SYA 7933: Research Design
Mondays, periods 7-9 (1:55 – 4:55 pm) — Matherly Hall, room 118
3227 Turlington Hall
office hours: Tuesday 1:00-3:00 pm, Thursday 1:00-2:00 pm; and by appointment — email me!
Phone: 294-7177
Email: tkcox@ufl.edu [best way to reach me]
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Kate Hartikka khartikka@ufl.edu
office hours: Thursday 2:00 – 4:00 pm — 3347 Turlington (office hours)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Required course for first-year graduate students in Sociology. It is the study of major social science research designs and techniques of conducting empirical inquiry into social phenomena. It is useful to more advanced sociology graduate students, and to graduate students in other social science programs, for development of a research agenda or development of a dissertation or thesis proposal.
PURPOSE OF COURSE: The purpose of this course is to orient students toward the core research designs and techniques of social science, including contemporary debates and emergent techniques. The emphasis in the course is practical � developing the critical skills to evaluate completed research and prepare to conduct original empirical research. We will also discuss broader questions about how to make choices about research topics, construct research questions, and choose appropriate methods of data collection and analysis. By practicing critical evaluation of methodological choices, the course will prepare students to become critical reviewers, users, and creators of sociological knowledge. Course themes include the nature of social relationships, selecting observations, and conceptualization-measurement. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods are covered.
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Goals:
(1) Demonstrate broad understanding and application of empirical sociological research methods and analytical techniques
(2) Demonstrate competencies in designing independent empirical research with scientific integrity
(3) Demonstrate competencies in applying substantive sociological knowledge in critical thinking, analysis, and communication
Student Learning Objectives:
Describe, explain, and compare-contrast multiple major research designs and analytical techniques
Engage in weekly discussions of key concepts, issues, and techniques in prominent and emergent research designs used by social scientists
Present an emergent research technique not covered in the course
Lead class discussion of a research design, covering the primary readings and exemplars
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of specific research designs used in current empirical sociological research
Construct a portfolio of research activities that lead to a detailed mixed-methods research proposal
Develop an overarching conceptual frame that integrates use of mixed methods investigations of a single research topic.
Precis: write 3 precis that outline 3 empirical projects using at least 2 different research designs
Research Proposal: write a detailed proposal of a mixed-methods research project/agenda that is built from the conceptual frame assignment and the 3 precis
COURSE MATERIALS: All materials will be available online on Canvas (elearning.ufl.edu).
| COURSE POLICIES: |
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Approach this seminar (and all seminars) professionally. Career professionals attend all meetings, arrive on time, complete all work conscientiously and punctually, and arrive to meetings prepared to engage mindfully and civilly with colleagues. In a small graduate seminar, both your individual success and the value of the course for the group are strongly based on the weekly discussion that occurs in the classroom. Maintaining an open, respectful environment in which students feel comfortable participating and contributing to the class discussion is also an important part of the course.
You are expected to complete the assigned readings for each week and come prepared to discuss the readings. Everyone gets 1 absence, with no questions asked. Additional absences must be approved; absences will be excused in the case of serious illness or other circumstance beyond the student’s control (see UF policy: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx). Attendance at academic conferences will be excused, but you must inform me at least 2 weeks in advance (earlier if possible). I reserve the right to apply a 5% grade penalty (final grade) for each unexcused absence.
It is the student’s responsibility to get the notes and announcements from the instructor and classmates for any missed class.
REVISED (3/25/2020) – Beginning on March 23, classes will be held online using Zoom Conference. Please email me with any concerns about possible missed classes due to pandemic-related or other unanticipated challenges.
COMMUNICATION: Email is usually the best and quickest way to reach me, either directly or through the Canvas system. If I do not respond to your email within 48 hours, please resend it, as it might not have gotten to me. All email and other communication in the course should be respectful, civil, and professional — see Netiquette Guidelines.
Office hours will be held each week — you do not need an appointment, just drop by. If you need to schedule an alternative time, please email us so we can arrange a meeting time. If my office door is open, feel free to drop in to say hello or for quick questions; for longer conversations, I encourage you to use office hours or arrange a meeting.
Canvas – Course announcements will be sent out through Canvas. Please check your Canvas email regularly, and make sure to adjust your settings in Canvas so that you get notifications of announcements and emails to your UF email address. This is particularly important if you are emailing through the Canvas system.
