Class Schedule:  Methods and Techniques of Social Research  -  Spring 2006. 

Links: Class Notes -  statistics formulas -  Course Syllabus  -  WEBCT   - Microcase 2005 Update -  DATA SOURCES
  Instructor's email:  goertzel@camden.rutgers.edu

January 17 -   First day of class.  Discussion of the Course Syllabus and the use of the Microcase software.   Signing up for WEBCT and other departmental systems.  This is done by opening the Enrolling assignment and following the instructions.  The Enrolling assignment is due in WEBCT by 5 p.m. on January 26., but will be accepted for reduced credit after that time.  This does NOT enroll you with the registrar's office, just with WEBCT and other systems that we use.  You should make sure you are also registered for the course (which does not usually close).  Introduction to the Microcase Software   Discussion of the IntroMicrocase Quiz Assignment.
Enrolling  - Due in WEBCT by 5 p.m.  January 26
 Open the assignment file (click on the link at the left) and follow the instructions.  This assignment must be submitted to the Assignment Dropbox on WEBCT.  You may not submit it by email file attachment or on paper.  This is because part of the assignment is to learn to use WEBCT.
January 19 -  Chapter Six  in the textbook, basic research design. Exploring Microcase.  Introduction to Cross-Tabulation and  Expected Frequencies.
Quiz One "Microcase Intro" (in WEBCT) closes 5 p.m. January 27.
 This quiz is drawn from the Introductory Exercise in the Microcase Workbook.  You should do the exercise first on paper, then open the Quiz and answer the 20 questions..  The Quiz is in WEBCT and  you'll get your grade right away.  The quiz may be taken as many times as you like up until 5 p.m. January 27 and your highest score will count.  If you don't take it before it closes you will get a zero.  There will be no exceptions for computer problems unless you take it the first time by 5 p.m. January 24.
January 24 -  Applications of research methods to crime reduction.  The logic of expected frequencies.  Patel's Chi Square Lesson. 
January 26 -  The Research Process using Aggregate Data.  We will go through pages 29-38 in the Workbook, so bring your copy to class.
Quiz Two:  Percents. Chi Square and Expected Frequencies.  Opens January 19 and closes 5 p.m.Feb 3.  Open the quiz from the hyperlink and do the items on paper.  You also need WEB access to use the chisquare calculator.  Then enter the answers into WEBCT.
January 31 -   Chapter One in the textbook - Concepts and Theories. 
February 2 -    Chapter 2:  Steps in the Research Process;   Working with published percentages.
Percentage Recalculation Assignment.  This was done in class on February 2.  If you did not complete it in class, print it out and bring it to class on February 7.

