Methods of Research

Schedule and Assignments: Methods and Techniques of Social Research - Fall 2004

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A Discussion List is now open on our WEBCT home page. You can post any questions you may have while studying for the final exam to this list, and you can answer other students' questions. I will sign on to this several times a day during the exam period and answer the questions. You can also check the discussioni list just to read the questions others may post.

Tutoring and computer assistance for Methods students . Look for Tameka and Taiwan in BSB 117 at the following times:
* M 5-6pm from 9/20 until the end of the semester
* T-Th during the free period (12:30-1:20) from 9/16 until the end of the semester.

Links: Notes Course Syllabus - WEBCT - Rutgers Library - Computer Center Help Pages - Campus Homepage - Data Sources - Instructor's email: Ted Goertzel

Assignments	Instructions Warning: Quizzes should be taken at least three days in advance of the deadline. If you wait until the last two days and have computer or other problems, it is at your own risk.
Review Quiz	This quiz will include review items covering the entire semester. It is intended as a help in preparation for the final. It will open on December 8 and remain open until the final exam on December 21.
Statistics Review Quiz	This quiz will include review items to help prepare for the final. It will open on December 3 and remain open until the final exam on December 21.
Research Design Quiz	This quiz covers Chapter 6 and some items from Chapters 9, 10 and 11. It will open on December 3 and close on December 13.
Workbook 3 Quiz	This quiz corresonds to Exercise 3 in the Workbook. It will open on November 22 and close at 5 p.m. on December 3. You may take it as often as you like.
Comparative Research Quiz	This quiz covers chapter 8. It will be open until 5p.m. on November 23. You may take it as often as you wish.
Crime Drop Quiz	This quiz is based on the article The Crime Drop in America: Disaggregating Violence Trends: The file is in pdf format, you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it, although Microsoft Internet Explorer or another browser may open it, depending on the version. Or open it on campus and print it out. If you are an AOL user you may want to minimize the browser AOL sent you and open or install or which may work better for many purposes. The Quiz must be completed by 5 p.m. on November 15. You may take it as often as you like.
Extra Credit Assignment	Must be submitted to WEBCT in PowerPoint format by 5 p.m. on December 3 - no late extra credit assignments will be accepted. Sample Assignment. Excel Files Used to Make Sample Assignment.
Excel Regression Assignment	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. Bring a printout of your work to class by Monday, November 8.
Historical Trends Assignment	This requires using the professional version of Microcase in the computer lab on campus. You should print your work on paper and bring it to class by November 8.
Content Analysis of WEBLOGS	This assignment is only for people who were unable to complete the Interviewing assignment. It is due on November 1.
"Workbook 5" Quiz	In WEBCT. Closes 5 p.m. October 29.
Survey Interviews	Must be coded on answer sheets and handed in by class time on Friday, October 22. Interview Reporting Forms must also be handed in by October 22.
Make-up Midterm	Friday, October 22, 1:15 p.m. in our classroom.
Midterm Exam	Friday, October 15. Bring a pencil with an eraser and a calculator.
Practice Quiz One	This quiz is not for credit, it is an aid to reviewing. You may take it any time. The correct answers show on the form after you take it.
Sampling Quiz	This quiz is in WEBCT. It is due by 5 p.m. on October 14.
Percents and Expected Frequencies	Open this from the WEB page, answer the questions, then type your answers into the PercentQuiz on WEBCT. Due Friday, October 8, 5 p.m. Note: You will need to go online to answer some of the questions using the WEB chi-square calculator.
Workbook 2b Quiz	Must be completed in WEBCT by 5 p.m. on October 1
Workbook 2a Quiz	Must be completed in WEBCT by 5 p.m. on September 24.
Workbook 1"Quiz	This quiz is in WEBCT and must be finished by 5 p.m. on September 17. It is largely based on Chapter One in the textbook.
Enrolling	Open the assignment file (click on the link at the left) and follow the instructions. This assignment is due in WEBCT by September 10, 5 p.m.
"Microcase Intro" Quiz	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. September 15 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. September 15.
Ethics Certification	This is described under "September 8" below. You must obtain an official certification letter by October 15. It takes time to get the letter, however, so you should start the process at least a week earlier. If you choose to get the letter by viewing the film, it is offered on September 10 at 10 a.m. It lasts until 2:30 to see both parts, with an hour break for lunch. You must see both parts to get a certification letter..

