SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Department of History & Political Science
Introduction to Research Methods
FALL SEMESTER -- 2011
Syllabus for RLST 3060
Dr. Joseph G. Njoroge, Professor & Head: Department of History and Political Science
Tel: 229-391-5087. OFFICE: Bowen Hall, Room # 211.
DR. J.
Office Hours: 10:30 – 12:30 P.M. MON-THUR, & 2:00 - 3:15 P.M. TUE/THUR. Or by an appointment.
Email: jnjoroge@abac.edu
Course Website: http://www.abac.edu/jnjoroge/
Additional lecture outlines, notes, and chapter review materials are available on my website & on webct. Please download and print these notes.
Required Text:
Earl Babbie.The practice of Social Research. 12th Edition. (Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2010).
Supplementary Text:
Earl Babbie and Theodore C. Wagenaar. The practice of Social Research: Guided Activities for Babbie. 12th Edition. (Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2010).
Recommended Text:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: APA.
Course Objectives:
This research methods course will introduce students to a variety of social science research methodologies, both practical and theoretical, for the purpose of enhancing their research skills that can be practically applied in social sciences and in Rural Studies in particular. The course introduces students to the field of research as it is practiced by social scientists. It gives students an overview of a variety of the methods used in research endeavor including, experimental method, Quantitative and Qualitative methods, survey research, and statistical analysis. Moreover, as a research and methods course designed primarily for students in the social sciences, much emphasizes is placed on developing critical thinking skills, understanding empirical theory, and the practice of research in general.
OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
1. Produce a well developed Research Design, and conduct traditional empirical research
2. Adapt traditional and applied research methods to practical applications
3. Conduct focused field research
4. Understand the philosophy of social science research and be able to analyze and interpret collected data using a variety of Techniques.
5. Produce practical and usable solutions to issues facing rural communities.
6. Document sources using accurate APA documentation style.
Course evaluation: Students will be evaluated on the following basis:
Exam I – 15%
Exam II - 15%
Exam III – 20%
Final - 20%
Research Design Project – 20%
Attendance & Participation – 10%
Extra Credit - Quizzes & Assignments – 5%
There will be in-Class and take home quizzes.
Grading Scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C =70-79, D =60-69, F =0-59
Research Design Project:
· Students will be required to produce a well developed Research Design as a major term project. Specific details for the written assignment will be discussed in class and posted later in webct VISTA
*Student Responsibility and Attendance Policy: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College expects students to attend all scheduled classes. Therefore, class attendance is required, and it is the responsibility of each student to attend all class meetings on time and stay for the duration. If you come to class after the roll is taken, it is your responsibility to let the instructor know at the end of the class period so that you can be marked present. Professor will not entertain arguments as to whether you were in class or not at later times.
*I expect all students to complete the assigned readings on time, participate in class discussions, and take the examinations as scheduled. After THREE unexcused absences, you lose class participation & attendance grade. Remember, attendance is required for all classes, and course activities including, but not limited to, field trips, seminars, study sessions, individual conferences, and lectures. Whenever you are absent, whether for official or personal reasons, you assume responsibility and provide notice to me, preferably in advance, for making arrangements for any assignments and class work missed because of the absence. You are allowed three absences in this class without penalty. Exceeding four absences will negatively impact your grade and you could receive an ‘F’.
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS will be given unless the student informs the professor sufficiently ahead of time, and offers supporting evidence showing why it would not be possible to take the exam as scheduled. There will be no make up for missed quizzes. Absence from class for whatever reason does not excuse a student from full responsibility for class work or assignments missed.
*Cell Phones: Please ensure that you turn off all cell phones during class. Personal communication is aided by technology, but it has led to a constant need to be “in touch” with each other regardless of the setting, and the erosion of social courtesy by people texting or talking on their cell phones while others are trying to conduct business. It is very distracting to be lecturing to a class about world religions while half the class has their heads down texting furiously away about how boring things are in class – how would you know if you’re not paying attention anyway? It is therefore my policy that cell phones will be turned off or not brought to class. Students will not be excused from class to use a phone or answer a page or text message unless they are sworn police officers or emergency personnel on duty. If you ignore this policy and use your phone in class I will come up to you and personally request that you stop using your electronic device once, repeated use will result in confiscation of the device, expulsion from the class for disciplinary reasons, or a spot quiz in essay form over the most recent course material, worth a full test grade.
*Class Behavior: No talking during class session unless it is to contribute to class specific discussion. Show respect to the professor and to your fellow students. No use of tobacco products allowed in class, including sniffing, chewing, & smoking.
