Course Description
Conceptual approach to social science research and developing skills to conduct independent fieldwork. Exploration of a range of data collection and analysis techniques including quantitative and qualitative approaches. Includes consideration of ethics and community-engaged research and communicating findings.
Athena Title
Social Science Research
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Explain how social scientists generate knowledge about the social world and their scientific basis of inquiry 2. Acquire working familiarity with a range of methods used to collect and analyze field data 3. Select and apply appropriate methods for a variety of research questions 4. Design research to answer specific research questions 5. Effectively communicate research findings
Topical Outline
1. Social science perspectives 2. Co-developed research 3. Interdisciplinary and team science 4. Data collection a. Ethical research, IRB, field safety b. In the field: participant observation, fieldnotes c. Sampling d. Semi-structured and structured interviews e. Surveys 5. Data analysis a. Grounded theory and schema analysis b. Content analysis c. Cultural consensus analysis 6. Presenting research findings a. Mixed methods and ethnographic data