SOC2131 Social Research Methods II
NOTE: Both sections of methods have the same syllabus.
Saint Joseph's University
Soc 2131 Research Methods II Dr. Marybeth Ayella
Spring 1997 Office: B/L 218
MWF 10-10:50 Phone: 660-1683
BEL101 & SC129 Office Hours: M & W 2-4;
e-mail: mayella F 11:15-11:55; & app't.
COURSE EXPECTATION
Course Description:
The second part of this course will deal with data
analysis. This part of the course will be conducted primarily
in the computer classroom, and it will entail your gaining a
hands-on knowledge of SPSS, the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences.
This semester will entail a lot more participation on your
part. Because of this emphasis on participation, please complete
readings or assignments before the class where the
reading/assignment will be discussed.
I remind you that Research Methods is considered a difficult
course, and that it requires a lot of work outside the classroom.
At the minimum, 6 hours of reading and work is expected beyond
class time.
Computer Classroom Use:
We will be meeting every Monday and Friday in BEL101, the
computer classroom. No food or drink of any kind is permitted in
this room, in order to protect the computer equipment. I will
strictly enforce this policy. In addition, it is our
responsibility to notify Sally Milliken about computers that do
not work. If you are at a computer that does not work, please
get out a sheet of paper, write down the number of the non-
functioning computer (on top), and write down the problem you
have experienced. I will collect these for each class and will
notify Sally Milliken.
Each student will need to bring the disk from Earl Babbie
and Fred Halley's Adventures in Social Research: Data Analysis
Using SPSS for Windows (Pine Forge Press, 1995), as well as the
book, to each class. You must also make a copy of the disk the
first week of class, and put this copy away in a safe place. You
must put your name on the disk and its copy immediately. Make
sure that you take your disk out of the computer at the end of
each class.
We will go step by step through the Babbie and Halley book
in class and in lab. In addition, you will need to use the
computer lab outside of class, to complete classwork and to do
your data entry and analysis. You will thus become familiar with
the computers in both our classroom and the computer lab.
Course Requirements:
Final grades for the course will be based on the following
components:
1 mid-term exam 25%
1 paper 30%
final exam 25%
lab and class participation 20%
Lab and class participation will include regular attendance,
participation in group exercises, and completion of a set of
exercises.
Exams and the final grade will be graded on the following scale:
A 94-100 C 74-76
A- 90-93 C- 70-73
B+ 87-89 D+ 66-69
B 84-86 D 60-65
B- 80-83 F Under 60
C+ 77-79
Class Attendance and Participation:
Class participation is defined as regular attendance and
participation in discussion and class (in and out of class) and
lab activities. All students are expected to attend all class
meetings. More than 5 class absences will make you liable for an
FA grade. If you are absent for an extended period of time for a
legitimate reason, you must notify Fr. Moore, who will then
contact me. It is your responsibility to inform me of your
absences, and your responsibility to make up all work that you
miss.
Exams must be taken on the scheduled date; make-up exams
will be given only in exceptional circumstances, e.g., illness
(with a doctor's note and notification of Fr. Moore) or death in
the family. Assignments must be handed in on time; late
assignments will be downgraded. At times there may be the
opportunity for extra-credit assignments.
Academic Honesty:
I will strictly enforce the University's academic honesty policy.
Required Readings:
The two books purchased last semester are the books we will
use this semester. The books are:
Russell K. Schutt's Investigating the Social World (Pine
Forge Press, 1996).
Earl Babbie and Fred Halley's Adventures in Social Research:
Data Analysis Using SPSS for Windows (Pine Forge Press,
1995).
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1
1/22 BL306 Introduction to the course.
1/24 BEL101 Introduction to SPSS for Windows: Bring Babbie and
Halley (B&H) book, the accompanying disk and a new
disk, your login and password.
Reading: Chapters 1-5 of B&H.
Week 2
1/27 BEL101 Introduction to SPSS for Windows (continued).
1/29 BL306 Describing Data: read pp. 373-389 of Schutt.
Preparing your data for SPSS: read Appendix B of
B&H.
1/31 BEL101 Begin univariate data analysis: read ch. 6 of B&H.
Week 3
2/3 BEL101 Univariate data analysis (continued).
2/5 BL 306 Summarizing univariate distributions: read pp.
389-400 of Schutt.
2/7 BEL101 Univariate data analysis (cont'd): read chs. 7&8
of B&H.
Week 4
2/10 BEL101 Creating composite measures: read ch. 9 of B&H.
2/12 BL 306 Introduction to crosstabs: read pp. 400-403 of
Schutt.
2/14 BEL101 Creating composite measures (continued).
Week 5
2/17 BEL101 Creating composite measures (continued).
2/19 BL 306 Understanding Crosstabs.
2/21 BEL101 Your turn at univariate data analysis: read ch. 10
of B&H.
Week 6
2/24 BEL101 Begin bivariate data analysis: read ch. 11 of B&H.
2/26 BL 306 Shifting from describing to explaining: Why are
some people more religious than others?
2/28 BEL101 Continue bivariate data analysis: read ch. 12 of
B&H.
Week 7
3/3 BEL101 Bivariate data analysis and exam preparation.
3/5 BL 306 MID-TERM EXAM
3/7 BEL101 Bivariate data analysis: "What Causes Different
Attitudes Toward Abortion?": read ch. 13 of B&H.
SPRING BREAK MARCH 10-14
Week 8
3/17 BEL101 Complete bivariate data analysis using crosstabs.
3/19 BL 306 Evaluating association: read pp. 403-405 of Schutt
and ch. 14 of B&H.
3/21 BEL101 Measures of association: lambda (pp. 129-133 of
B&H).
Week 9
3/24 BEL101 Measures of association: gamma (pp. 134-140 of
B&H).
3/26 BL 306 Tests of significance: chi-square (read ch. 15 of
B&H).
3/28 GOOD FRIDAY - NO CLASSES
Week 10
3/31 EASTER MONDAY - NO CLASSES
4/2 BL 306 Discussion of your research paper: read Appendix
C, "The Research Report," in B&H and ch. 12,
"Reporting Research Results," of Schutt.
4/4 BEL101 Tests of significance (continued).
Week 11
4/7 BEL101 Multivariate analysis: read ch. 17 of B&H and pp.
405-411 of Schutt.
4/9 BL 306 Analyzing your data.
4/11 BEL101 Analyzing your data.
Week 12
4/14 BEL101 Completing the research report.
4/16 BL 306 No class - RESEARCH PAPERS DUE BY 5 P.M.
4/16 Additional office hours: 10-5
4/18 BEL101 Further bivariate analysis: read ch. 16 of B&H.
Week 13
4/21 BEL101 Completing bivariate analysis: ch. 16 of B&H.
4/23 BL 306 Multivariate analysis: read ch. 18 of B&H
4/25 BEL101 Multivariate analysis (continued).
Week 14
4/28 BEL101 Multivariate analysis: read ch. 19 of B&H.
4/30 BL 306 Preparation for final exam.
5/2 BEL101 Review of class.
FINAL EXAM ON SCHEDULED DATE DURING EXAM WEEK
Resources for Methods