SYLLABUS
SOCI 4308: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
FALL-2013
Index: 17267 - 001
Instructor: Kay Newling
Office hours: UAC 423: M-H 12 noon – 1:00 pm and by appointment
e-mail: kaynewling@txstate.edu Phone: 245-1567
Graduate Assistant: Megan Krou
Office hours: UAC 477: M-W 11am – 12 noon and by appointment
Email: mk1262@txstate.edu
Class Meeting time and place: UAC- 410, Tuesday and Thursday: 11am - 12:20 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will learn about basic issues in the social research process. The course emphasizes the design
and analysis of quantitative research studies using scientific methods and logic. To help students
apply the material presented, students are required to complete several research exercises (writing
survey questions, entering data, etc.) and a mini research paper analyzing secondary data (The General
Social Survey or similar data set). In addition, students will read and critique published research
articles to help them become critical consumers of research.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required reading (reading should be done before the class day for which it is assigned):
a) Text Book: Making Sense of the Social World: Methods of Investigation. 4th Edition.
Chambliss, Daniel F. and Schutt, Russell K.
b) Additional Course readings will be posted to TRACS or details will be given in class.
Research Applications: There will be three types of research application assignments: Critical
analysis activities, research exercises, and a mini research paper.
a) In-class Activities (Critical analysis activities): You will be assigned text book chapters and
published research articles to read that use a particular method (articles will be in the
Resources folder on TRACS). You will need to read these sources carefully. When reading
articles make notes as to the purpose of the study, the particular methods used, key findings,
and strengths and weaknesses of the methodology employed. There will be in-class activities
based on the readings. Activities will be part individual and part in a group setting. The group
will allow you to discuss these issues with other students to help you gain a clearer
understanding of the concepts and the articles, and in essence, to pool your knowledge. If all
of the group members have done a good job, the sum of your analysis should be strong, an
improvement over what you could have accomplished alone
b) Research assignments: throughout the semester you will be given assignments that require
you to apply information from course material and lectures on how to conduct research. You
may be entering data, analyzing statistics, synthesizing information etc. These assignments
will require substantial preparation outside of class and are designed to improve your writing
and support work on your research paper.
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c) Research Paper: For this research paper you will conduct an analysis of existing survey data. The
dataset you will use will be the General Social Survey (GSS), or a similarly appropriate data set.
The GSS is a survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center on the attitudes, behaviors
and background characteristics of the American population. I will provide you with this dataset.
You may choose any sociological topic that is covered by variables in the assigned data set. You
will review at least 10 published research articles on this topic, develop two hypotheses related to
your topic, test your hypotheses, and draw conclusions from your analysis. Detailed instructions
and practice exercises will be provided to help you with this project.
Writing Intensive: This course is designated WI. One of your goals this semester should be to learn
the basics of scientific/technical writing and to improve your writing in some way, even if it’s one
specific improvement (for example, learning the correct use of punctuation). Tips on improving your
writing, and writing for an academic audience will be provided throughout the semester. You are
expected to apply this information on tests and to incorporate these tips when writing your research
paper.
Online and library research for your final paper: You are required to do scholarly research for your
research paper. You will have to find and print scholarly sociological articles for your papers in this
course. Many sources--all of which must be peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, or similar
quality-- are available by accessing data bases via the library website, however, some materials are
available only in the physical library.
Tests: Three tests will be given including the final. The tests will be some combination of multiple
choice, SPSS based analysis, and short answer questions. The tests will require you to address issues
using the text book, assigned readings and lecture notes. The final requires that you remain conversant
with material from throughout the whole semester.
a) In case of MAJOR emergencies (e.g. death in the family, a severe illness of your own), you
must both contact the instructor prior to the test (email before class time), receive permission
to miss the test, and provide a valid and verifiable written excuse (i.e. documentation of your
visit to the doctor’s office) the next class period that you attend. Students who have to miss a
test due to a legitimate emergency (as defined by me) and who fulfill these requirements can
take a makeup test directly following the final test, and within the time period allocated for the
final test. After you hand-in your final test, you will take the relevant make-up test. Students
who do not contact me prior to a test will be unable to make up that test and will receive a “0”
on the missed test.
b) There are no make-ups for the final test. You must take the final test at the university assigned
date and time unless this time overlaps with the final in another class and its university
assigned time.
