SOC 334: Social Science Research Methodology
Joseph Nathan Cohen
Department of Sociology
City University of New York, Queens College
Fall 2015
Overview
This class provides students with an overview of social scientific research methodology. Students will
learn to design and execute rigorous studies, and learn to judge the rigor underlying existing research
Schedule
Lecture:
Mondays
10:05 AM – 11:55 AM
Remsen 100
Lab:
Wednesdays
10:05 AM – 11:55 AM in PH 206
1:40 PM – 3:30 PM in PH 208
Instructor Contact Information
Office: Powdermaker Hall 252CC
E-mail: joseph.cohen@qc.cuny.edu
Web: www.josephncohen.info
Office Hours:
Wednesday 4:00 – 6:00pm
or by appointment
Textbook
Remler, Dahlia K. and Gregg G. Van Ryzin (2015) Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description
and Causation, 2nd ed. Sage.
Evaluation
Class Participation
Assignments (4 x 10%)
Mid-Term
Final Exam
10%
40%
20%
30%
Grade Scales
Letter
Grade
Raw Percentages to
Letters
Number Equiv.
of Letter
Degree of Implied Proficiency in
/ Grasp of Subject Matter
A+
A
AB+
B
BC
D
DF
97% - 100%
93% – 96.9%
90% - 92.9%
87% - 89.9%
83% - 86.9%
80% - 82.9%
70% - 79.9%
60% - 69.9%
50% - 59.9%
<60%
100%
95%
92%
88%
85%
82%
75%
65%
55%
0%
Mastery
Outstanding
Excellent
Good
Average
Basic
Basic with Nontrivial Gaps
Serious Deficiencies
Minimally Acceptable
Unacceptable
Agenda
Aug 31 (Lecture): Class Introduction
Reading:
Course Syllabus
Part 1. Using Social Scientific Research
Sept 2 & 9 (Labs). Using Social Science Research
Reading:
Class Syllabus
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 1
Part 2. Theory and Empirics
Sept 10 (Lecture) & Sept 16 (Lab). Arguments, Theories and Empirics
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 2, 11
Part 3. Fundamentals of Research Design
Sept 21 (Lecture). Project Planning
Reading:
ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE ON SEPT 21
University of Leicester Office of Student Learning Development “Planning and Conducting a Dissertation
Research Project” http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/planningdissertation
Sept 28 (Lecture) & Sept 30 (Lab). Measurement
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 4
Oct 5 (Lecture): Sampling
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 5
Oct 7 (Lab). Developing a Project Proposal
Reading:
Asya Al-Riyami (2008) “How to Prepare a Research Proposal” Oman Medical Journal. 23 (2)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3282423/
Mid-Term
Oct 14. Mid-Term
Part 4. Methods in Depth
Oct 19 (Lecture) & 21 (Lab). Experiments
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 14 - 15
ASSGINMENT #2 DUE ON OCT 21
Oct 26 (Lecture) & 28 (Lab). Qualitative Research
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 3, 12
Nov 2 (Lecture) & 4 (Lab). Question-Based Research
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Ch. 7
Nov 9 (Lecture) & 11 (Lab). Secondary Data Analysis; Comparative and Historical Research
Reading:
ASSIGNMENT #3 DUE ON NOV 11
TBA (see Blackboard)
Part 5. Quantitative Analysis
Nov 16 (Lecture) & 18 (Lab). Using Statistics I
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Chs. 8 - 9
Nov 23 (Lecture) & 25 (Lab). Using Statistics II
Reading:
Remler and Van Ryzin, Chs. 10
Nov 30 (Lecture) & Dec 2 (Lab). Data Visualization
Reading:
TBA (see Blackboard)
Part 8. Presentation
Dec 7 (Lecture). Effective Presentations
Reading:
TBA (see Blackboard)
Exam Review
Dec 9. Final Exam Review
ASSIGNMENT #4 DUE ON DEC 7
Class Policies
Academic Integrity. The university defines the administrative processes and sanctions for violating its
code of academic integrity in The City University Policy on Academic Integrity. You are advised to read
and understand this policy immediately. Should you have any difficulty accessing or interpreting this
policy, contact the instruction.
Students with Disabilities. Students who require accommodation based on special needs must contact
the Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities at 171 Kiely Hall, (718) 997-5870. The
instructor cannot make accommodations for students with special needs unless this office works out
arrangements with him.
Late or Missed Assignments. Assignments are due at beginning of class in hard copy. Assignments
submitted late but before the class’s end will be penalized. Assignments are not accepted after class
ends. If you anticipate being late or absent, submit the assignment in hard copy to my departmental
mailbox, or send it via email to josephncohen@gmail.com. Do not submit assignments in anything other
than Microsoft office or plain text formats.
Missed Tests. Students who miss the mid-term cannot write a make-up. Instead, the final exam will be
worth 50% of their final grade.
You are Responsible for Blackboard and Computer Access. Students are expected to check Blackboard
regularly. Any announcements made on Blackboard are expected to have been read, acknowledged and
clarified by students within four days of its posting. Contact the OCT Help Desk if you are having trouble
with Blackboard. Students are also responsible for ensuring that they have access to a computer during
class. It is a required class material. If you do not have a computer, you can borrow one from the
library’s Media Services desk.
Classroom Conduct. Any student who takes this class agrees to act professionally in class. Any student
who disrupts lectures, classes or tests will be asked to leave, and referred to the Dean’s Office.
Communicating with the Instructor. Communicate with the instructor via e-mail. Under normal
circumstances, you can expect a response within three business days. If your response is urgent and
requires immediate attention, write “URGENT” in the subject line of your e-mail. The telephone is for
use in case of emergencies – for example, if you are about to miss an exam. Do not leave messages on
the instructors’ voice mail – write an e-mail instead.
Grades. Grades will be available on Blackboard. Grades reflect careful consideration of student
performance and will not be changed unless a recording or calculation error is revealed. It is your
responsibly to monitor your grades in Blackboard and provide immediate feedback in the case of any
discrepancy. Students must notify the instructor via e-mail of any problems with their grades within two
weeks of their grades’ posting on Blackboard. After two weeks from the grades posting on Blackboard,
all grades are final and not subject to further discussion.
Office Hours. If you cannot attend any of the instructor’s office hours due to conflict with your class
schedule, you must notify the instructor and provide a copy of your class schedule within the second
week of class.