SOCI 254.51	William Hoynes
Research Methods	Spring 2004
Office: 306B Blodgett Hall	P.O. Box 552; ext. 7013
Office Hours: Monday 3:00 - 4:30 pm Tuesday 10:00 - 11:30 am (or by appointment)	e-mail: wihoynes@vassar.edu

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of social research by comparing the approaches of several different research methods. Focusing on research design, data collection, data analysis, and the ethics of research, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods. The course draws upon two types of reading material: texts that focus on the conduct of research and texts that are examples of different kinds of research. For each of the methods we will explore&emdash;survey research, intensive interviewing, participant observation, historical ethnography, and experiments&emdash;we will read both about the method and the results of research that made use of that method. The ultimate goals of the course are for you 1) to have developed the ability to critically evaluate various forms of social research from a methodological standpoint and 2) to be able to conceptualize and design your own research project.

Required Texts

The following texts are available at the college bookstore:

Carter, Gregg Lee. Doing Sociology with Student CHIP, 4th edition. (Pearson, 2004) Edin, Kathryn and Laura Lein. Making Ends Meet. (Russell Sage Foundation, 1997) Karp, David. Speaking of Sadness. (Oxford University Press, 1996) Milgram, Stanley. Obedience to Authority. (Harper, 1983) Vaughan, Diane. The Challenger Launch Decision. (University of Chicago Press, 1996) Whyte, William F. Street Corner Society. 4th edition (University of Chicago Press, 1993)

Additional required readings, which I will distribute in class, will be marked ** on the syllabus. Those readings identified as recommended will be on reserve in the library.

Spring 2004 Course Schedule

Part I January 21-28	Introduction to Social Inquiry Asking Questions, Measurement, Reliability and Validity, Sampling, Ethics, Defining Concepts, Theory and Research Read: Walton, "Making Problems" ** Seeman, Melvin, "On the Meaning of Alienation" ** Merton, Robert K., "The Bearing of Empirical Research on Sociological Theory" **
Part II February 2 - 18	Survey Research The Logic of Quantitative Analysis, Basic Statistical Measures; Studying Single Mothers' Survival Strategies, Questionnaire Design Read: Carter, Pp, 5-30, Chapters 1, 2 Making Ends Meet, entire book (esp. chapters 1,2,4,6,7) Recommended: Williamson, J. et al., The Research Craft, chapter 6 (on reserve)
Part III February 23 - March 3	Intensive Interviewing Exploring Depression in Sociological Terms, Analyzing and Presenting Qualitative Data, Questions of Generalizability Read: Karp, entire book Recommended: Williamson, J. et al., The Research Craft, chapter 7 (on reserve)
	Spring Break: No Classes (March 6-21)
Part IV: March 22 - 31	Participant Observation Social Structure of a Poor Community, Researcher as Social Actor Building Theory from the Field Read: Whyte, Preface, Parts I, III, Appendix Recommended: Williamson, J. et al., The Research Craft, chapter 8 (on reserve)
Part V April 5-14	Historical Analysis Linking Historical Research and Sociological Explanation, Doing Historical Ethnography, Using Archival Materials Read: Vaughan, Preface, Chapters 1-3, 8-10, Appendix C Gamson, The Strategy of Social Protest, chapters 1-3, Appendix c, d ** Recommended: Williamson, J. et al., The Research Craft, chapter 10 (on reserve)
Part VI April 19-28	Experimental Research Why do People Obey, the Ethics of Experimental Research Read: Milgram, chapters 1-10, 14, Appendix 1 Film: The Stanford Prison Experiment Recommended: Williamson, J. et al., The Research Craft, chapter 9 (on reserve)
Part VII May 3	Developing a Research Identity Read: Reinharz, "The Integration of Person, Problem, and Method" **