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Objectives
- To learn to design research projects
- To become acquainted with different methods of data collection, processing and analysis
- To be able to understand and critically assess the value, reliability and meaning of published research
Contents
In order to understand, analyze and make sense of such diverse things as changes in public opinion, the saliency of racism in newspapers, and the comparative level of unemployment, crime or media use in different countries, research is paramount. Typically, to wonder about the particularities of, the variances in and the specific nature of social reality is the beginning of asking a research question. This course aims at providing knowledge of and experience in the different methods of social scientific research, of reading, collecting and analyzing data, the use of the prime statistical tool in the social sciences, SPSS, and the basics of uni-variate and bi-variate statistical analysis. On the basis of the knowledge acquired in this course, students will be able to critically assess the validity and reliability of published research, to develop a research design, and to collect, analyze and present data.
This is a very intensive seminar, which can only be effective through maximum preparation and the full and active participation of the students. Attendance is compulsory.
Registration at
ISHSS students can register for this course using their course registration form. More information about this course registration form can be obtained from their Programme Manager. It is not possible to register for this course through Studieweb or Blackboard.
Format
Intensive 4-week seminar.
Attendance is compulsory. If you cannot attend class you have to contact one of the instructors before class (for contact details see above). If you miss a class you will have to work on an extra assignment to make up for your absence. Missing more than one class session (morning or afternoon) means the course cannot be completed.
Time
This course will be organised from Monday 6 August 2006 until Friday 31 August, 2007. For more information please check our website
http://www.ishss.uva.nl or contact your Programme Manager.
Study materials
- Required:
- Fielding, J. & Gilbert, G. (2006, 2nd ed.),
Understanding Social Statistics. London: Sage
- Gilbert, G. (ed) (2001, 2nd ed.),
Researching Social Life. London: Sage
- Recommended:
- Salkind, N.J., (2003, 2nd ed.),
Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
- Huizingh, E. (2007),
Applied Statistics with SPSS. London: Sage.
Cost
€ 500,- (tuition fee) and extra costs for buying books.
Assessment
The assessment will be based on assignments and participation.
Students will receive one written assignment for each of the SPSS (computer) tutorials. These assignments have to be completed and handed in (in printed version) at the next tutorial except for the final two which can be handed in together with the final research proposal. By the end of the course students have to design their own research project and write a research proposal (the actual research will not be conducted). This document has to reflect the methodological knowledge obtained throughout the course (e.g. choice of research method, research question, research hypotheses, adequate use of terminology). The research topic is the choice of the student. All research proposals will be presented in class at a final class conference. A more thorough description of the requirements for the research proposal and some guidelines will be provided in class. For all assignments students will receive a pass/fail grade with the possibility to re-write a failed assignment once and hand it in again. In order to complete the course all single assignments have to receive a pass grade.
Remarks
Course IS NOT OPEN to students other than ISHSS students.
This course is only open to students in the preparatory programmes for European Communication Studies, Social Sciences, Comparative Labour and Organisation Studies and International Development Studies.
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