighth edition)
Norman Blaikie, Approaches to Social Enquiry (Polity Press/Blackwell)
James Davis, The Logic of Causal Order (Sage)
Jean Converse and Stanley Presser, Survey Questions: Handcrafting the Standard Questionnaire (Sage)
James A. Holstein and Javer F. Gubrium, The Active Interview (Sage)
Danny L. Jorgensen, Participant Observation: A Methodology for Human Studies (Sage)
Course Schedule and Required Readings
Aug 31 Introduction
Issues of Writing
Positivism & Methodology
Sept 14 The Sociology of Knowledge: Logical Empiricism and Positivism
Positivism & Its Critics
Discussion of Blaikie, Chapters 1-3
Read: Blaikie, Approaches to Social Enquiry, Chapters 1, 2, 3
Babbie, Chapters 1 & 2
Sept 21 Science and Interpretation
Read: Blaikie, Approaches to Social Enquiry, Chapters 4, 5, 6
Sept 28 Causation and Research Design
Read: Blaikie, Approaches to Social Enquiry, Chapter 7
Babbie, Chapters 3, 4, 16
Oct 5 The Causal Model
Read: Davis, The Logic of Causal Order
Oct 12 Measurement and Operationalization
Read: Babbie, Chapters 5 and 6
Oct 19 Sampling
Article Critique
Read: Babbie, Chapter 8
Assigned article
Oct 26 Indexes and Scales
Exam Review
Read: Babbie, Chapters 7, 14, 15
Nov 2 First exam
Nov 9 Survey Research
Read: Babbie, Chapter 10
Converse & Presser, Survey Questions
Nov 16 Field Research
Read: Jorgensen, Participant Observation
Babbie, Chapter 11
Nov 23 Interviewing Methods
Read: Holstein & Gubrium, The Active Interview
Nov 30 Historical Sociological Research
Read: Babbie, Chapters 12, 13
Dec 7 Evaluation Research; Ethics and Politics of Research
Read: Babbie, Chapters 18, 19
Dec 14 Final Exam