Class Overview
General Class Information
All fields must be completed and posted in UVaCollab and World Viewable in SIS no later than two weeks prior
to registration.
Subject Area &
Catalog Number
IISLS 4170
Class Title
RESEARCH PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE
P (In-Person)
Credit
Undergraduate
Credit Type
Graduate
Re-licensure
Re-certification
Points
3
Delivery Method
Noncredit
CI (Classroom/Internet)
WB (Web-Based)
Approval Date
(For internal use only)
1. Class Description (Use the SIS 400 characters from catalog description)
THIS COURSE PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS ONE NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PROCESS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH: DESIGNING A STUDY, QUALITATIVE AND
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS, ANALYZING AND REPORTING RESULTS. USING MONOGRAPHS FROM
SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY, STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE THE VARIOUS WAYS SCHOLARS USE RESEARCH
TOOLS.
2. Learning Outcomes
1. THE STUDENT WILL LEARN TO DEFINE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AND WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP A
“SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION.”
2. THE STUDENT WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, INCLUDING
LITERATURE REVIEW, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A THESIS, QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY, DATA ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING OF RESULTS.
3. THE STUDENT WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE BELMONT REPORT AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
SOCIAL RESEARCH.
4. THE STUDENT WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH THE RESOURCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LIBRARY,
WITH THE AID OF THE BIS PROGRAM LIBRARIAN.
5. THE STUDENT WILL CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS WHOSE WORK
REFLECTS A VARIETY OF METHODS.
6. AS A FINAL PROJECT, THE STUDENT WILL DESIGN A RESEARCH PROJECT, USING THE BASIC
FORMULATIONS PRESENTED IN THE COURSE. THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT THE
PROJECT.
7. THE STUDENT WILL PRESENT THE DESIGNED PROJECT TO THE CLASS, ONLINE, USING A POSTER
CREATED IN POWERPOINT.
3. Assessment Components
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE, ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED. POINTS ASSIGNED
TO EACH ASSIGNMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MILLS RESPONSE PAPER: 5 POINTS
CLASS PRESENTATION ON JOURNAL ARTICLE: 10 POINTS
MIDTERM EXAM ON RESEARCH METHODS: 20 POINTS
TWO PAPERS (5 PAGES EACH): 10 POINTS EACH: 20 POINTS
FINAL PROJECT: 20 POINTS
ONLINE DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION: 15 POINTS
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SYNCHRONOUS CLASS PARTICIPATION: 10 POINTS
4. Required Text (include ISBN, specific edition)
DENNIS COVINGTON, SALVATION ON SAND MOUNTAIN. DECAPO, 2009. 978-0306818363
JOHN W. CRESWELL, RESEARCH DESIGN, QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS
APPROACHES. THIRD EDITION. SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2008. 978-1412965576
JONATHAN KOZOL, THE SHAME OF THE NATION: THE RESTORATION OF APARTHEID SCHOOLING IN
AMERICA. THREE RIVERS PRESS, 2006. 978-1400052455
C. WRIGHT MILLS, THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS USA, 2000 (ORIG.1959).
978-0195133738
CHRISTIAN SMITH, AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM: EMBATTLED AND THRIVING.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS, 1996. 978-0226764191
5. Required Additional Resources and Technical Components
STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND THE BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE
PLATFORM.
HEADSETS WITH MICROPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO ACCESS TWO FILMS, BY PURCHASE, RENTAL, OR ACCESS THROUGH
THEIR PERSONAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. BOTH ARE AVAILABLE AT A NOMINAL FEE THROUGH AMAZON.COM:
JESUS CAMP, DIRECTED BY HEIDI EWING AND RACHEL GRADY
SUPERSIZE ME, DIRECTED BY MORGAN SPURLOCK
TWO ADDITIONAL FILMS WILL BE USED IN THIS CLASS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COLLAB
SITE:
BEYOND BROWN
THE JOLO SERPENT HANDLERS
6. Other Class Expectations (for Classroom/Internet and Web-Based classes, specify any live
(synchronous) meetings dates, times, delivery mode)
THE CLASS IS WEB-BASED AND WILL MEET SYNCHRONOUSLY THROUGH BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE
(ACCESSED THROUGH THE COLLAB SITE) ON MONDAY EVENINGS, 8/26 THROUGH 12/2, FROM 7-8:30 P.M.
THERE WILL BE NO CLASS DURING FALL BREAK, OCTOBER 14. STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN ON-GOING FORUM DISCUSSIONS THROUGH THE COLLAB SITE DURING EACH WEEK.
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