Research Methods

  Research Methods Assignment Hint: swipe through items ↔ Kreuzna Miller Home Settings Calendar Tutorials About Contact AMU Logout SOCI331 I002 Sum 17 3 items (0 unread) Assignments for SOCI331 I002 Sum 17 Assignment 1: Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Variables Due Aug 27, 2017 (18 days ago) Assignment 1: CONCEPTUALIZING AND OPERATIONALIZING VARIABLES (25 points) Due 11:55pm EST on Sunday of Week 3 PURPOSE: The purpose of this exercise is to conceptualize and operationalize variables, and understand how conceptual and operational definitions impact the conclusions drawn about variables. WRITING REQUIREMENTS: The essay should be 4-6 pages. APA formatting should be used throughout (cover page, running header, major heading, subheadings, in-text citations, and reference list). Any time you paraphrase or directly quote a source, in-text citations should be used. A full APA-formatted reference should be included at the end of the assignment. Academically, no more that 20% of the essay should be quoted. At least 80% should be in your own words. The essay should include the following subheadings: Definitions Conceptualizes race Operationalizes race Census Bureau changes How changes to variables affect conclusions Reflection INSTRUCTIONS: Make sure to follow the directions in order. First, provide a definition of the terms: ″conceptual definition″ and ″operational definition″. Next, conceptualize and operationalize the variable “race.” Read the Census Bureau’s report on race at: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2011/dec/c2010br-02.pdf. Answer the following questions after reading the report: What changes did the Bureau make to the conceptualization and operationalization of race in the 2000 census? Why did the Bureau make these changes? Could the difference in operationalization produce different conclusions about race? Does the Bureau’s conceptualization and operationalization of race coincide with yours? If so, how? If not, what is different? Grading Rubric CATEGORY Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning Did not attempt Definitions Provides the correct definition of both terms. Provides context for why these terms are important. (1 pt) Provides the correct definition of both terms. (.85pt) Provides the definition of both terms, definition may be unclear or need elaboration. (.75pt) Definition of one term may be missing or inaccurate. (.65pt) Neither term is defined or definitions are provided but both are incorrect. (0pt) Conceptualizes race Race is accurately conceptualized in detail. (3pts) Race is accurately conceptualized. (2.6pts) Race is somewhat accurately conceptualized. More development or some additional clarification needed. (2.3pts) Race is not accurately conceptualized. Significantly more development and clarification needed. (2pts) Race is not conceptualized. (0pt) Operationalizes race Race is accurately operationalized in detail. (3) Race is accurately operationalized. (2.6pts) Race is somewhat accurately operationalized. More development or some additional clarification needed. (2.3pts) Race is not accurately operationalized. Significantly more development and clarification needed. (2pts) Race is not operationalized. (0pt) Discussion of Census Bureau changes Uses Census Bureau report to discuss changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. (5pts) Uses Census Bureau report to discuss changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. (4.8pts) Uses Census Bureau report to discuss changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. (3.8pts) Uses Census Bureau report to discuss changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. (3.3pts) Uses Census Bureau report to discuss changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. (0pt) Identify, describe, and explain census changes Uses Census Bureau report to identify and describe changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. Detailed explanation of why the changes were made. (5pts) Uses Census Bureau report to identify changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. Explains why the changes were made. (4.8pts) Uses Census Bureau report to identify changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. Changes may not be described fully or clarification may be needed. Some explanation of why the changes were made. (3.8pts) Attempts to identify changes made to how race was conceptualized and operationalized in the 2010 census. Does not use or refer to specifics from the Census Bureau report. Little or no explanation of why the changes were made. (3.3pts) Does not identify changes made in the Census Bureau report. Does not explain why the changes were made. (0pt) Discussion of how changes to variables affect conclusions Insightful and detailed discussion of if and how these differences could produce different conclusions about race. (3pts) Provides discussion of if and how these differences could produce different conclusions about race. (2.6pts) Provides discussion of if and how these differences could produce different conclusions about race. Some clarification and additional detail needed. (2.3pts) Provides some discussion of if and how these differences could produce different conclusions about race. May include inaccuracies; significantly more detail needed. (2pts) No discussion of if and how these differences could produce different conclusions about race. (0pts) Reflection Detailed reflection on how the Census Bureau′s conceptualization and operationalization of race connects with personal views of race. (3pts) Reflection on how the Census Bureau′s conceptualization