1. Class Description (Use the SIS 400 Characters from Catalog Description) s1

Class Overview

General Class Information
All fields must be completed and posted in UVaCollab and World Viewable in SIS no later than two weeks prior to registration.
Subject Area
Catalog Number / IISLS 4170 / Class Title / RESEARCH PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE
Credit Type / Undergraduate
Graduate / Credit
Noncredit / Delivery Method / P (In-Person)
CI (Classroom/Internet)
WB (Web-Based)
Re-licensure
Re-certification Points / 3 / Approval Date
(For internal use only)

1. Class Description (Use the SIS 400 characters from catalog description)

THIS COURSE PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PROCESS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH: DESIGNING A STUDY, QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS, ANALYZING AND REPORTING RESULTS. USING MONOGRAPHS FROM SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY, STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE THE VARIOUS WAYS SCHOLARS USE RESEARCH TOOLS.

2. Learning Outcomes

1. THE STUDENT WILL LEARN TO DEFINE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AND WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP A “SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION.”

2. THE STUDENT WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, INCLUDING LITERATURE REVIEW, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A THESIS, QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, DATA ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING OF RESULTS.

3. THE STUDENT WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE BELMONT REPORT AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN SOCIAL RESEARCH.

4. THE STUDENT WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH THE RESOURCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LIBRARY, WITH THE AID OF THE BIS PROGRAM LIBRARIAN.

5. THE STUDENT WILL CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS WHOSE WORK REFLECTS A VARIETY OF METHODS.

6. AS A FINAL PROJECT, THE STUDENT WILL DESIGN A RESEARCH PROJECT, USING THE BASIC FORMULATIONS PRESENTED IN THE COURSE. THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECT.

7. THE STUDENT WILL PRESENT THE DESIGNED PROJECT TO THE CLASS, ONLINE, USING A POSTER CREATED IN POWERPOINT.

3. Assessment Components

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE, ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED. POINTS ASSIGNED TO EACH ASSIGNMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

MILLS RESPONSE PAPER: 5 POINTS

CLASS PRESENTATION ON JOURNAL ARTICLE: 10 POINTS

MIDTERM EXAM ON RESEARCH METHODS: 20 POINTS

TWO PAPERS (5 PAGES EACH): 10 POINTS EACH: 20 POINTS

FINAL PROJECT: 20 POINTS

ONLINE DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION: 15 POINTS

SYNCHRONOUS CLASS PARTICIPATION: 10 POINTS

4. Required Text (include ISBN, specific edition)

DENNIS COVINGTON, SALVATION ON SAND MOUNTAIN. DECAPO, 2009. 978-0306818363

JOHN W. CRESWELL, RESEARCH DESIGN, QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS APPROACHES. THIRD EDITION. SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2008. 978-1412965576

JONATHAN KOZOL, THE SHAME OF THE NATION: THE RESTORATION OF APARTHEID SCHOOLING IN AMERICA. THREE RIVERS PRESS, 2006. 978-1400052455

C. WRIGHT MILLS, THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS USA, 2000 (ORIG.1959). 978-0195133738

CHRISTIAN SMITH, AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM: EMBATTLED AND THRIVING.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS, 1996. 978-0226764191

5. Required Additional Resources and Technical Components

STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND THE BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE PLATFORM.

HEADSETS WITH MICROPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO ACCESS TWO FILMS, BY PURCHASE, RENTAL, OR ACCESS THROUGH THEIR PERSONAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. BOTH ARE AVAILABLE AT A NOMINAL FEE THROUGH AMAZON.COM:

JESUS CAMP, DIRECTED BY HEIDI EWING AND RACHEL GRADY

SUPERSIZE ME, DIRECTED BY MORGAN SPURLOCK

TWO ADDITIONAL FILMS WILL BE USED IN THIS CLASS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COLLAB SITE:

BEYOND BROWN

THE JOLO SERPENT HANDLERS

6. Other Class Expectations (for Classroom/Internet and Web-Based classes, specify any live (synchronous) meetings dates, times, delivery mode)

THE CLASS IS WEB-BASED AND WILL MEET SYNCHRONOUSLY THROUGH BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE (ACCESSED THROUGH THE COLLAB SITE) ON MONDAY EVENINGS, 8/26 THROUGH 12/2, FROM 7-8:30 P.M. THERE WILL BE NO CLASS DURING FALL BREAK, OCTOBER 14.STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ON-GOING FORUM DISCUSSIONS THROUGH THE COLLAB SITE DURING EACH WEEK.

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