1Class 1Methods of Sociological Inquiry: An OverviewClass Outline• Course Information• The Foundations of Social ScienceCourse Overview This course teaches the basics of social research methods --• How to formulate testable hypotheses• How to collect data– Survey, field observation, content analysis• How to analyze data and draw conclusions– Online analysis, STATA, basic stats, graphing• How to read and write research articles• How to avoid logical pitfalls2Textbook• Required text– Schutt, Russell. 2006. Investigating the Social World (5th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.• Additional readings (available at www.ssc.wisc.edu/~zzeng/soc357.htm)Course Requirements• 7 exercises (2 points each if handed in on time)• 2 in-class tests (15 points * 2)• Final exam (25 points)• Class project/presentation/research paper (25 points)– With another student or alone• Class participation (6 points)Course Requirements• Seven exercises – Causal model exercise– Critical analysis of a research article– Test prep 1– Research proposal– Analysis of data from the General Social Survey– Test prep 2– STATA exercise3Grading Policies• No late exercise will be accepted• Late research paper is penalized at 5 points a day• No extra creditContact Information• Office: 4406 Social Science• Office Hours: W 10-12• Website: www.ssc.wisc.edu/~zzeng/soc357.htm• Email: [email protected]• Phone: 262-4436Looking for RealityScientific knowledge must meet two criteria:• Logical support - must make sense• Empirical support - must not contradict actual observation4Foundations of Social Science• Theory - logic• Data collection & analysis - observation• Comparison of what is logically expected with what is actually observed• Revision of reasoning or method of data collection/analysisErrors in Inquiry• Inaccurate observation• Overgeneralization• Selective observation• Illogical reasoningOver-Generalization and Selective ObservationOVERGENERALIZATION “Those people are never satisfied.”SELECTIVE OBSERVATION “Those people are never satisfied.”5Example: Mistakes in Social ResearchVerbal AbilityMath AchievementHypothesis: Verbal ability has a causal effect on math achievement.A. Observed Data from Two ClassesClassVerbalAverageMathAverageClassSizeMath 101 90 98 100Math 501 80 90 10B. Observed Data One ClassGroupVerbalAverageMathAverageSampleSizeWomen 90 85 100Men 80 90
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