OTHER POLICIES: Details on course assignments will be provided online in Canvas. Failure to complete assignments on time and according to specifications may result in grade penalties. Inadequate class participation will result in grade penalties. Feel free to talk with me if you have any questions about participation or other grades; any concerns with regard to specific point assessments must be resolved within 2 weeks of the grade being posted.
| UF POLICIES: |
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students requesting accommodation for disabilities must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation. You must submit this documentation prior to submitting assignments or taking the quizzes or exams. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students should be sure that they understand the UF Student Honor Code at https://sccr.dso.ufl.edu/policies/studenthonor–code–student–conduct–code/
Counseling and Mental Health Resources
Students facing difficulties completing the course or who are in need of counseling or urgent help should call the Counseling and Wellness Center (352-392-1575; http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/).
Other Supports
The University of Florida Division of Student Affairs has created “U Matter We Care” to provide supports for students who are dealing with challenges or stressors. Information on available resources and supports is available here: https://umatter.ufl.edu/
On-Line Evaluation
Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public–results/.
| COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS: |
| Assignments | Due date | % of final
Course grade |
| Engagement | 45 | |
| Class participation – demonstrate preparation through critical reading
of assigned material and actively contribute to class discussion, 3.4% |
[weekly] | |
| Reflection and commentary essays (weeks 2 and 3), 2% each, 4% total | 1/13, 1/27
|
|
| Participation in online discussion, 6 separate weeks, 2% each, 10%
total (drop lowest score) |
2/10 – 4/6 | |
| Discussion leader (solo or duo), 10% | 2/10 – 4/6 | |
| Evaluation of exemplar articles, 2 exemplars, 3.3% each, 6.6% total | 1/27 – 4/13 | |
| Presentation of an additional design or technique, 8% | 2/10 – 4/20 | |
| Application | 55 | |
| Conceptual framework essay, 8% | 2/20
11:59pm |
|
| 3 precis, 9% each, 27% total | 1: 3/27
11:59pm 2: 4/3 11:59pm 3: 4/10 11:59pm |
these are target dates — deadlines will be flexible; we will adjust as needed |
| Final research proposal, 20% | 4/27
11:59pm |
Because of the reduction in requirements, the grades will be calculated in terms of points (out of 97) instead of percentages.
GRADING SCALE: A 90-97; A- 87-89, B+ 84-86, B 79-83, B- 76-78, C 70-75, E 0-69
| COURSE SCHEDULE: |
Course Schedule
| Jan. 6 | Introductions, Syllabus, Objectives, Plans | |
| Jan. 13 | Getting started: What does a good research study look like?
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| Jan. 20 | HOLIDAY — NO CLASS
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| Jan. 27 | Paradigms, Epistemologies, Methodologies | |
| Feb. 3 | Operationalization, Measurement, Analyses | |
| Feb. 10 | Mixed Methods | |
| Feb. 17
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Experimental Designs and Surveys
** Conceptual framework essay due 9:00 am, Thursday, Feb. 20 |
|
| Feb. 24 | Survey Designs – cross-sectional, comparative, longitudinal | |
| Mar. 2 | SPRING BREAK | |
| Mar. 9 | Ethnography and Interviewing | |
| Mar. 16 | NO CLASS MEETING – pandemic response – shift to online instruction; possible moves from Gainesville; shelter in place | |
| Mar. 23 | Administrative and Demographic Data
** Precis 1 due 11:59 pm, Friday, Mar. 27 (or as arranged in consultation with Dr. Koropeckyj-Cox)
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| Mar. 30 | Case Study
** Precis 2 due 11:59 pm, Friday, Apr. 3 |
|
| Apr. 6 | Historical Methods
** Precis 3 due 11:59 pm, Friday, Apr. 10 |
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| Apr. 13 | Content Analysis, Focus Groups, and Professional Writing | |
| Apr. 20 | Research Funding, Job Market and Future Plans | |
Final proposal due 5:00 pm, Monday, Apr. 27
Disclaimer: This syllabus represents my current plans and objectives. As we go through the semester, those plans may need to change to enhance the class learning opportunity. Such changes, communicated clearly, are not unusual and should be expected.
The syllabus and course materials draw heavily from Dr. Barbara Zsembik’s graduate Research Design course at UF.