You must arrive to tests on time. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes late on test days
will receive a zero for that test, regardless of the reason for being late. If you commute, you
should leave earlier on test days to account for potential traffic problems, including the trains
going through San Marcos.
c) I will keep completed tests. If you wish to view your test, or discuss your grade (including
advice on preparing for the next test), you should visit me during my posted office hours or
make an appointment to visit outside those hours. Note: Coming by to see me about your
score, does not mean that I will automatically change your test score. If you feel that your test
was graded incorrectly, you will need to provide written evidence from the lecture or readings
and we can review the material to determine if a grading error has occurred
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CLASS POLICIES
1. I am most unlikely to give you an ‘Incomplete,’ it is your responsibility to assess your
situation carefully and consider dropping the course in a timely manner.
2. I strongly dislike making arrangements for late assignments. Do not ask to make up any
missed in-class activities unless you have a doctor’s note or documentation of an extreme
extenuating circumstance, such as a sick child. Printer problems, work conflicts, oversleeping,
car problems, etc. are not extreme extenuating circumstances. If you know you are going to
miss class on an assignment due-date, you can arrange to turn it in early. You must meet with
me to clear this. I will not accept research papers late under any circumstances.
3. Please be courteous and respect others who are sharing this course experience with you.
4. The Texas State Student Handbook contains an Academic Honesty Statement. It prohibits
cheating on tests or in the production of any other academic work to be submitted. This
includes plagiarism, collusion, and/or abuse of resource materials. It subjects students who
have committed an act or acts of academic dishonesty to penalties and provides a procedure to
follow in cases of academic dishonesty. The handbook can be accessed on-line at: Academic
Honesty Statement/Student Handbook/Texas State University San Marcos
5. ABSENCES: An unexcused absence occurs when you are absent from class and you do not
hand-in verifiable documentation of an excusable reason for being absent by the next class
meeting you attend. If you miss an in-class or written assignment due to an unexcused absence
you will not receive any points for missed work, nor will you be able to “make it up” later.
Students will be recorded as “late” if they arrive in class more than 15 minutes late; two “late”
arrivals will count as one unexcused absence. Each unexcused absence following the first two
unexcused absences will bring a deduction of 5 points from the Attendance points.
6. Students share responsibility for ensuring they have the correct resources for the course,
including syllabus, text book, articles, in-class handouts, etc. Sometimes materials handed out
in class are not available elsewhere, and should you be absent from class, it is your
responsibility to check and obtain relevant materials from your class mates.
7. You may leave your cell phones, computers, EPAs and other devices on during class.
However, you are required to have the sound turned off and you must not distract other
students with their use. Further, no image or sound recordings made during class may be
published to the internet or otherwise transmitted without my prior and express permission.
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GRADING
Research assignments
In-class activities
Research paper
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Attendance
Total points
60
60
140
40
40
40
20
400
GRADES WILL BE ASSIGNED AS FOLLOWS:
A – 360 +
B – 320 to 359.99
C – 280 to 319.99
D – 240 to 279.99
F – 239.99 and below
Extra Credit - You are required to submit a two page thoughtfully written reflection paper. It is due
the last day of class. It is worth a possible total of 3 bonus points. You are also encouraged to
complete an online evaluation of this course by the last day of class. It is worth a possible total of 2
bonus points
Rounding final grade - Attendance points are an easy buffer for your grade, and because extra credit
is offered, ‘rounding-up’ of grades will be considered only if the following conditions are met:
1. It will require that your aggregate points are less than 0.40 of a point of the higher grade
(e.g. 359.60 is a ‘B’ but 359.61 could be rounded to an ‘A’)
2. The grade desired was achieved on at least two tests.
3. No more than 2 class absences without instructor’s permission.
4. All assignments and other work have been handed in on time.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES should contact the Office of Disability Services regarding their
accommodation policies. If you qualify for accommodation practices, please let me know early in the
semester so that arrangements can be made.
