Social Research Methodology
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Social research methodology is a discipline that shows how to connect theories, hypothesis or research questions on one side, and data and techniques of analysis on the other one. Indeed, social research methodology deals more with how we learn what we know about the social world, than with what we learn.
We will see how to design and conduct a research project, from hypothesizing to choosing the most adequate method for testing hypotheses, to data analysis and reporting of the results. Attention will also be devoted to ethical issues in empirical social research.
The course will have a practical character, having students work on online data bases and other kind of resources (literature repositories, research reports from international organizations like OECD, UN, EU, World Bank, etc.).
We will see how to design and conduct a research project, from hypothesizing to choosing the most adequate method for testing hypotheses, to data analysis and reporting of the results. Attention will also be devoted to ethical issues in empirical social research.
The course will have a practical character, having students work on online data bases and other kind of resources (literature repositories, research reports from international organizations like OECD, UN, EU, World Bank, etc.).
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: The course aims at introducing students to the basics of empirical research, providing them with the main conceptual and knowledge tools for understanding how an empirical research in the social sciences is routinely designed and carried out.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to develop their own strategy for finding evidence for supporting/disconfirming the typical claims or hypotheses that social scientists deal with (e.g. concerning societal change, social movements and processes, consequences of economic and political processes, and so on).
Making judgements: By the end of the course, students will be able to design a simple research project and to devise the best way to carry it out in practice. They will also be able to evaluate on a methodological ground actual instances of empirical research, such as a research report or a research paper, in order to assess whether the methodological requirements as for the research question or hypothesis, the sampling frame and design, the sample size, the analysis and report of the results have been met, and - if not - what would be necessary to do for meeting them.
Communication skills: students will be routinely asked to work in groups and to report on the result of their activity before the class and the instructor. Their ability to communicate research results will also be tested over the course, monitoring their improvement.
Learning skills: Students will learn to autonomously conduct a (simple) research project, starting from a research question and ending with a research report. They will also be able to critically evaluate existing research projects and published papers from the point of view of issues relevant for social research methodology (choice of method, sampling, data collection, data analysis and reporting, ethical issues raised by the research).
Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to develop their own strategy for finding evidence for supporting/disconfirming the typical claims or hypotheses that social scientists deal with (e.g. concerning societal change, social movements and processes, consequences of economic and political processes, and so on).
Making judgements: By the end of the course, students will be able to design a simple research project and to devise the best way to carry it out in practice. They will also be able to evaluate on a methodological ground actual instances of empirical research, such as a research report or a research paper, in order to assess whether the methodological requirements as for the research question or hypothesis, the sampling frame and design, the sample size, the analysis and report of the results have been met, and - if not - what would be necessary to do for meeting them.
Communication skills: students will be routinely asked to work in groups and to report on the result of their activity before the class and the instructor. Their ability to communicate research results will also be tested over the course, monitoring their improvement.
Learning skills: Students will learn to autonomously conduct a (simple) research project, starting from a research question and ending with a research report. They will also be able to critically evaluate existing research projects and published papers from the point of view of issues relevant for social research methodology (choice of method, sampling, data collection, data analysis and reporting, ethical issues raised by the research).
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course will teach how to design and conduct a research project, starting from the research question and the literature review, to sampling, data analysis and results reporting. It will have a practical character, having students work on online databases and data banks under the instructor's supervision. In the last part of the course, the focus will be on multivariate quantitative analysis (cross-tabulation, correlation, OLS regression).
1. The choice of a research design
2. Data collection (sampling, survey methods, experimental method, secondary data, interviews, observation, case study; how to design questionnaires and tests)
3. Introduction to data analysis (qualitative and quantitative)
4. Reporting the research results (how to write a research report and disseminate research results)
5. Focus on quantitative techniques of analysis (cross-tabulations; correlation and OLS regression); how to rule out spurious associations/correlations
1. The choice of a research design
2. Data collection (sampling, survey methods, experimental method, secondary data, interviews, observation, case study; how to design questionnaires and tests)
3. Introduction to data analysis (qualitative and quantitative)
4. Reporting the research results (how to write a research report and disseminate research results)
5. Focus on quantitative techniques of analysis (cross-tabulations; correlation and OLS regression); how to rule out spurious associations/correlations
Prerequisites for admission
Both attending and non-attending students must pass the Sociology Exam before taking the exam of Social Research Methodology. Students are also strongly advised to take the Statistics exam before attending the course.
