Course Description
Designed to introduce students to some basic skills and analytical methods essential in social science aspects of natural resource management and outdoor recreation. It will introduce students to theory and applied approaches applicable in collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative as well as qualitative data in social science.
Athena Title
Soc Sci Methods in Nat Res
Prerequisite
Permission of major and (STAT 2000 or STAT 2000E or STAT 2100H or BIOS 2010 or BIOS 2010E or FANR 2010-2010L or BUSN 3000 or BUSN 3000E or BUSN 3000H or UNIV 1108)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course has the following objectives: • To provide students with an overview of the theoretical background and key concepts in social science research • To familiarize students with the measurement process and evaluation of measurement indicators and instruments • To provide students with an understanding of experiments in social science studies • To help students design and implement a social survey related to human dimensions of outdoor recreation and natural resource management • To introduce students to basic skills and analytical techniques necessary for collecting, analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data related to natural resource management • To familiarize students with basic financial management and economic evaluation approaches
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to Social Science Approach 2. Conceptualization and Measurement 3. Fundamentals of Experiments 4. Survey Methods 5. Data Analysis 6. Qualitative Methods 7. Historical and Comparative Methods 8. Visitation Estimation