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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 460"
COURSE NAME: "Social Science Research Methods"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Isabella Clough Marinaro
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS: Friday mornings. Please email me to set up a Teams appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course presents an introduction to research methods commonly used by political and other social scientists. The course covers the logic of the scientific method, including literature reviews, research design, surveys and experiments, as well as the use of statistical data. Students will hand in a thesis proposal, an outline of their senior thesis topic, and their choice of first and second readers as an exit requirement.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will be a step-by-step approach to research design. Beginning with a general approach to how we know what we know and to the role of paradigms and theories in constructing research questions, the course will then turn to ethical issues involved in human and social research. We will then look in-depth at research design as a holistic approach and to conceptualization and operationalization as indispensable phases of research, allowing us to concretely study virtually any question related to society and to human affairs imaginable, so long as our question and our categories are constructed precisely enough. We will then discuss how to collect data of various types, how to “interrogate” data, choosing the best method for doing so with different kinds of data.

The course will be primarily focused on qualitative approaches, particularly of use to students of Political Science, International Affairs, Sociology and related fields, but will also include some introduction to the use of and ability to understand quantitative approaches, as well as mixed approaches to research. Students will be considered primarily as consumers of statistics, rather than producers of them, but we will also explore how quantitative data are generated. Questions of how to study cultural questions, community and ethnographic studies, and participant observation will be covered. We will also look at journalistic and historical approaches to research. We will spend the last part of the course learning about how to write properly, how to cite and how to present one’s work.

Students will follow a firm schedule for developing their research project for the course, will meet deadlines for topics, preferred method of study, literature review, identification of appropriate data sources and their availability, operationalization of concepts, commencement of research activity and data collection, and presentation of the project to the class.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students, upon completing the course, will be able to construct a research project and present it in writing and orally using power point and other tools. Students will be able to develop relevant questions on issues of social and political interest, to determine the best method for going about answering their questions, to identify key variables, to identify data sources and analyze such data using appropriate methods.

 Students will learn how to:

  • do a literature review of a social or political question using published academic sources
  • find appropriate data sources in libraries, on the internet, in archives and in newspapers and journals
  • think in an informed way about paradigms, epistemologies and theories as research tools
  • consider in a professional manner the ethical considerations involved in a research project
  • identify the truth claims of an analysis whether official, academic, advertising or journalistic
  • identify independent and dependent variables and determine their relation to one another using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods
  • judge how statistics are used to make truth claims
  • identify theoretical and methodological underpinnings of arguments made in research studies
  • determine how polls and surveys are constructed and carried out
  • construct an argument
  • develop a research design of one’s own and carry it through from start to finish – that is from initial formulation of a question and a hypothesis and literature review to written publication and public presentation
  • write in a manner that conveys the argument students want to make
  • present such projects coherently using appropriate tools.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Basic research methods: An entry to social science research (e-book) Guthrie, G. Sage 978-81-321-0457-5  
Doing Research in the Real World, 5th EditionGray, D.Sage9781529742442   

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Preliminary bibliographyThe bibliography should meet the following requirements: Topic clearly defined, APA style or Chicago Author-Date style, Variety of sources (the bibliography should include a variety of sources including books, journal articles, and reliable web sources) At least 12 items cited 5%
Annotated bibliography One paragraph summary (per source) of scope, content, quality and utility of 5 sources (see detailed assignment handout)10%
Literature ReviewStudents must turn in a 5 page double-spaced literature review with no fewer than six academic sources representing different schools of thought or points of view addressing students’ research projects. Alternatively they can develop an essay of the same length which builds a theoretical framework for their thesis. Students are graded on the quality and thoroughness of their research, on how in-depth their understanding of the relevant literature is, and on how well they have constructed their research problems to allow them to arrive at the relevant literature to address their research interests (see detailed assignment handout). Students are required to take their draft to the Writing Center by the designated deadline. Failure to do so will result in the grade being lowered by 10%.25%
Creation of a Social Science Research ProjectSee assignment guidelines. Work in pairs to develop full research projects proposal.15%
Students’ Outlines for Research ProjectsStudents are graded on logical order and consistency, and on how well the outline articulates the logic of their research problems. It must include explicit research questions and should present a hypothesis if appropriate. Grades are based on converting topics into research problems, on the sophistication and depth of the research questions and on how well those research questions are constructed so as to permit the student to engage in useful research to accomplish what they set out to do for their thesis. The hypothesis is graded on how well it is constructed in relation to the research question and in connection to the debates in the secondary literature.15%
Final research project10-15 page essay corresponding to one chapter of thesis. See guidelines handout. 20%
In-class presentation Oral presentation based on final research project, explaining RQ, hypothesis, methodology and findings. See guidelines handout.10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Grades:

