Research Methods Course Outline PDF

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DAWSON COLLEGE RESEARCH METHODS Term:SUMMER 300-300-DW (Section 19001) Instructor: Francine Small Department: Continuing Education Office: Office hours: send a mio to make an appointment Phone: 514-931-8731, local Email: Teacher Accessibility: See me during class or send me a mio to make an appointment REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS Neuman, Understanding Research. Second Edition GENERAL INTRODUCTION There are three Methods courses which all social science students are required to take: first Research Methods (RM), then Quantitative Methods (QM), and lastly Integrative Seminar (IS). RM, QM and IS teach students the methods used to conduct social science research. For example, students conduct an actual hands-on research project in RM, learn ways to analyze data in QM, and write a large research paper in IS. Why all this emphasis on research? Students planning to go on to university will be reading and writing a lot of research papers. Some will even be conducting their own research. Upon arrival at university, students will be expected to have a basic understanding of research, and those who can critically evaluate research will have an advantage. Whether or not students plan to go to university, leaving school having learned how to critically evaluate information using the scientific method is a plus. These methods courses teach students skills so they can make better reasoned decisions in their personal and professional lives. Research Methods is the first of the three methodology courses and is normally taken in the student’s second term of the program. The goal of the course is to apply the scientific approach to the various social science disciplines. Students identify a research problem and follow the steps to select a research method appropriate to the problem, produce a data collection tool, collect, analyze and interpret the data. The culmination of the process is a research report that presents the research steps in the context of a brief literature review of the topic. COMPETENCY, ELEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Through the Research Methods Course, the student is to apply the scientific approach used in the field of social science to empirical research. There are seven elements of the competency (022Q):

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

To explain the characteristics of the scientific approach used in Social Science. To identify a research problem. To select a research method and technique that corresponds to the problem identified. To produce a data collection tool based on the research method and technique selected. To collect data using the tool produced. To analyze the data collected. To interpret the research results.

CONTENT Corresponding to the seven elements of the competency, the content of the Research Methods course is as follows: 1. The nature and role of research: casual versus scientific. Types of research: exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, pure versus applied. Theory, hypotheses, variables, operationalization. Ethical issues in social science research. 2. Selecting a problem for research. Searching and reviewing the literature using the library, the Internet and various databases. Writing the literature review. 3. Sampling. Major data collection techniques, their advantages and limitations: experiments, surveys, questionnaires and tests, fieldwork, indirect and non-reactive methods. 4. Writing a proposal. Appropriate identification of a population and selection of a sample. Development/pre-testing/orientation, etc. appropriate to the tool, method, and instrument. 5. Carrying out data gathering stage of research. 6. Organizing and summarizing qualitative data appropriately or Organizing and summarizing quantitative data appropriately. 7. Writing a research report. STANDARDS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE To pass this course, three components must be met: 1. Students must attain a total grade of 60% for the course. 2. Students must pass the Summative Assessment. 3. Students must complete the test component. Students must obtain a 60% and pass the Summative Assessment. The Summative Assessment for this course is the Final Research Report. If the last two conditions are not met, the maximum grade a student can obtain is a 50%.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION Tests Assignments Final Research Report Class Participation Debates

40% 20% 20% 10% 10%

GRADE BREAKDOWN Test 1 15% Why do research? How to plan a research study? Ethics

June 17th

Test 2 15% Measuring Social Life Sampling Survey

June 27th

Test 3 10% Making Sense out of numbers Observations in Natural Settings

July 8th

Participation 10% Debates 10%Ethics TBA Proposal 10%

June 13th – due in class

Literature Review 10%

June 27th – due in class

Final Presentation 20% written and oral

July 15th in class

ISEP The Institutional Student Evaluation Policy (ISEP) is designed to promote equitable and effective evaluation of student learning and is therefore a crucial policy to read and understand. The policy describes the rights and obligations of students, faculty, departments, programs, and the College administration with regard to evaluation in all your courses, including grade reviews and resolution of academic grievance. The ISEP is available on the Dawson website. CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY It is important to arrive to class and lab on time and to attend all classes and labs. Participation in class activities is expected and encouraged. Students should refer to the Institutional Student Evaluation Policy (Section IV-C) regarding attendance.

RESEARCH METHODS LITERACY POLICY Students are expected to read a significant amount of material. All assignments and the project must be written using a word processor, be presented in the correct form, be well written and organized, and be grammatically correct. Writing style, grammar, and presentation will be taken into account in the evaluation and grading of student work. If you have difficulty please see the Academic Skills Centre (Rm. 6D.2) for help in improving these skills. CONVENTIONS FOR WRITTEN WORK In their written work, students must employ either the MLA or APA documentation style as selected by the instructor. TEACHING METHODS The teaching methods may include lectures, class discussions, group work, individual consultations, library visits, supervised practical work in the computer lab… ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the Dawson College policy on Cheating and Plagiarism which is contained in the Institutional Student Evaluation Policy. According to ISEP, the teacher is required to report to the Sector Dean all cases of cheating and plagiarism affecting a student's grade. (ISEP Section V-C) Plagiarism is the deliberate or accidental submission of someone else’s work as your own without acknowledging the author. Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and may result in a grade of zero for the piece of work in question, or a grade of zero in the course if circumstances warrant. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: • Copying, downloading, or including a phrase, a sentence, or a longer passage from a source and submitting it as your own. • Changing words or phrases but keeping the rest of the sentence. • Summarizing or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without a proper citation. • Handing in as your own work any material that was bought, copied or written by someone else. Cheating includes but is not limited to: • Allowing another student to copy your work. • Copying another student’s work. • Unauthorized use of notes during tests. • Falsifying references. STUDENT CONDUCT Everyone has the right to a safe and non-violent environment. Students are obliged to conduct themselves as stated in the Student Code of Conduct and in the ISEP section on the roles and responsibilities of students. (ISEP Section II-D) INTENSIVE COURSE CONFLICTS

If a student is attending an intensive course, the student must inform the teacher, within the first two (2) weeks of class, of the specific dates of any anticipated absences. POLICY ON RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES Students who intend to observe religious holidays must inform their teachers in writing as prescribed in the ISEP Policy on Religious Observances. (ISEP Section IV-D) Students must inform the teacher in writing within the first two weeks of each semester of their intent to observe the holidays so that alternative arrangements convenient to both the student and the teacher can be made at the earliest opportunity.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE Date June 06

June 10

June 12

June 13

June 17 June 19 June 20 June 24 June 26

June 27 July 1 July 03 July 04 July 08 July 10 July 11 July 15

Lectures Introduction/Overview Why do Research How do we know what we know? Activity Why do we do research? Objectivity vs Subjectivity Planning a Study Research Question and Hypothesis Literature Review How to write a Proposal? Ethics Movie – The Cube Debate Proposal Due Test 1 Sampling Measuring Social Life 13th Amendment Literature Review Work The Survey Holiday. St. Jean Baptiste The Experiment Movie the Milgram Experiment Test 2 Research with Non Reactive Measure Holiday - Canada Day Making Sense out of Numbers Observing people in natural settings Looking at the past and across cultures. Test 3 Writing a Research Report Debate Final/ Presentation

Work required for class

Chapter 1 Power point Chapter 2 Power Point

Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

This outline is subject to change....