Sociology 2820 – Methods of Data Collection

“If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” – Albert Einstein

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to the topic of sociological inquiry. More specifically, it is designed to train students how, as a sociologist, one asks questions of the social world. The sociological method, as the means by which we collect data, is varied and diverse, but inevitably interwoven. In this course you will learn how social scientists design means for the collection of information, how this information is assessed, and what types of activities this information can inform.

During the semester, you will complete a very important journey in the research process: the research proposal. Step by step you will develop each important piece of this proposal along with competence in the sociological method.

Course Goals:

Students will develop an understanding of basic data collection techniques, both how to interpret them and how to apply them in the field. Major topics include question formulation, operationalization, and measurement. Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be explored. Mixed methodology, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, provides a richer answer to many sociological questions. Many social researchers specialize in one set of methods or another; it is the goal of this course to build expertise in both.

Resources:

Social Research Methods Links (coming soon)