Soc 357: Methods of Sociological Inquiry

Fall 2006 Syllabus | Lectures | Readings | Assignments

 

Lecture Slides

September 7 -- Introductions. What is science and why do we do it?

September 12 -- Research Ethics.

September 19 -- The Elements of Research.

September 21 -- The Logic of Research.

September 26 -- Learning Through Observation.

September 28 -- Intro to the Observation Exercise.

October 3 -- Preparing Your Report.

October 5 -- Sampling Theory.

October 10 -- Tips on the Sampling Assignment & Practice Exercises.

October 12 -- Learning Through Asking Questions.

October 17 -- Homework Handout.

October 17 -- Lecture Slides.

October 19 -- Intro to the Questionnaire Assignment.

October 24 -- Writing Survey Questions.

October 31 -- Coding Your Questionnaire Data.

November 2 -- Evaluating Rubin's Love Scale.

November 7 -- Coding Your Questionnaire Data

November 7 -- Interpreting Your Results.

November 9 -- Writing Up Your Results.

November 14 -- The Logic of Experiments.

November 21 -- Threats to Internal Validity.

November 30 -- Doing the Article Analysis.

 

 

Course Readings

Coursepack Table of Contents

Singleton and Straits, "The Nature of Science"

Haney et al., "Interpersonal Dynamics..."

Humphreys, "The Tearoom Trade"

Stinchcombe, "The Logic of Scientific Inference"

Doob & Gross, "Status of Frustrator..."

Adler & Adler, "Shifts and Oscillations..."

Adler & Adler, "Stability and Flexibility..."

Glicken, "Sampling"

Ransford, "Isolation, Powerlessness and Violence..."

Ewick and Silbey, "Against the Law" and "Research Methods"

Schaeffer and Presser, "The Science of Asking Questions"

Rubin, "Measurement of Romantic Love"

Aronson et al, "Experimentation in Social Psychology"

Darley and Batson, "From Jerusalem to Jericho"

Pager, "The Mark of a Criminal Record"

Oliver, "If you don't do it..."

 

Assignment Instructions

Structured Observation Exercise

Observation Exercise "A" Paper 1

Observation Exercise "A" Paper 2

Sampling Exercise

Structured Questionnaire Exercise

Field Experiment Exercise

Article Analysis Assignment