RESEARCH METHODS – CRIJ 4322/SOCI 3396 (MWF 1:25)
DR. BARBARA HART
BUS 219. bhart@uttyler.edu
903-566-7426
Office hours: MW 1:00 – 3:00
Or by appointment
IS IT REALLY TRUE
Course Description: In Research Methods, the student learns the science of systematic inquiry and the
scientific method in order to become intelligent consumers of other research as well as basic
approaches to research design. These methods provide a non-biased and valid approach to all research
questions from full-scale laboratory experiments to such issues as policy decisions and consumer
purchases. This study will promote critical thinking and analysis and provide the student with a
defensible decision-making model. Students will learn to conduct and report on a simple research
project. Students will also be introduced to the American Psychological Association method of
documenting for footnotes and references.
Goal of this class: to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for (1) evaluating the
validity (truth) of information received and, (2) collecting valid information (data).
Student Learning Objectives – By the end of this course students will become proficient in the following
skills. Student proficiency will be assessed through testing and through a hands-on research project.
1. Types and purposes of research and associated vocabulary
2. Conceptualization and operationalization,
3. Instrument validation and reliability,
4. Scientific sampling methods
5. Methods of data gathering
6. Experimental designs,
7. Hypothesis testing – to determine causation
8. Introduction to statistical analysis.
9. Statistical analyses using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).
10. Reporting research results
11. Ethics in research

Text: Chambliss, D. (2012) Making Sense of the Social World (with SPSS Student Edition). Fourth
Edition. Sage Publications. California. Note – This is a special edition which has the statistical
program included for your use on your personal computer.
ISBN-10: 1483375285
ISBN-13: 978-1483375281
Or you may buy the text without the statistical program and use the campus computing lab for
assignments which require the statistical analysis
Student evaluation: The best two of three semesters exams @25% each. Comprehensive final exam
@25%. Research Report at 20%. Online Quizzes (5%) will be provided as a means of practice and selfassessment. The vocabulary flash cards through the web site are recommended.
Note that learning research methods is a cumulative process.
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This class is like learning a foreign language. What you learn today is necessary for understanding
tomorrow’s material. . I have never seen cramming to be successful in this class. Regular, even perfect
class attendance is your best opportunity for success
Tentative Schedule listed by week.
Before Class Read:
Text: Chapter One
Blackboard for Week One:
http://www.livescience.com/33507-origins-of-superstitions.html
Hart intro lecture
Consumer’s Reports on MP3 Players
Rise of the Evidence Based Practice Movement and New Opportunities for Criminal Justice Research
(1) January 12
Discussion of Chapter one and assigned readings.
Errors of Reasoning
Importance of research based decision making
(2) January 19 – Holiday January 20-22
Chapter Two
Chapter Four
Harvard’s Burglary Rates
Hart Notes on Operationalization
(3) January 27-29
Discussion of Chapter Two and Chapter Four
Measurement Validity and Reliability
Deductive v. Inductive
Cross-sectional v. Longitudinal
Quantitative v. Qualitative
Operationalization
Hypothesis Construction – Alternate and Null Forms
Levels of Measurement
Practice operationalization
Homework: TURN IN: Operationalize two of the following concepts: Best Vacation; Good
Employee; Serious crime; indigent person. Then choose one of those terms and create a
hypothesis. You can choose any other variable for the second variable.
(4) February 3-5
Reread Chapter 4
Read: SMART – Writing Objectives
Read: The Effect of Name Introduction on Tipping
Homework: TURN IN: (a) Identify the variables in the article about restaurant tipping. (b) What
were the independent and dependent variables? (c) What was the hypothesis? (d) What is the
level of measurement of the dependent variable? (e) is the measurement valid? (f) is it reliable?
Justify your response
Read: Campaign Promises. Can you operationalize the promises?
Read Chapter 5
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Read: Why the 1936 Literary Digest Poll Failed
Read: Hart Lecture Notes: Sampling
(5) February 10-12
Discussion of Chapter 5 on Sampling
Review of operationalization and hypothesis construction
Probability v Non probability sampling
Representation for generalizability/external validity
Read page 7 of “Establishing the Internal and External Validity of Experimental Studies”
- randomization process and establishing generalizability.
(6) February 17-19
Review for Exam one – Chapters 1, 2, 4 & 5
February 19 Exam #1
For next week:
Read Chapter 7 – Survey Research
Read supplement power point on questionnaire construction
Read: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/02/opinion/gingrich-public-confidenceamerica/index.html
(7) February 24-26 Discussion of Survey Research
Introduction of Class Project – Survey of UT Tyler students about Obstacles to a
college education
Review Outline for Research Report
For next week:
Read Chapter 6 – Causation and Experimental Design
Hart Lecture note: The Three Rules of Causality
Hart Lecture note: Experimental Design
Hart Lecture note: Internal Validity
For fun - https://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/404.htm
Obtain 20 copies of class survey: Each survey will receive a coding number.
(8) March 3-5
Discussion of Chapter 6 - Experimental Design
Threats to Internal Validity
Review of Research Report Components
Each student will receive copies of the campus survey to administer to other
students.
For next week:
Read Chapter 8 – Analysis
March 9-13 Spring Break
(9) March 17-19
Discussion of Chapter 8
Introduction to Statistics
Read: Handout – Introduction to Statistics
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Review of Research Report statistics
Crime Analysis :
http://www.iaca.net/dc_about_ca.asp
http://www.iaca.net/dc_analyst_role.asp
Compare 2012 Crime Data for Tyler and for Longview. What might the two Chiefs be considering?
Texas UCR
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/pages/ucr.htm
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/crimereports/12/citCh2.pdf
(10)March 24-26
March 26
Review for Exam #2 – Chapters 7,6, & 8
Exam #2
(11) March 31-April 2
Bring completed surveys to class for data entry. Laptops will be
furnished or you may bring your own with the SPSS program installed.
Read: SPSS Tutor
Discussion and assistance with research report.
Read Chapter 12
Homework: Develop two original hypotheses to test from the class survey data.
TURN IN: copies of your two hypotheses in both alternative and null forms for instructor approval
TURN IN: Mini literature review complete with citations and reference page in APA format.
Perform the analyses required for the research report using the compiled data base (not
just your own surveys)
For next week
Read Chapter 9
Read: Hart Lecture note: Qualitative Field Research.
(12)April 7-9
Discussion of Chapter 9 Qualitative Methods
Review: Power Point shared from web.
http://www.slideshare.net/tilahunigatu/qualitative-data-analysis-11895136#
Read Chapter 10 – Qualitative Data Analysis
Read Chapter 11 – Evaluation Research
(13)April 14-16
Chapter 3 – Ethics
Review for Exam 3
(14)April 21 Exam #3 Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 & 3
April 23
Review for Final
(15)April 28 (week) Comprehensive Final Exam Date to be announced
TURN IN RESEARCH REPORT
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POLICIES THAT MUST APPEAR IN EACH COURSE SYLLABUS
Statement Regarding Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is a violation of University policy and professional standards. If compared
to a violation of the criminal law, it would be classed as a felony. Academic dishonesty is defined
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http://www.uttyler.edu/academicaffairs/syllabuspolicies.pdf
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