and operationalization of race connects with personal views of race. (2.6pts) Some reflection on how the Census Bureau′s conceptualization and operationalization of race connects with personal views of race. More development and detail needed. (2.3pts) Limited reflection on how the Census Bureau′s conceptualization and operationalization of race connects with personal views of race. (2pts) No reflection included. (0pts) Writing Expectations and APA Format Follows writing expectations. Includes a title page. Included APA formatted in-text citations and full references for all paraphrased and quoted work from other sources (1pt) Some writing expectations may have been missed. Minor errors in APA formatting of citations. (.85pt) Writing expectations somewhat followed. Multiple errors in APA formatting of citations (.75pt) Writing expectations not followed; little use of APA format (.65pt) Writing expectations not met; APA format not attempted (0pt) Grammar and spelling Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content (1pt) Author makes a couple errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. (.85pt) Author makes a few errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content (.75pt) Authors makes many errors in grammar and spelling that the intent of the paper is difficult to understand (.65pt) Authors makes so many errors in grammar and spelling that the intent of the paper cannot be understood (0pt) Assignment 2: Field Observation Due Sep 10, 2017 (4 days ago) SOCIOLOGY 331 RESEARCH METHODS Assignment 2: Field Observation (25 points): Due no later than 11:55p ET on Sunday of Week 5 Purpose: The purpose of this two-step exercise is for you to conduct inductive and deductive research using qualitative methods. Note: it is important that you conduct the observations as two distinct events during this class; ‘recalling’ past observations is not the same as purposefully observing your surroundings from a sociological perspective, and applying two different types of reasoning to one observation will not be ‘truthful’ or successful. The purpose of this exercise if for you to observe one social setting or social artifact to begin to detect patterns in human behavior – observance of norms and potentially behaviors that deviate from the norm. This week’s exercise includes two parts. First, without any prep work, you will need to go to one public place (or conduct content analysis with your social artifact) and observe the people/artifact for 25 minutes. Social Setting: Note people’s behavior, their demeanor, their reactions/interactions to/with each other. Social artifact: from second to second (for TV), or page to page (for print), Note themes, sounds (i.. music), texture of page (i.e. ads in magazine), etc. Second, you will develop a research design with research problem, hypothesis and operational definitions for variables; then you will conduct another 25 minutes of observations. WRITING REQUIREMENTS: The essay should be 4.6 pages. APA formatting should be used throughout (cover page, running header, major heading, subheadings, in-text citations, and reference page, 1″ margins, 12 point fonts, Times New Roman). Any time you paraphrase or directly quote a source, in-text citations should be used. A full APA-formatted reference should be included at the end of the assignment. Academically, no more that 20% of the essay should be quoted. At least 80% should be in your own words. Within the 4-6-page essay, you will include the following subheadings: Observation Desсrіption Trends, Social Concepts, and Theories Research Problem/Question(s) Hypothesis Variables identified and operationalized Analysis Compared Inductive to Deductive Approach Reflection Disclaimer Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results. Part 1 1) Choose whether or not you will be conducting non-participant observation in a social setting, or content analysis of a social artifact a. Social setting: this should be a public place such as a park, mall, restaurant, etc. b. Social artifact: this may be ads in a particular magazine; one television show, a time-block of commercials, etc. 2) For your inductive approach, you will simply choose a time and location/artifact for where you are going to conduct your observations 3) a. Social Setting: Go to the specified location and proceed with your observations. i. You must be a keen social observer; a ‘peeping Tom’ in the sociological sense. Take handwritten (recommended) and/or mental notes of: 1. details about your chosen location (time of day, lighting, furniture, plants, sounds, temperature, smell, vibe/energy, etc) 2. the people around you, not only their behavior but general information about their sociodemographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, SES, etc); 3. your thoughts and feelings while making observations Social Artifact: At a specified time (i.e. when a particular show is), carefully observe your social artifact i. Content analysis provides a sustained, systematic way to observe and measure the portrayal of that reality, as opposed to the quick, impressionistic way that we normally read consume media. Take handwritten notes of: 1. Details about the setting in the images you see (lighting, furniture, background, vibe/energy portrayed); if audio-visual (note sounds such as pitch of voice, music, etc) 2. Note details about the people portrayed, not only their behavior but general information about their sociodemographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, SES, sexuality); 4) When you have returned from you observation, type up your notes. Review your notes for patterns in