12/22/2024 4:19:25 AM	SOC 5 Course Outline as of Fall 2014	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SOC 5	Title:  SOC RESEARCH METHODS
Full Title:  Sociological Research Methods
Last Reviewed:2/24/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course serves as an introduction to research methods in Sociology, including principles of research design and critical analysis.  Students will acquire skills for both designing and conducting a Sociological research project.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of SOC 1

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course serves as an introduction to research methods in Sociology, including principles of research design and critical analysis.  Students will acquire skills for both designing and conducting a Sociological research project.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of SOC 1
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2014	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2014	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: SOCI 120	Introduction to Research Methods	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): SOC5

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Explain the centrality of empirical research to the sociological enterprise.

2.  Describe, compare, and contrast commonly used research paradigms and methods.

3.  Design, conduct, and report results from a research project.

4.  Summarize and critically evaluate results from published research studies.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain why research is important within the field of sociology.

2. Identify the steps in sociological investigation.

3. Compare and contrast scientific, interpretive, and critical frameworks

     for conducting sociological research.

4. Describe the key elements of sociological research methods, including ethnography,

     surveys, interviews, and content analysis.

5. Develop a viable research question.

6. Summarize existing research literature.

7. Select and apply an appropriate methodology for a given research question.

8. Analyze and report on collected data.

9. Evaluate the quality of research findings reported in popular media and scholarly reports.

Topics and Scope

 

I.  Importance and uses of research

     A.  Empirical knowledge vs. "common sense"

     B.  Basic research models (exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, evaluative)

II. Research ethics

     A.  Common dilemmas

      B.  Principles of research ethics

III. Preparing to conduct sociological research

     A.   Forming a researchable question or hypothesis

      B.  Reviewing the literature

     C.  Preparing a research proposal

IV. Conducting sociological research

     A.  Gathering data

      B.  Analyzing collected data

      C.  Presenting collected data in narrative and/or graphic form

V. Proposing and evaluating research reports

     A.  Understanding statistical tables and graphs

     B.  Evaluating how a study was conducted

     C.  Assessing research findings and conclusions

Assignments:

1.  Read 20-30 pages per week.

2.  Take 2-3 exams, including a Final Exam, on material from lectures and reading.

3.  Complete a research paper of 10-15 pages,  focused on individual research or the research process.

4.  Short writing assignments, including analyses of methods of social research for a total of 6-8 pages.

5.  At the discretion of the instructor, provide group presentations and participate in in-class

      and out-of-class exercises

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 50 - 60%
Research project and essay; short writing assignments regarding research methods
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 50%
Essay questions and multiple-choice, short answer, or true false questions either as take-home or in-class tests
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Student Presentations

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. 7th Ed. Shutt, Russell K.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications: 2012

An Invitation to Social Research: How It's Done. 4th Ed. Adler, Emily Stier and Roger Clark. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth: 2011

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