Daily Schedule:
Final Exam: December 21, 9 a.m., 121 Armitage
December 13 - Review for Final. Last chance to discuss any problems on the Review Quiz.
December 10 - Inferential Statistics Review. See class notes for October 1 for information on how to calculate these. Statistics review questions.
December 8 - Descriptive Statistics Review.
December 6     Extra Credit Presentations
December 3 - Class will attend the Camden Data Open House in the Student Center. Be sure to check in with Dr. Goertzel for an attendance report to be completed during the Open House. There will be different report forms for Sociology of Communications and Methods of Research.
* Extra Credit Assignments must be in the Assignment Dropbox by 5 p.m. *
December 1     Content Analysis and other Unobtrusive Methods. Chapter 11 in the Textbook.
November 29 Chapter 10: Experimental Methods
November 24 and 26 - no class, Thanksgiving Break
November 22   Review of Chapter 3 on Measurement. We will go through Exercise 3 in the Workbook.
November 19   Chapter 9: Field Methods
November 17   - Chapter 8: Workbook Exercises
November 15 -   Chapter 8: Comparative Research Using Aggregate Units.
November 12:   Optional Lab Class in BSB 117 for anyone completing regression assignments or working on an extra credit project. You may come at 10:15 if you wish.
November 10: The Crime Drop in America: Disaggregating Violence Trends: an example of trend analysis.
November 8: Extra Credit Assignment. Sample Assignment.   Excel Files Used to Make Sample Assignment.
November 5:   Optional Class in BSB108 for anyone needing help with Excel
November 3:    Election data on CNN.com. Use of Excel to prepare secondary data analyses. Sources of Data.
November 1: Discussion of Chapter 6: Basic Research Designs.
October 29: Discussion of Excel Regression assignment.   Introduction to Excel. Reading: pages 181-184 in the text.
October 27:   Discussion of Historical Trends assignment.
October 25: Causal Analysis, continued.
October 22: Causal Analysis, Chapter 5 in the Textbook. Regression models.
October 20: Causal Analysis, Chapter 5 in the Textbook. Cross-tabulation analysis.
October 18: Return of Midterms, discussion of exam. Discussion of survey
October 15: Midterm Examination. Includes chapters one, two, three, four and seven in the text and the material covered in class including descriptive and inferential statistics. Last day to pick up survey interviews.
October 13:   Review for Midterm:   Survey interviews available.
October 11:   Interviewing techniques. Survey interviewing begins.
October 8:   No class October 8 because of a professional meeting.
October 6:   More on Sampling and Inferential Statistics. Bring a calculator.
October 4:   Inferential Statistics: Computing Margins of Error. Bring a calculator. Discussion of Survey Questionnaire.
October 1 Chapter Four: Censuses and Samples
September 29 Discussion of Chapter Two in the Textbook on designing research projects. We will talk about designing a survey project for this semester.
September 27: Chapter Three on Measurement: Reliability and Validity.
September 24   Descriptive Statistics. Bring a calculator to class. Required Reading Available Here. Chapter Three on Measurement: Levels of Measurement
September 22: Chapter Three on Measurement: Levels of Measurement; Descriptive Statistics. Bring a calculator to class. Required Reading Available Here.
September 20    Expected Frequencies (see the notes, this material is not in the textbook). Exercise 2b: the Research Process with Survey Data.
September 17: Chapter 7: Survey Research. Percentages and contingency tables (see the notes, this material is not in the textbook) Bring a calculator to class.
September 15: The Research Process Using Aggregate Data. We will go through pages 29-38 in the Workbook, please bring your copy to class.
September 13: Concepts and Theories: Chapter One in our textbook.
September 10: No class in Armitage 121. Attendance is optional for two alternatives: 1) You may wish to view the Ethics of Human Subjects film during this hour (se description under September 8). However, the film starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 2:30. 2) Dr. Goertzel will be available in BSB117 at 11:15 to help any students who need help with the computer work in the class. This is optional and no credit will be given for attendance. Obviously I can't handle everybody, this is intended for anyone who needs help.
September 8: Ethics of Research with Human Subjects. In our text, this is covered in the separate chapters on each kind of research design, e.g., on page 157 for survey research, 184 for comparative research, 206 for field research and 229 for experimental research. Most sociological research raises only limited ethical questions, but Rutgers regulations require that all researchers, including students, be given training and certification for research with human subjects. This is done through an online WEBCT course or by attending a two-part movie occasionally scheduled by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.. You are assigned to complete this course or see the movie and to bring your certification letter to class no later than October 15, 2004. Instructions for obtaining this letter are online.   The course is on WEBCT, the film will be offered on September 10 at 10 a.m. on the Camden campus, but you must register in advance and stay for both parts of the film: There are also showings in New Brunswick and newark. To take the WEBCT course, which should be quicker, open your WEBCT, go to "Add a Course, "go to "special courses" and add the course called Human Subjects Certification Program. Complete the online quiz, pass it, and then obtain your letter. You must obtain a score of 80 or higher to pass the test (don't worry about getting more than 80, I will give you a "100" on the assignment as long as you pass it). Once you have achieved a passing score, you must wait until the next friday for the data base to be updated. Then go to the following Internet address:http://orsp.rutgers.edu/webct/and follow the instructions on the screen to get your letter. The letter will open on the screen in your computer. Print the letter out and bring it to class or save it as a file and submit it to WEBCT.
September 6. Labor Day, no class.
September 3. Introduction to the Microcase Software   Discussion of the IntroMicrocase Quiz Assignment. Quiz closes 5 p.m. September 15. You can take it three times and the highest grade counts, so take it as early as possible.
September 1. 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 September 10.