Quiz Three:  Covers exercise 2a in the workbook, plus some questions from Chapters 1 and 6 in the textbook.  Closes February 10.
February 7 - Chapter 3, Levels of Measurement.
February 9 -  Chapter 3, Reliability and Validity, Scaling
Quiz Four:   Covers Exercise 2b in the workbook.  Closes February 17. 
February 14 -   Conceptualization Exercise - In Class.  If you miss class, pick up the materials in class on Feb 16, then open the exercise  Bring your completed form to class by February 21.
February 16 -    Sampling - Chapter 4 in the Textbook.
Quiz Five:  Covers Measurement and sampling
February 21 -  Review for Midterm -
Optional Review Quizzes available on WEBCT
February 23 - Midterm Exam -  Only one this semester.
February 28 -   Special Review Class - required for all students who scored less than 75% correct on the statistics items on the midterm.  Other students are welcome, but will not get additional attendance credit for attending. 
Quiz Six  Causal Analysis:  Chapter Five in the Text and 5a and 5b in the Workbook -  Closes March 10
March 2 -  Causation and Causal Models, Chapter 5 in the text.  Multivariate Crosstabs for Causal Analysis.
March 7 -  Use and misuse of multiple regression for causal analysis.  We will work with exercises 5a and 5b of the Workbook, please bring it to class.  Discussion of Extra Credit Projects. 
March 9 -Discussion  of   The Crime Drop in America: Disaggregating Violence Trends.
Quiz Seven    The Crime Drop in America.  The questions are based on the article (see March 9).  Closes March 24
March 21 - Descriptive Statistics for continuous distributions.  There will be an in-class exercise. 
March 23 -   Use of Excel to do regression analysis with data from the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Excel Regression Assignment to be submitted to the Assignment Dropbox in WEBCT by March 31.  This requires Internet access and the use of Microsoft Excel.  If you do not have Excel at home, you can do it in the computer lab. 
March 28 -  Experimental Methods - Chapter 10 in the Textbook. 
March 30 -  Multivariate cross-tabulation for causal analysis. 
          ***  Note:  Microcase Professional Edition Available for Download with GSS 1972-2004 data file     ***
          ***  If you wish to use this software you will find it in an Assignment Dropbox called "Microcase         ***
          ***  Software and Data Files"  -  The instructions for installation are there.  You can use this software  ***
          ***  for Extra Credit projects or for the Multivariate Cross-tabulation Assignment.                               ***
          ***  The Full US Trends data file is also available at the same place.                                                    ***
Multivariate Cross-Tabulation Assignment to be submitted to the Assignment Dropbox in WEBCT by April 9.  Sample Assignment.   Note:  the sample includes both a multivariate crosstabulation and a path analysis.  You need only do the crosstabulation to get 100%, you will get 150% if you do a path analysis as well.  You can use the GSS data set for this assignment, either the one that came with your text or the larger one available with the Professional  Software available on WEBCT. 
April 4 -   Ethics in Research.  This is a special class.  We will go over a required course on the ethics of research with human subjects that is offered online by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in New Brunswick.
                -  Job Fair Today Noon to Three in the Student Center -
Ethics of Research with Human Subjects.  Certification Letter due by April 20.  Click here for Instructions on how to sign up for this course.   Once you pass the course with a grade of at least 80 you can obtain a certification letter from the ORSP home page. The certification WEB site is updated only once a week, on Fridays.  Print the certification letter and hand it to me at any class I will give you 100% credit for this assignment.  Do not worry about getting your score above 80.
April 6 -   Chapter 8 - Comparative Research with Aggregate Units  -  Special Offer:  Attendance is optional for students who have completed both the Multivariate Crosstabulation Assignment and Quiz 8 with a score of at least 80% before class time.
Quiz 8 - Workbook Chapter 8.  Opens April 4, closes April 15
April 11 - Chapter 9 -  Field Research
April 13 -  Chapter 10 - Content Analysis and Unobtrustive Techniques.  Reading, Chapter 11 in the textbook plus "The Gulf War as a Mental Disorder?"
Quiz 9 - Closes April 21.  Covers Field Research and Content Analysis, including "The Gulf War as a Mental Disorder?"
     Friday, April 14 - Extra Credit Proposals due in WEBCT.
April 18 -  We will view some videos from the Sociology Department Online Research Tutorials Page.  and do some review for the final.
Extra Credit Opportunity Reopened.  You may submit materials for a poster to the "Extra Credit Posters Materials for Review" drop box up until April 23 and bring a poster to class on April 25.  A sample set of poster materials is available in a paper called"Happiness and the American Dream" by Linda Anderson which is available on our WEBCT site under Readings.  You should also register with the Sociology Department to present your poster on April 26.
     April 20 -   We will look at the Statistics Overview handout and view a brief streaming video by Robert Wood on causal analysis.  Then Linda Anderson will report on her completed research project, "Happiness and the American Dream," which has been posted on WEBCT as a model.  We will then examine the extra credit proposals received from Valicentine Adams,  Kristen Cargen, Paul Fisher, Rhonda Lusby, Michael Testa and April Zelly.  I will illustrate some things that can be done with these ideas, as a way of illustrating some of the methods of research we have learned about.  Those of you who have work completed may submit it to the dropbox now called "Extra Credit Posters Materials for Review". This dropbox will be open until April 23.    The completed project should be a poster which should be brought to class on April 25. 
April 25:  Extra Credit Posters Should be Brought to Class Today.
April 25 -  Review for Final -   Display of Extra Credit Posters.  You will have a chance to make any changes in the poster before the poster session on Wednesday.  
     Wednesday, April 26, 12 noon.  Special poster session class and in-class exercise.  Be sure to get an in-class exercise form from Dr. Goertzel and return it before leaving.  It will require viewing some of the posters and talking with the presenters.  This can only be completed at the session..  Extra credit projects from this class will be presented. 
Poster Session Assignment.  Obtain a Poster Session Report Form from Dr. Goertzel at the Wednesday, April 26, poster session.  The form requires interviewing three poster presenters and writing a summary of their comments.  Turn the form into Dr. Goertzel before you leave.  No Poster Session Report Forms will be accepted after the event.   Can't make the poster session?  You can receive credit for this assignment by completing the Library Assignment Alternative and turning it into the Assignment Dropbox by May 3.  No late submissions will be accepted.
April 27 -  No Class.  You may use the class time to start work on the two Review Quizzes for the Methods Final.  These quizzes will be open April 27 to May 2.  On May 3, the answers will be released in WEBCT.
Quiz Ten:  Extra Credit Presentations and Multiple Choice Review for the Final.  This quiz is required and counts toward the grade. It will open by April 27 and close on May 2.  On May 3, the answers will be released for last minute review.  There will be no late opportunity to take this quiz.
Quiz Eleven:  Statistics Review for the Final.  This quiz is required and counts toward the grade.  It will open by April 27 and close on May 2.  On May 3, the answers will be released for last minute review.  There will be no late opportunity to take this quiz.
April 27 to May 3 -  The Discussion List will be Open.   Occasional "hints" for the Final Exam will be posted.  Please post any questions to the Discussion List so everyone can see the answers.
May 4 -   2 to 5  Comprehensive Final Examamination.  Bring a pencil with an eraser and a hand calculator.