Library Assignment for Methods of Research

The purpose of this assignment is to read an article published in a sociology or criminal justice research journal addressing a topic similar to the one you used for your Path Analysis assignment.  To do this you will probably have to use sources of information available through the Rutgers Library.  You may be able to access the studies online, but if you work from home you will need to configure the proxy server on your browser to access restricted materials.  You will also need a valid Rutgers Library I.D. number (this is the number associated with the bar code on your student ID, it is not your student number), and you must know your library password (probably the last four digits of your social security number).  If you plan to do this assignment from home, make sure you have the access issues worked out well in advance of the deadline.  Information on access from home is available on the library WEB site.
 

Helpful Links
The Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department's Library Sources Guide.
The Rutgers Library tutorial, the KnowledgeMaze.
The "How Do I..?" links on the Rutgers Library Home Page.

1.  What was the topic of your Path Analysis Paper? :

2.  What data set did you use?

2.  What variables did you use?

3.  If you used the General Social Survey, go to their WEB site  and use the Mnemonic Codebook Index to find one or more of the variables you used.  Usually your dependent variable will be more useful.  Click on links and see if there are Bibliographical references to studies that used the same variable.

4.  If you did not use the General Social Survey, or if the GSS Web site is not helpful, check out the indexes and data bases on the Library's home page.  Read the descriptions of indexes that seem most likely to have articles on your topic.  If you don't find an Index or Data Base that is specifically focused on your subject area, check out Academic Search Premier and Ingenta, these are very broad indexes that cover all subjects.   Social Science Abstracts and Sociofile may also be helpful.  

5.  One way or another, find an article in a social science journal that reports on quantitative research using the same variable you used (or a similar one if you cannot find the same one).  Type or write a proper bibliographic citation using ASA or APA formats.  


6.  Type or write a one paragraph summary of the article here in your own words.  How did its results compare to yours?






7.  If you hand this in on paper, photocopy or print out the first page of the article and staple it to this form.  If you submit this assignment to WEBCT, you should upload the article with this file, or copy the first page and paste it in here.  If it is on paper, it would be best to submit the assignment on paper, but you could scan the first page and submit it as jpg file.