Schedule, Sociology 2155, Fall 2007 , UMD
Instructor: Bruce Mork

Subject to change (Check the web schedule if you miss class)

Date Class topics & activities Assignment
Week 1    
Wednesday, Sept 5  Introductions.  
Friday, Sept 7 Everyday knowledge vs. journalism vs sociological knowledge Reading Assignment (RA): C/S, ch 1

Week 2: Monday-- Sept 10

Theory and research Evaluating web resources. Web homeless assignment
Wednesday, Sept 12 Video: " The First Measured Century, Part I " RA: C/S, ch 2
Friday, Sept 14    
Week 3 : Monday--Sept 17

Measurement.

RA: C/S, ch 3
Wednesday, Sept 19 Video: " The First Measured Century, Part II "  
Friday, Sept 21   RA: C/S, ch 4
Week 4: Monday--Sept 24 Video: "Against All Odds, Samples and Surveys". Sampling techniques.  
Wednesday, Sept 26 Kathryn Fuller: Literature searches using library web pages R.A.: C/S, Appendix A, Finding information
Friday, Sept 28 Survey Research R.A. C/S, ch 6.
Week 5: Monday, Oct 1 More survey research.  
Wednesday, Oct 3 And still more survey research MSNBC sex survey
"First Measured Century : the Kinsey Reports
 
Friday, Oct 5 Review, exam one SPSS 1
Study Guide
Week 6: Monday, Oct 8 Exam One  
Wednesday Oct 10 Quantitative measures in social research. Recoding in SPSS. .

RA: C/S, ch 9 (pp. 228-245)

Friday, Oct 12 Composite measures in SPSS. SPSS 2
Week 7:Monday, Oct 15 Bivariate relationships. SPSS 3
Wednesday, Oct 17 Groups: choosing a survey topic . ASA Guide to Citations and References R.A: C/S, ch 9, pp. 246-249. Survey topic assignment, including literature search
Friday, Oct 19 More bivariate relationships. Data entry. SPSS 4
Week 8: Monday Oct 22 Research proposals. Groups: working on research proposals and questionnaires. Questionnaires due by Wednesday R.A. C/S, ch. 10, pp. 257-273. One member of each group to bring laptop computer to class.
Wednesday, Oct 24 Elaborating bivariate relationships (controlling for a third variable) . SPSS 5 Questionnaires due.
Friday, Oct 26 Working on research proposals One member of each group to bring laptop computer to class. Survey questions due to instructor.

Week 9: Monday, Oct 29

More elaboration. SPSS 6
Wednesday, Oct 31 Groups: Analyzing results of survey. Research proposals due. One member of each group to bring a laptop computer.
Friday, Nov 2 Survey reports. Brief review of readings from S/K to facilitate selections for group presentation.

 

R.A.: C/S, ch 10, 273-280

Week 10: Monday, Nov 5 Experiment and Causality. Study guide 2 distributed (includes SPSS assignment to be completed in advance of test) R.A: C/S, ch 5. Bring list of top 5 preferences for presentations from S/K.
Wednesday, Nov 7 Video: "Constructing Social Reality". Review. Study Guide 2.
Friday, Nov 9 Exam Two (Bring SPSS assignment)  
Week 11: Monday, Nov 12 Evaluation research. Work session, survey research report. No reading assignments this week so you can finish your survey reports.
Wednesday, Nov 14 Evaluation research
 
Friday, Nov 16 Video: "The Stolen Eye" Survey Reports due.
Week 12: Monday, Nov 19 Qualitative research methods. Introduce field work assignment. R.A: C/S, ch. 7.
Wednesday, Nov 21 Presentation example: "The Fieldworker and the Surgeon" Work session: Presentations S/K, Preface, introduction, and your presentation reading
Friday, Nov 23 No class; Thanksgiving holiday  
Week 13: Monday, Nov 26 More qualitative methods. Work session: presentations R.A: S/K, Anderson, Stack
Wednesday, Nov 28 Presentations: Anderson, , Williams, Sullivan and Ellefson R.A: Williams, Sullivan and Ellefson
Friday, Nov 30 Presentations: Horowitz, McNamara R.A.: Horowitz, Mcnamara. Field research assignment due
Week 14: Monday, Dec 3 Presentations: Harper, Whyte R.A.: Harper, Whyte
Wednesday, Dec 5 Presentations: Sterk, Kornblum R.A.: Sterk, Kornblum
Friday, Dec 7 Presentations: Ayala, Morales R.A.: Ayala, Morales
Week 15: Monday, Dec 10 Present results of group surveys  
Wednesday, Dec 12 Analyzing qualitative data R.A.: C/S, ch. 8
Friday, Dec 14 Review. Study guide 3.  

Final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 17, 8.00-9:55 a.m.