behavior, socio-demographic characteristics, etc. 5) Write-up your observations using ‘thick desсrіption’ of the location (i.e. building you were in (what is the architecture like), desсrіptions of people there (in terms of socio- demographic characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status), sounds, smells, temperature, time of day and week, etc); 6) Analyze trends you identified in your observations/content analysis. What is a possible sociological/theoretical explanation for the trends you observed? This is best done by using peer-reviewed sources (journal articles no more than five years old) to provide credibility to your analyses. Include at least one. Part 2 7) Based on your initial observations and written analyses, develop a specific research problem/question to be further investigated (i.e. the variation in behavior of males versus females when entering a store with a glass store front) 8) Identify the key variables you are going to be investigating, and develop an operational definition for each of them (this should include at least two variables, but not more than four). Your operational definitions will help to provide parameters for how record variations in your observations. 9) Write a hypothesis for what you expect to observe in your second round of observations. 10) Repeat observations/content analysis a. Social Setting – this should be done at the same social setting at approximately the same time of day (if you can do this one week later on the same day, it would be great!) b. Social Artifact – this should be done at the same time (if commercial block), or with the same show, or with a different issue of the same magazine , etc. 11) When you have returned from you observation, type up your notes. Review your notes for patterns in behavior, socio-demographic characteristics, etc. and how they corresponded with your expectations/hypothesis 12) Describe observations using ‘thick desсrіption’ of the location (i.e. building you were in (what is the architecture like), desсrіptions of people there (in terms of socio-demographic characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status), sounds, smells, temperature, time of day and week, etc); 13) Analyze your observations in terms of how they supported/did not support your hypothesis. 14) What is a possible sociological/theoretical explanation for the trends you observed? This is best done by using peer reviewed sources (journal articles no more than five years old) to provide credibility to your analyses. Include at least one. 15) Discuss the differences between your inductive observations and your deductive observations. How did the way you were observing change? How did what you observed change? 16) Briefly describe your thoughts/feelings in the two steps. Did you prefer one approach to the other? Why/why not? Grading Rubric CATEGORY Outstanding Above Average Average Below Average Unacceptable Observation Desсrіption Provided thick desсrіption of observations/content analysis with a lot of detail about social setting and socio-demographic characteristics of people observed (5 pts) Needed some elaboration on either social setting or socio- demographic characteristics of people observed (4 pts) Need significantly more detail about social setting or socio-demographic characteristics observed; or some elaboration on both (3.5 pts) Summary of observations lacks detail overall (3pt) No summary of norm breaking behavior included (0-2 pts) Research Problem/Question Clearly identified a specific, measurable research problem (3 pts) Clearly identified research problem (2.5 pts) Identified a research problem; it needs some refining/specification (2 pts) Research problem unclear, not easily measured (1.5 pts) Research problem not specified or very unclear (0-1 pts) Variables identified and operationalized Clearly identified and operationalized 2+ variables that are clearly used in the research problem (3 pts) Clearly identified and operationalized 2 variables that are clearly used in the research problem (2.5 pts) Identified and operationalized 2 variables that are from the research problem (2 pts) Missing one variable or operationalization; or variables not clearly associated with/from research problem (1.5 pts) Variables incorrect; missing operationalizations; variables unrelated to research problem (0-1 pts) Hypothesis Succinct hypothesis predicts relationship between two+ variables, based on research problem; in statement form (2 pts) Hypothesis in statement form; clearly specify ‘relationship’ between two variables (1.6 pts) Hypothesis not in statement form; needs to more clearly specify ‘relationship’ between two variables (1.4 pts) Hypothesis unclear; does not specify relationship (1.2) Hypothesis not related or missing (0-1pts) Analysis Clearly analyzed and applied relevant sociological theory(ies) to analysis of observations/content analysis. Includes more than two journal articles (5 pts) Clearly use sociological theory(ies) to analyze observations/content analysis (3.5 pts). Includes two journal articles. (4 pts) Need to more clearly use sociological theory(ies) to analyze observations/content analysis (3.5 pts). Includes two journal articles. Analysis based entirely on opinion, or application to theory unclear (3 pts) Did not apply sociological theory to analysis (0-2 pts) Reflection Included detailed discussion of your experience of the situation (1pts) Included discussion of your experience of the situation (.8) Need to elaborate on your experience of the situation (.7 pt) Include brief discussion on your experience of the situation (.6) No discussion of your experience of the