|
Course title |
Social Research Method (1) |
|
Semester |
111-1 |
|
Designated for |
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY |
|
Instructor |
LIU CHING WU LAKE |
|
Curriculum Number |
Soc3048 |
|
Curriculum Identity Number |
305E312A1 |
|
Class |
01 |
|
Credits |
4.0 |
|
Full/Half
Yr. |
Full |
|
Required/
Elective |
Required |
|
Time |
Wednesday 2,3,4(9:10~12:10) Friday 8,9(15:30~17:20) |
|
Remarks |
Restriction: undergraduates AND Restriction: within this department (including students taking minor and dual degree program) AND Restriction: students with an even student ID number
The upper limit of the number of students: 50.
The upper limit of the number of non-majors: 10. |
|
|
|
|
Course introduction video |
|
|
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning |
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning |
|
Course Syllabus
|
|
Please respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not copy any of the course information without permission
|
|
Course Description |
This course emphasizes both the theories and the hands-on approach to research. We will explore how to examine and communicate core social sciences concepts, methods, and explanations. We will also analyze and interpret the evidence you collect. Adopting an analytical and critical approach, we will explore possible biases and errors that creep into our assessment of the social world. This class requires you to make a commitment to using –and thinking about –the methods of social science research.
This course will consist of lectures and computer laboratory sessions. Lectures will focus on the introduction and explanation of concepts and methods of social research. Students will do a group project guided by the tutors. You are expected to have a better understanding of the concepts and methods taught in lectures and to apply them to designing their own research. Computer laboratory sessions will be designed to enhance the learning of statistical software for social sciences, e.g. Stata. There is a mid-term exam.
|
|
Course Objective |
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1) Discuss the strengths and limits of both qualitative and quantitative research methods;
2) Recognize the link between research questions, literature reviews and research designs;
3) Perform statistical analyses with statistical software packages;
4) Interpret and evaluate the research reports commonly found in everyday life
|
|
Course Requirement |
Participation (30%)
Project (50%)
Mid-term exam (20%) |
|
Student Workload (expected study time outside of class per week) |
|
|
Office Hours |
Note: By appointment |
|
Designated reading |
|
|
References |
|
|
Grading |
|
No. |
Item |
% |
Explanations for the conditions |
|
1. |
Participation |
30% |
Participation is counted based on the submission of three worksheet for the in-class activities (that should be submitted a week after the tutorial).
The assignment contents include:
- Simulated problems encountered by researchers in relations to conceptualization, operationalization, sampling, and experimental research.
- Descriptive analysis of EASS data: find one concept/ phenomenon you want to explore and compare this phenomenon in at least two countries. Write a short report of no longer than 4 pages about what it shows. |
2. |
Projects: Self-designed group project |
50% |
1) In groups of 3-4, come up with a research question that is theoretically and empirically interesting. Be thorough about the literature search.
2) Survey design: Write up a survey based on their topic of interest. Come up with a research question. Disseminate it to 100 people to help you fill in.
3) Students have to input their own data collected for their survey. They then do some analysis using STATA.
4) Presentation in Week 16. |
3. |
Mid-term exam |
20% |
|
|