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COURSE CALENDAR
*I reserve the right to make alterations to the syllabus and schedule as I see fit.
NOTE: All text books chapters and other scheduled readings are to be read and thoughtfully
considered prior to their assigned class discussion time.
WEEK 1
August 27-29
Introduction to quantitative reasoning and research
 Chapter 1 in text book
 Read Article #1 Sterilization (TRACS) for In-class activity
 Research Assignment #1 (5 pts) due August 29
 In-class Activity (5 pts) August 29
WEEK 2
September 3-5
Process and problems of social research
 Chapters 1-2 in text book
 Read Article #2 U.S. Tobacco Use (TRACS) for In-class activity
 Research Assignment #2 (10 pts) due September 3
 In-class Activity (5 pts) September 5
WEEK 3
September 10-12
Ethics in research. Institutional Review Board and CITI Course
 Chapters 2-3 in text book
Class will be held in Alkek Library-Room 101 on Tuesday September 10.
 Session with Head Reference Librarian, Lisa Ancelet. Finding and citing academic literature to
discover the previous research in your research topic area.
 Read Article #3 Exercise and Race (TRACS) for In-class activity
 In-class Activity (5 pts) September 12
WEEK 4
September 17-19
Conceptualization and measurement
 Chapters 3-4 in text book
 In-class Activity (5pts) September 17
 Research Assignment #3 (10 pts): Hand in CITI course certificate due September 19
WEEK 5
September 24-26
Conceptualization and measurement continued.
 Chapter 4 in text book
 Review for Test 1
 In-class activity (5 pts) September 24
TEST 1 - Thursday September 26 (40 pts)
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WEEK 6
October 1-3
Sampling. Academic honesty, plagiarism, using Turnitin.com
 Chapter 5 in text book
 Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday October 3. Begin working with GSS dataset
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Thursday October 3
WEEK 7
October 8-10
Sampling continued
 Review academic writing process and synthesizing prior research
 Formulating a research question and stating hypotheses
 Begin finding research articles on your topic
 Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday October 10
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Thursday October 10
WEEK 8
October 15-17
Survey research. Continue to locate prior research on your topic. Begin literature review.
 Chapter 7 in text book
 Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday October 17
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Thursday October 17
WEEK 9
October 22-24
Quantitative data analysis and statistics review
 Chapter 8 in text book
 Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday October 24
 Research Assignment #4 (10 pts): Matrix for 6 articles due Thursday October 24
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Thursday October 24
WEEK 10
October 29-31
Data analysis and data display continued
Review for Test 2
TEST 2 – Thursday October 31 (40 pts)
WEEK 11
November 5-7
Reviewing, Proposing, and Reporting Research
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
Chapter 12 in text book.
 Research Assignment # 5 (10 pts): Matrix for remaining 4 articles and Reference page due
Tuesday November 5
Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday November 7
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Thursday November 7
WEEK 12
November 12-14
Continue work on research writing and reporting
 Chapter 12 in text book
 Research Assignment # 6 (10 pts): (1) Statement of social problem (2) Research questions (3)
Statement of 2 hypotheses and their associated statistical tests due Tuesday November 12
Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday November 14
 In-class Activity (5 pts)
WEEK 13
November 19-21
Continue work on research writing and reporting
 Chapter 12 in text book
 Research Assignment #7 (5 pts): Tables for presentation of data due Tuesday November 19
Class to be held in Computer Lab on Thursday November 21ss
 In-class Activity (5 pts) Tuesday November 19
WEEK 14
November 26-28
Complete writing of Introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusions.
 Writing day – no class meeting on Tuesday November 26
 Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday November 28
WEEK 15
December 3-5
 In-class Activity (5 pts) : presentation of research papers December 3
 Review for Test 3 – December 5
 Research Paper due December 5. Hand in 2 printed copies at the beginning of class, and
submit a digital copy to Turnitin.com before class (140 pts).
 Online course evaluation to be completed by midnight December 5 (2 bonus pts)
FINALS
December 10
 FINAL (TEST 3) - Tuesday from 11am to 1:30pm (40 pts)
 Reflection paper due (3 bonus pts). Hand in a printed copy at the beginning of the test.
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