ANALYTICAL METHODS PS 5015 – 01
SYLLABUS
Thursday, 5:00 – 7:40 p.m.
Dr. Charles Kelly
Fall 2008
In the event of misplacing your syllabus, and/or steps in social scientific research
design handout, you can acquire an additional copy off my web page:
http://www.kean.edu/~ckelly
Analytical Methods is designed to introduce students to the main approaches
to the study of political and social phenomenon. Students will study the nature and
scope of social science and the logic of social inquiry. There will be a comprehensive
examination and research design proposal and oral presentation. Each week
students will discuss and review their research design proposal. Students will be
asked to critique the proposal as it develops and submit feedback assignments
monthly.
THE BOOK FOR THE COURSE IS:
Earl Babbie – The Practice of Social Research (Latest Ed.)
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Thurs. - September 4
Introduction
Handouts
“Research Methods for Social Sciences”, a video
Thurs. – September 11
Human Inquiry and Science
Babbie, Chapter 1
Thurs. - September 18
Theory and Research
Babbie, Chapter 2
Thurs. – September 25
Ethics and Politics of Social Research
Babbie, Chapter 3
Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Thurs. – October 2
Research Design
Babbie, Chapter 4
Thurs. – October 9
Conceptualization/Operationalization
Babbie, Chapter 5
Thurs. – October 16
Indexes, Scales and Typologies
Babbie, Chapter 6
Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Thurs. – October 23
Logic of Sampling
Babbie, Chapter 7
Thurs. – October 30
Experiments
Babbie, Chapter 8
Thurs. – November 6
Survey Research
Babbie, Chapter 9
Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Thurs. November 13
Qualitative Field Research
Babbie, Chapter 10
Thurs. – November 20
Evaluation Research
Babbie, Chapter 11
Thurs. – November 27
Thanksgiving (no class)
Thurs. – December 4
Data Analysis
Babbie, Chapters 13 & 14
Feedback Quiz and Design Review
Thurs. - December 11
Oral Reports
Thurs. – December 18
Final Review and Exam
Research Designs Due
All students are required to take the exams and present proposals on dates specified.
Please note that “INC” grades will not be given simply because a student fails to
complete assignments on time due to illness or other severe problems beyond the
student’s control for missing an exam or scheduled deadline. In such a case it is the
RESPONSIBILITY of the student to initiate the request for a make-up exam or for
an extension of a deadline. The student MUST initiate this request immediately
upon discovering that he/she will not be able to meet the above requirements.
FAILURE to get EXPLICIT (in writing) PERMISSION to miss an exam or
deadline will result in a grade of failure.
The exam is weighed 40% and class participation will count for 20%. The final
draft of your research project design will be worth 40%. No substitute work is
allowed. Office hours will be posted on my door and webpage. My telephone
number is 908-737-3992. My email is ckelly(at)kean.edu . Please put “PS-5015” or
“Grad. Course—Analytical Methods” in the subject line of your email, when you
write. Thank you.