Teaching methods
The course is based on lectures, exercises during classes, discussion on relevant topics, activities to develop a closer understanding of the most relevant topics covered by the course.
Active participation of students will be encouraged.
The slides that will be showed during the course will be made available on the course website on the Ariel platform. Slides are meant to be used by attending students only, since the syllabus of attending and non-attending students varies widely.
Non-attending students are required to study the reference materials, starting with the Babbie's textbook, followed by Treiman's one. Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the instructor ([email protected]), should they need clarifications on any topic covered by the textbooks.
Active participation of students will be encouraged.
The slides that will be showed during the course will be made available on the course website on the Ariel platform. Slides are meant to be used by attending students only, since the syllabus of attending and non-attending students varies widely.
Non-attending students are required to study the reference materials, starting with the Babbie's textbook, followed by Treiman's one. Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the instructor ([email protected]), should they need clarifications on any topic covered by the textbooks.
Teaching Resources
Attending students will base their study on the following textbooks:
1) Guthrie G., Basic research methods. An entry to social science research, Sage
2) Treiman D.J., Quantitative data analysis. Doing social research to test ideas, Jossey Bass (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6)
Possible additional materials will be notified during the course. Students are strongly advised to have both textbooks available since the beginning of the course.
Non-attending students will base their study on the following textbooks:
1) Babbie E. (2016), The practice of social research, Thomson, 14th edition: Chapters 1-6, 9, 12, 14, 16 (up to page 470)
2) Treiman D.J. (2008), Quantitative data analysis. Doing social research to test ideas, Jossey-Bass: Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
All textbotbooks are available in the Faculty library.
1) Guthrie G., Basic research methods. An entry to social science research, Sage
2) Treiman D.J., Quantitative data analysis. Doing social research to test ideas, Jossey Bass (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6)
Possible additional materials will be notified during the course. Students are strongly advised to have both textbooks available since the beginning of the course.
Non-attending students will base their study on the following textbooks:
1) Babbie E. (2016), The practice of social research, Thomson, 14th edition: Chapters 1-6, 9, 12, 14, 16 (up to page 470)
2) Treiman D.J. (2008), Quantitative data analysis. Doing social research to test ideas, Jossey-Bass: Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
All textbotbooks are available in the Faculty library.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam syllabus and content differ for attending and non-attending students. To qualify as an attending student, one must attend at least 80% (4/5) of classes and do the activities (exercises, team works, quizzes) that will be given by the instructor during the course. Failing to meet these two criteria will make a student drop from the attending student status.
As for the exam, attending students will take a written exam on the whole course programme, besides doing the activities (exercises, both class- and home-based; self-assessment quizzes; team works during classes) required during the course. The exam will last 1.15 hr and will consist of 5 multiple-choice questions (5 options each) and 1 open-ended question (in two parts).
For passing the exam, attending students must answer correctly at least 3 multiple-choice questions and either part a) or b) of the open-ended question. At the end of the course there will be two exam dates suitable for taking the exam as attending students; should a student fail the first exam, s/he can take it in the secon exam date; should s/he fail this second exam too, s/he will have to take the exam as a non-attending student.
Non-attending students will take a written exam on the whole course programme (please be sure to pick the correct textbooks, as indicated here below). The exam will last 1.15 hr and will consist of 7 multiple-choice questions, 3 exercises, and 2 open-ended questions. For passing the exam, students must answer correctly at least 4 multiple-choice questions, 2 exercises and 1 open-ended question.
As for the exam, attending students will take a written exam on the whole course programme, besides doing the activities (exercises, both class- and home-based; self-assessment quizzes; team works during classes) required during the course. The exam will last 1.15 hr and will consist of 5 multiple-choice questions (5 options each) and 1 open-ended question (in two parts).
For passing the exam, attending students must answer correctly at least 3 multiple-choice questions and either part a) or b) of the open-ended question. At the end of the course there will be two exam dates suitable for taking the exam as attending students; should a student fail the first exam, s/he can take it in the secon exam date; should s/he fail this second exam too, s/he will have to take the exam as a non-attending student.
Non-attending students will take a written exam on the whole course programme (please be sure to pick the correct textbooks, as indicated here below). The exam will last 1.15 hr and will consist of 7 multiple-choice questions, 3 exercises, and 2 open-ended questions. For passing the exam, students must answer correctly at least 4 multiple-choice questions, 2 exercises and 1 open-ended question.
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Meraviglia Cinzia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Meraviglia CinziaEducational website(s)
Professor(s)