Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
10:762:395
RESEARCH METHODS
Summer, 2010
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Debbie Borie-Holtz
Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, Room 566
borieholtz@aol.com or dbholtz@eden.rutgers.edu
Immediately following lecture on Wednesday and by appointment
Lecture:
Mondays and Thursdays, 2:00 – 5:35pm Murray Hall, 112
Lab Sessions: Wednesdays; 2:00 – 5:35pm Records Hall (PC Lab)
Course Description and Teaching Style
This course is designed to introduce students to research methods for public health, planning, and
public policy. Basically, the course is an introduction to the fundamentals of social science
research. The main goal is for you to learn to design and interpret research so you can solve
problems and make informed decisions. During this semester, you will learn how to ask
questions, how to probe for answers, and how to evaluate the answers we get as a result of
research. The emphasis of the class is on gaining the ability to think logically and critically
about social science research. We will cover both quantitative and qualitative methodologies,
but more time will be spent on the former. I do not assume any previous work in methodology
and there are no prerequisites for this class. The goal of this class is NOT to make you into
expert statisticians or quantitative researchers, but into educated consumers – and often critics –
of the research of others. Equally important, this class should give you a firm foundation upon
which to stand as you complete your capstone class for your major.
The class meetings are comprised of two weekly class lecture periods and one weekly in-lab
session; however, a mixture of lecture and lab work will be incorporated into each session The
format for the class lecture period will be mostly lecture and some facilitated discussion. I am a
firm believer of active learning; thus, I will attempt to use discussion in place of traditional
lectures whenever possible and encourage questions and expect class participation. I ask that you
be physically and mentally present at every class session. The lab session will provide you with
another opportunity to ask additional questions and gain some hands-on practice with the
concepts we learn in lecture. Thus, the lab will be structured around cases, discussions, and
homework preparation.
Course Objectives
The goal of this course is to provide students with
1) An understanding of the logic of scientific inquiry and how to measure concepts
2) An ability to develop a research hypothesis and a complementary research design
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3) An awareness of different types of data collection and analyses – both qualitative and
quantitative
4) An introduction to analyzing quantitative data to test your own ideas about relationships
between concepts
Required Text
Schutt, Russell. 2009. Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. 6th
Edition. Available at the main Rutgers bookstore, in downtown New Brunswick.
Any additional readings will be distributed in class or posted to the class website on Sakai.
Grading
The totality of your grade is 100 percent. The components and weights are:
30 percent on exams
-- 15% exam 1
-- 15% exam 2
20 percent on your labs
-- 10% assignment 1 on measurement / finding an indices
-- 10% assignment 2 on data collection & analysis
15 percent on quizzes
-- 3% for each of five quizzes
5 percent on participation & attendance
-- 5% for labs and lectures combined
30 percent on your final paper
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 90 - 100; Excellent or Superior
B+ = 86 - 89; Very Good
B = 80 - 85; Good
C+ = 76 - 79; Solid Overall, but some flaws
C = 70 - 75; Average
D = 60 - 69; Significant problems in the work in terms of understanding, effort or writing
F = 59 or below; Failing
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762:395 Syllabus
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Ground Rules
Collegial and respectful conduct is expected in class. Class members should consider themselves
colleagues who will collaborate to help each other develop a solid understanding of materials and
concepts. To facilitate this process and your learning, we will adhere to some basic rules:
Attendance at all class sessions is expected. You will be granted two unexcused absences. Any
missed classes without an excused absence will count against your class participation grade.
Class will start and end on time. Although I understand emergencies occur, timely arrivals and
departures should be the norm.
Please turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices during class.
All assignments must be completed on time. Assignments are due in hard copy; however, an
electronic copy must be submitted in your Sakai drop box. The Sakai version will be used to
time-stamp your submission. All assignments should be typed in 12-point font and submitted in
hard copy. Late work will be penalized. A point and a half (on a 100 pt scales will be deducted
for each class session late. (This is equal to about an entire letter grade per week.) Assignments
cannot be submitted any later than two class periods after the due date; missed assignments will
receive a failing grade. Quizzes may be made up at the next class attendance ONLY if you make
prior arrangements.
Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Such actions
will result in a failing grade on the assignment and disciplinary action will be pursued. For
further information about academic misconduct and a full explanation of the University’s
policies, please see the University’s Policy on Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and
Graduate Students located on the web at http://ctaar.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html.
My office hours are listed on the top of the syllabus. If any questions or concerns arise, please
come see me. If you cannot make my office hours, please make an appointment. Any student in
this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her
abilities should contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to
ensure full participation and to facilitate your educational opportunities.
Exam and Assignment Schedule
Assignment
Assignment 1
Exam 1
Exam 2
Assignment 2
Final Paper
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Date due
Covers:
June 9th
June 14th
June 28th
July 3rd
Indices
Chapters 1-4 & 6
Chapters 5, 7-10
Hypothesis Formation
July 8th
Due by 6pm in drop box
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Lecture and Reading Schedule
Date
Lecture Topic
2-Jun
Wed
3-Jun
Thurs
7-Jun
Mon
9-Jun
Wed
Lab Exercise
Introductions and course overview;
Lecture: Chapters 1 and 2
Problem definition; overview of the
research process; Introduction to
Qualitative & Quantitative Research
Lab 1 : Define a problem for
research; Due 6/7
Assignment 1: Pick an Indices and
examine how it is measured; Due
Wed, 6.9
Distribute syllabus;
review course layout
Chapters 1 and 2
Conceptualization and measurement;
Research Ethics
Lab 2: Tweet: From concept to
measurement
Quiz 1: Ch 1, 2
Lab 3: Critique a Research Design
Chapter 4 and 3
Research design and causation
10-Jun
Thurs
14-Jun
Mon
16-Jun
Wed
17-Jun
Thurs
Lab 4: Case Study: A Rush to
Judgment; Due 2/22
Quiz 2: Ch 3, 4, 6
Take-home Exam 1
Experiments
23-Jun
24-Jun
Chapter 7
Chapters 1-4 & 6
Lab 5: M & M Sampling Exercise
Chapter 5
Survey Research Design
Lab 6: Critique a Questionnaire
Quiz 3: Ch 5
Lab 7: Design a Questionnaire
Chapter 8
Qualitative Methods: Part 1 (Focus
Groups, Ethnographies, Case Studies,
Observations)
Lab 8: Recruit a Focus Group
Chapter 9
Qualitative Methods: Part 2
(Interviewing & Other Methods)
Lab 9: Interview Session
Quiz 4: Ch 5, 8, 9
Chapter 10 (pp371384 only) and 11 (pp
397-410 only);
Rubin & Rubin Ch 7
&8
Chapters 5, 7-10 +
Supplemental Rdgs
Supplemental
Readings
Mon
Wed
Thurs
Take-home Exam 2 (date may be adjusted)
28-Jun
Mon
30-Jun
Wed
1-Jul
Chapter 6
Sampling & Election Polling
Survey Research: Fielding a Survey &
Ethics
21-Jun
Readings Due
Quantitative analysis
Assign Final Exam Paper
Chapter 14
Intro to SPSS
Assignment 2: IV, DV &
Hypotheses; Due 7/3, 12 Noon
Appendix F; Jing
videos
SPSS Paper Workshop
Lab 10: Practice SPSS Basics
Quiz 5: SPSS Basics
Thurs
5-Jul
Mon
7-Jul
Wed
8-Jul
Thurs
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Wrap-up Lecture: Evaluative Research / SPSS Workshop in Lab
Quantitative Data Analysis Final Paper/Exam Due 6pm in Drop Box