situation (0-.5 pts) Compared Inductive to Deductive Approach Thoughtful discussion about differences between the two approaches; clearly illustrate understanding of the two approaches (3pts) Needed some elaboration in discussion (2.5 pts) Need significant elaboration about differences between two approaches (2 pts) Discussion lacks clarity and detail overall (1.5 pt) No discussion of comparison (0-1 pts) APA Formatted Citations Included APA formatted in- text citations and full references for ALL paraphrased and quoted work from other sources (3 pts) Minor errors in APA formatting of citations (2.5 pts) Multiple errors in APA formatting of citations (2 pt) Missing some citations, and errors in APA formatting (1.5 pts) No citations included (0-1 pts) Assignment 3: Questionnaire Due Sep 24, 2017 (in 10 days) SOCIOLOGY 331 RESEARCH METHODS Assignment 3: Questionnaire (25 points): Due no later than 11:55p ET on Sunday of Week 7 Purpose: The purpose of exercise is to develop a short questionnaire containing both close-ended survey questions and open-ended questions. Students will go through the research design process from research question, to survey construction, to analysis of survey results and theory building using a peer-reviewed article. WRITING REQUIREMENTS: The essay should be 4-6 pages. APA formatting should be used throughout (cover page, running header, major heading, subheadings, in-text citations, and reference list). Any time you paraphrase or directly quote a source, in-text citations should be used. A full APA-formatted reference should be included at the end of the assignment. Academically, no more that 20% of the essay should be quoted. At least 80% should be in your own words. The essay should include the following subheadings: · Introduction (briefly explain your topic) · Research Questions · Conceptual and Operational Definitions · Hypothesis · Sampling Design · Questionnaire Results and Analysis · Peer Reviewed Article · Discussion · Reflection Disclaimer Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results. 1.Research Question 1) Develop two clear, specific, sociological research question that will investigate the relationship between two social phenomena/behaviors/facts. 2. Conceptual and Operational Definitions 2) Clearly identify the variables in your research question 3) Identify which variable is your independent variable, and which variable is your dependent variable. 4) Provide a conceptual definition for each variable. (i.e. similar to dictionary definition) 5) Describe what ‘type’ of variable each variable is. 6) Provide an operational definition for each variable. (i.e. how the variable is going to be measured) 3. Hypothesis 7) Develop a hypothesis for your research question – a statement of what direction you believe the relationship between your two variables will be. 4. Questionnaire Construction 8) Develop 5-10 closed-ended questions (*for groups: 10-15 questions) a. Some of these should measure basic socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. age, race/ethnicity, gender, SES) b. The rest should be indicators for your variables c. These should be constructed based on the ‘type’ of variable you are measuring. 9) Develop 2-5 open-ended questions for to help measure your variables (* for groups: 3-7 questions) a. This is going to help provide some rich qualitative information and serve as a check for the internal validity of your close-ended questions 5. Sampling Design 10) Describe your population, sampling frame, and method 11) Describe your sample 6. Administer the Questionnaire 12) Have 3-5 people complete your questionnaire. (*for groups: 10 people per person) a. This may be done face-to-face where you ask the questions, the respondent answers, and you record the information b. This may be done via a form that people fill out (i.e. it could have been sent to some friends/family via email or handed to them in the kitchen) c. When asking people to complete the questionnaire, you need to inform them that it is voluntary, and their identity will be kept confidential i. Do not put a place for name on the questionnaire 6. Compile the results of your questionnaire into a table 13) This provides you with a simple count 14) *For groups only: consolidate data and consult with professor by Week 6 about data analysis. Sample Table Indicators Respondent 1 Respondent 1 Socio-demographic measures Age 38 24 Gender female Male Etc. Variable 1 Measured by Q1 C – neither agree nor disagree A – strongly agree Q3 D - disagree B - agree Q8 (open-ended) R1 described their daily activities in the household… R2 described their daily activities in the household… Variable 1 Measured by Q2 5 hours 29 hours Q5 3 days a week 7 days a week Etc. 7. Analyze the results of your questionnaire 15) Provide desсrіptive statistics (counts) of the responses 16) Identify trends in the data results 17) Explains how these results help you to answer your research question 8. Peer-Reviewed Article 18) Find 1 peer- reviewed article that is related to your research question. 19) Briefly describe the article (thesis/research question, hypothesis, methods, findings) 20) Compare and discuss the methods and findings of the article to your own small study 9. Discussion 21) Briefly summarize the research purposes, methodologies, and key findings (in a non-statistical manner) of your study 22) What are the strengths of your study and findings 23) What are the weaknesses of your study and findings 24) Discuss implications for future research on your research question 10. Reflection 25) Briefly discuss what you learned about research methods through this assignment.