*If you should withdraw from the course before the drop deadline, or during the semester, please ensure that you drop the class officially. Failure to withdraw yourself from the course officially after you have quit attending will lead to an assignment of an “F” grade at the end of the semester. Remember, if you drop a class after the drop deadline, you will have a “W” placed on your college permanent records. Students must see their instructor to gain permission to withdraw from a course. My teaching philosophy has always been that as long as the student is prepared to learn, I will do everything possible to ensure that each student succeeds. If, by the mid-term withdrawal deadline any student feels they cannot proceed in the course for whatever reason, and have consulted with me about their ability to succeed in the course, they may withdraw without penalty. Those students who “abandon” a class after the mid-term withdrawal deadline will receive an “F” grade once they exceed the number of unexcused absences (see policy below).
*Students with disability who require individualized testing or other accommodations should identify themselves to the instructor and express their needs.
*Academic Honesty: Any student found cheating, plagiarizing, or engaging in any other form of academic dishonesty will be reported to the appropriate department for disciplinary action which might result to receiving a grade of “WF” for the course. (See on-line ABAC Catalog and Handbook)
Entry Level Standards & pre-requisite: Reading and writing proficiency at the college level is required. The pre-requisite for this course is MATH 2000 with a grade of C or better.
Tentative Course Schedule (I reserve the right to adjust this schedule as needed)
Topic Area: Introduction and foundations of research (August 15 -September 15)
Chapter 1, Human Inquiry and Science
- Philosophy of empirical theory, Introduction and basic concepts.
Chapter 2, Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research
September 5, 2011—NO CLASSES—Labor Day!!
Chapter 3, The ethics and Politics of Social Research
Chapter 4, Research Design
(Wagenaar, Study Guide chapters 1-4.)
EXAM I
Topic Area: The Structuring of Inquiry (September 15 – October 6)
Chapter 5, Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement.
Chapter 6, Indexes, Scales, and Typologies
Chapter 13, The logic of Sampling
Chapter 8, Experiments
EXAM II
MID-TERM: Please note that October 5, 2011 is the deadline for dropping a class w/o academic penalty.
Topic Area: Modes of Observation (October 6 - November 10)
Chapter 9, Survey Research
Chapter 10, Qualitative Field Research.
Chapter 11, Unobrusive Reasearch
October 17 –18, 2011—NO CLASSES—Fall Break!!!
Chapter 12, Evaluation Research
EXAM III
Topic Area: Analysis of Data: Quantitative & Qualitative (November 10 - December 1)
Chapter 13, Qualitative Data Analysis
Chapter 14, Quantitative Data Analysis
Chapter 15, The Elaborative Model
Chapter 16, Statistical Analysis
November 23 - 25, 2011--NO CLASSES—Thanks Giving Holiday!
Topic Area: Continue – Analysis (If time permits)
Chapter 17, Reading & Writing Social Science Research.
LAST DAY OF CLASSES – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Hurrah!!!!!!
FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011 AT 2:45 –4:45 P.M.
Professor’s Note: * *Please note that I am available during my office hours to answer any questions you may have about any aspects of the course, or about assignments. You can also send me an email or call me on telephone. If you cannot reach me, please leave a message in my answering machine (229-391-5087) or at the Department of History & Political Science office (229-391-4950) and I will call you back. You may also feel free to talk to me shortly following the class, or you can make an appointment. Please take advantage of these opportunities---------
ADDITIONAL - ACADEMIC and CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR POLICIES:
· It is my philosophy that college is a voluntary program of study by adult learners. Therefore it should be the responsibility of each student to come prepared to learn and discuss the assigned material if called upon, or join in open discussion of the topic being covered. Since all college students are here on their own time in order to learn – it should not be too much to expect that they suspend all other activities for the duration of the class. Please do not come to class and disrupt the learning environment. If you are in class, then you are expected to pay attention to what is being taught. Classroom sessions are not for studying for other classes, socializing, doing homework, or conducting other personal business.
· Pagers and cell phones will be turned off or not brought to class. All students will be required to put away their headphones and “ear bug” remote devices while in class. Students will not be excused from class to use a phone or answer a page, unless they are sworn police officers or emergency personnel on duty. Text messaging while someone is teaching a lesson is very distracting and, frankly, rude and disrespectful. It is not enough that you put your phones on “private” or “silent” during class – you will be required to put them away, leave them alone, and devote your attention to learning, which is essentially why you are in the class to begin with.
· Accurate and detailed notes are an essential element in all areas of political science; it is recommended that each student be prepared to take them. Examinations will include all the material covered in class and from assigned areas of the text.
· Students are expected to be in class on time, and tardiness (beyond 15 minutes late) will not be tolerated. If you arrive beyond that time, do not interrupt the class – go to the Baldwin Library and spend the rest of the scheduled class time reading over the assigned course material. You can get with me after the class has ended to see what outside materials you might have missed. Students will not get up and leave after the class begins, unless it is a personal hygiene emergency. Sleeping should be done before, or after, but never during the classroom session. (Especially if you snore!)
