1. One midterm examination (essay and short essay) on Thursday, March 9.

2. One final examination (essay and short essay).

3. A major requirement of the course (40% of the course grade) is the term project (term paper) which will consist of an empirical research study, from formulation and design through data analysis, of either primary data the student gathers or secondary data, and finally write-up. Both qualitative projects as well as quantitative projects will be acceptable. Close consultation with the instructor/preceptor is necessary for this project. The term project is due on: Tuesday, May 9,"Dean's date," 5:00 p.m., in Room 2-N-2 Green Hall.

4. Precept participation. Precepts will be used for discussion and clarification of the reading materials; discussion and critique of existing studies; student projects; and especially during the second half of the course, for limited training in statistical analysis, which entails the use of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).

Reading:

• E. Babbie, The Practice of Social Research (Eighth Edition), Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998. Available at the U-Store.

• SPSS Guide to Data Analysis, Prentice-Hall Publishing Co. Available at the U-Store.

• Reading selections are from the packet for purchase at Pequod, and also on Special Reserve (in Room 2-N-2 Green Hall).

WEEK 1 (February 1 and 3): Introduction to the Research Process

1. Babbie, Chapter 1 and start Chapter 2.

WEEK 2 (February 8 and 10): Theory, Research, and Causation

1. Babbie, Chapters 2 and 3.
2. Kerlinger, "Constructs, Variables, and Definitions" (Pequod packet).

WEEK 3 (February 15 and 17): Design, Conceptualization, Measurement, and Measurement Error

1. Babbie, Chapters 4, 5, and 6.
2. A.R. Jensen, BIAS IN MENTAL TESTING, pp. 465-515 (in packet) [skim].
3. H.F. Taylor, "Biases in 'Bias in Mental Testing" (in packet).
4. H.F. Taylor, "Intelligence," ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SOCIOLOGY (in packet).

WEEK 4 (February 22 and 24): Sampling and Sample Design

1. Babbie, Chapter 8.
2. H.F. Taylor, "The Structure of a National Black Leadership Network: Preliminary Findings" (in packet); and article by Brayboy, Thoits, and Taylor (1995) (in packet).
3. Begin individual conferences on term projects.

WEEK 5 (February 29 and March 2): Experimental Design in Lab and Field; and Evaluation Researchh

1. Babbie, Chapter 9 and skim Chapter 13 and Chapter 7.

WEEK 6 (March 7 and 9): Midterm Review and Midterm Examination

1. (No new reading assignments).
2. A review session will be scheduled.
3. Midterm Examination: In class, Thursday, March 9.

WEEK 7 (March 21 and 23): Survey Research and Questionnaire Construction, Including Scaling Techniques; and Field Research; and Ethics in Social Research

1. Babbie, Chapters 10, and 11 and 18; and review of Chapters 6 and 7 carefully.
2. E. Anderson, A PLACE ON THE CORNER, preface through Chapter 2 (packet).
3. W. Gamson, "Ethnomethodology" (on special reserve).

WEEK 8 (March 28 and 30): Unobtrusive Research; Content Analysis; Indirect Measurement; Comments on Meta-Analysis; also Secondary Analysis

1. Babbie, Chapter 12; review Chapters 10 and 11.
2. Skim: E.J. Webb, et. al., "Unobtrusive Measures" (packet).
3. Skim: Janet S. Hyde et al., "Gender Differences in Mathematics Performance: a Meta-Analysis" (packet).

WEEK 9 (April 4 and 6): Data Analysis Principles and Univariate Analysis

1. Babbie, Chapters 14 and 15. Also: A good time to read Appx. C (on the Research Report).
2. SPSS Guide, Chapters 1-4 and Chapter 6.

WEEK 10: (April 11 and 13): Bivariate Analysis Techniques and Reasoning

1. Babbie, Review Chapter 15, read Chapter 16 and skim Chapter 17 and Appx. I.
2. SPSS Guide, Chapters 7, 16, and 18 (pp. 339-350 only).
3. Browse through D.C. Miller, HANDBOOK OF RESEARCH DESIGN AND SOCIAL MEASUREMENT, and especially J.P. Robinson, et. al., MEASURES OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTITUDES, both on special reserve.

WEEK 11 (April 18 and 20): Multivariate Analysis Techniques and Reasoning; also Elementary Causal Analysis

1. Babbie, Chapter 16 again; and Chapter 17.
2. SPSS Guide, Review Chapters 7, 16, and 18 (pp. 339-350) and read Chapters 14 and 15.
3. H.M. Blalock, "Race Versus Class: Distinguishing Reality From Artifacts" (packet).
4. Selection from THE BELL CURVE (packet).
5. BELL CURVE critiques by Hauser, Taylor, and Duster, CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY, March 1995 (packet).

WEEK 12 (April 25 and 27): Policy Research; and Summary of Issues

1. Babbie, Chapters 18 (review) and 19 and Appendices B (Research in Cyberspace) and C (The Research Report).
2. SPSS Guide, review as necessary.

READING PERIOD MAY 1-9

TERM PROJECTS DUE: TUESDAY, MAY 9, Deans Date, 5:00 P.M. 2-N-2 GREEN HALL