A 94-100%

A- 90-93%

B+ 87-89%

B 84-86%

B- 80-83%

C+ 77-79%

C 74-76%

C- 70-73%

D+67-69%

D 64-68%

D- 60-63%

Fail Below 60%

Attendance is mandatory and you are expected to not miss any classes. If you have to miss a class for health reasons, I expect you to email me in advance and attend the class on-line. If you are too ill to do so, I can record the class for you. You should then watch the video and do all related activities and assignments as soon as possible. I will accept a maximum of 2 absences after which I will deduct 2% of your final grade for each class missed.

Unjustified lateness will not be accepted. If you are more than 5 minutes late for class, you will be marked absent.

Active participation in class, raises or lowers grade by maximum of 5% (ie B+ becomes B). Class participation will be assessed based upon the quantity and quality of comments made as part of class discussion and on evidence that you have done the required readings. See the participation rubric on Moodle.

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE


Session

Session Focus

Reading assignment

Other assignment

WK1A

5 Sept

Introduction to course. Embarking on a senior thesis

 

 

WK1B

7 Sept

What is Social and Political Research? Why do it? How to do it?

Guthrie, Ch 3. Research Proposal and Literature Review

Prepare research topics

WK2A

12 Sept

Library Session: Finding and Citing Sources

 

Start preliminary bibliography

WK2B

14 Sept

Critical and Strategic Reading

Gray, Ch 5. Searching, Critically Reviewing and Using the Literature

Draft preliminary research question

WK3A

19 Sept

From Topic to Question(s)

Gray, Ch 3. Selecting and Planning Research Proposals and Projects

Finish preliminary bibliography

WK3B

21 Sept

Bibliographies Due to Reference Librarian

From Topic to Question(s)


Work on annotated bibliography

WK4A

26 Sept

From Topic to Question(s)

 

Work on annotated bibliography

WK4B

28 Sept

From Topic to Question(s)

 

Work on annotated bibliography

W5A

3 Oct

Annotated Bibliographies Due

Doing a Literature Review

Guthrie, Ch. 4 Research Methodology

Examples of literature reviews of moodle

Work on Literature Review

WK5B

5 Oct

Operationalizing Concepts: How to Define Something so you can Study It

 

 

Draft preliminary outline

Read two articles (on moodle) for class discussion

WK6A

10 Oct

Variables and hypotheses


Work on Literature Review

WK6B

12 Oct

Using official statistics

Guthrie, Ch. 5 Sampling

Work on Literature Review

WK7A

17 Oct

Dealing with big data

Guthrie, Ch. 6 Case-study Method

Guthrie, Ch. 16 Quantitative Data

Work on Literature Review

WK7B

19 Oct

Survey design and analysis

 

Guthrie, Ch. 7 Survey Method

Guthrie, Ch. 12 Questionnaires

Work on Literature Review

WK8A

 

24 Oct

Literature Review Due Interviewing

 

Guthrie, Ch. 11 Interviews

 

WK8B

 

26 Oct

Ethnography

Guthrie, Ch. 10 Observation


WK9A

31 Oct

Qualitative data analysis

Guthrie, Ch. 15 Qualitative Data

Work on Social Science Research Project

WK9B

 

2 Nov

Using primary documents

Guthrie, Ch. 9 Available Data

Gray, Ch 23, Analysing and Presenting Qualitative Data

Work on Social Science Research Project

WK10A

7 Nov

Values and Ethics in Research

Guthrie, Ch 2. Research Ethics

 

WK10B

9 Nov

Social Science Research Projects Due

Formulating Good Cases

 

 

WK11A

14 Nov

Time-management and structuring a solid thesis

Gray, Ch. 24 Writing Up the Research

 

Work on Thesis Outline

WK11B

16 Nov

Constructing Arguments: logic, truth claims and determining causality

Guthrie, Ch. 17 Social Science English

Work on Thesis Outline

WK12A

21 Nov

Writing, editing and who to write for

Guthrie, Ch. 18 The Report

Work on Thesis Outline

WK12B

 

23 Nov

Assessing other theses



WK13A

28 Nov

Thesis Outlines Due

Individual meetings with students on research project

 

 

Final Research Project

WK13B

30 Nov

Individual meetings with students on research projects

 

Work on Final Research Project

WK14A

 

5 Dec

Conclusions

 

Work on Final Research Project

WK14B

 

7 Dec

Students present thesis chapter/research project



 

EXAMS WEEK

Students present thesis chapter/research project