Fall 2009

SOC 387J • FUNDAMENTALS OF RESEARCH METHS

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an introductory overview of sociological research methods. The course objectives are to develop your understanding of (1) the basic elements of an empirical sociological study, (2) how to produce an empirical sociological study, (3) the major methodological approaches used by contemporary sociologists; and (4) think critically about research. We will cover research design and the structure of inquiry, the role of theory in empirical research, argument construction, causal inference, ethics, political and policy implications of research, approaches to inquiry (quantitative, qualitative and ethnographic, experimental, historical comparative), and reporting and reviewing research.

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