· Any student with a question related to any area of the political science field should feel comfortable in asking it in class, without fear of ridicule. Any student who feels they cannot ask a question (of any topic) openly in class, or simply feels they are “not getting” the material covered in class, is encouraged to take advantage of my posted office hours or stop by before or after any classes for a private consultation.
· All students are expected to treat each other with respect, and to maintain a professional demeanor and attitude which is open to learning and open to opinions they might not share. Profane language is offensive to most people, and is both unprofessional and unacceptable. Common courtesy is expected – like waiting for another person to finish (don’t interrupt), raising your hand if you have a comment, and refraining from chatting with others while someone else is speaking, or asking inappropriate or involved questions which have nothing to do with the topic under discussion.
OFFICIAL INSTITUTIONAL ABSENCE
A student who serves as an official representative of the college is defined as one who:
1. is authorized to use the college name in public relationships outside the institution;
2. regularly interacts with non-college individuals and groups over an extended period of time (at least one semester);
3. represents the college as a part of a group and not as an individual;
4. represents the college under the direct supervision of a college faculty or staff member; and
5. is authorized in writing, in advance, by the President of the college.
Midterm Advisory Grades
Midterm Advisory Grades will be reported on Banner Web to any student who has a “C,” “D,” or “F” in any class. The number of class absences will be posted for all students. Advisory grades are not entered on the student’s permanent record. Students should note that these grades are advisory and will not necessarily reflect the final grade earned in a course. These grades are intended to provide students with information in order to improve their performance in the second half of the semester. Students are responsible for checking Banner Web when grades and absences have been reported. Students who receive grades should meet with their instructors to develop plans for success in the second half of the semester. Students should also take advantage of study groups and plan for ongoing conferences with instructors in order to monitor their progress. ABAC provides free tutorial assistance for most courses through the Academic Assistance Center (AAC); in addition to other academic support activities, students should work with their instructors to establish tutoring in the AAC.
Due Process for Academic Dishonesty Cases:
Step 1. When a faculty member suspects that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty, the faculty member will call the student into a private meeting in the faculty member’s office. (The division chair will be notified of and will approve any action.)
Step 2. The faculty member will confront the student with the evidence of dishonesty and/or academic irregularity. The faculty member and the student will discuss the specifics of what occurred. If the student confesses and accepts responsibility for academic dishonesty, then the faculty member will ask the student to sign in his/her own handwriting, a statement which makes clear that the student admits responsibility for the academic dishonesty. The faculty member will then consult with the division chair. The faculty member is then free to reprimand the student, to give a failing grade for the assignment, or to require the student to resubmit the assignment in question. With approval of the division chair, the faculty member can increase the penalty up to and including a “WF” for the course if the incident(s) merit this severe penalty.
Step 3. If the student refuses to sign a statement accepting responsibility for the act(s) of academic dishonesty, then a full hearing on the matter must be held. The faculty member and chair will document this incident and schedule a meeting with the student. This information will be turned over to the Academic Dean, who will make the determination of charges against the student and notify him/her in writing. The charges will be mailed by the Academic Dean to the student along with a notice to appear at a hearing, and, if the student wishes, to bring witnesses. At least three days’ notice is necessary unless the student waives the notice in writing.
Step 4. If the student requests a hearing, the Academic Dean has the option of hearing the case for administrative adjudication, convening a special hearing panel including faculty and students, or of referring it to the Student Life Hearing panel which handles all other disciplinary matters on campus. The committee will provide its recommendation to the
Academic Dean. The Student Life Hearing Panel, when hearing cases of academic
dishonesty, will include two faculty members, two students (one of whom will be the
SGA president and the other an associate justice,) and the Director of Student Life, who
oversees campus discipline and the Code of Conduct. The Chief Justice of the SGA chairs the panel. The Vice President for Student Affairs will serve as advisor to the panel for all academic dishonesty cases. In general, the decision of the Academic Dean or his/her designee will not be appealed to the Student Life Hearing Panel. An appeal of the Dean’s decision will go directly to the President who may choose to use the Student Life Hearing Panel to make a recommendation to him.
Step 5. The student has a right to appeal the decision of the hearing officer or hearing panel
within ten calendar days of the decision. The appeal will be to the President or his
designee. The President’s decision is final. The President reserves the right to review all
disciplinary cases and the judgments made during the process.
STUDENT CONTRACT:
I have read and understand the terms of the course syllabus for Dr. Joseph G. Njoroge’s RLST 3060 class. I agree to adhere to and abide by the requirements of this class as stated therein.
NAME (print) ________________________________________
STUDENT ID NUMBER _______________________________
SIGNATURE ________________________________________
DATE _______________________________
Please print this page, complete it, sign and date it. Then bring it to class and turn it in.