Course Information
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
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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% 
 
 
Progress
Week
Date
Topic
No data