KING'S
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SOCIOLOGY 3306a Sec570
Investigating the Social
World: Quantitative Research
Instructor: Professor Patricia Pakvis
Office:
DL240
Phone: Office
519-433-3491
E-mail: pakvis@uwo.ca
Web Page:
http://publish.uwo.ca/~pakvis/
Dates: September 8 - December 1, 2011
Day/Times: Thursdays
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: King's DL012 and W143
Office Hours: Thursdays
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
or by appointment in my office at other
times
TA: Catherine
Gelinas cpgelina@uwo.ca
Office
hours (DL224) - Tuesdays - 12:30 - 1:30 pm in DL224
Lab hours (W045) -
Tuesdays - 1:30 - 3:30 pm
-
Fridays - 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Computer Lab Consultant in W045: Gebremariam Woldemicael
Hours: - Wednesdays - 2:30-4:30 p.m.
-
Thursdays - 4:30- 8:30 p.m.
-
Fridays - 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Tutors are available for this course if needed. The cost for tutoring is your
responsibility.
For
tutoring, please contact: Catherine Gelinas cpgelina@uwo.ca
or Michael Haight haight.michael5@gmail.com
important messages:
***NEW*** Final Exam
Information
1. Click
here for complete instructions on how to access the spss data sets (Thanks
to Catherine and chris atkinson for this!)
2. Click this
link for tips on using the variables in the CCHS file
3. Click on
this link for important information re remote access
Prerequisites and Antirequisites:
|
|
Old course # |
New course # |
|
Prerequisite |
Honours:
at least 60% in Soc231 Non-honours: at least 70% in Soc231 |
Honours:
at least 60% in Soc2205/2206a/b Non-honours: at least 70% in Soc2205/2206a/b |
|
Antirequisite |
Soc302a/b |
Soc3302a/b |
Unless you have
either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your
Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this
course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be
appealed. You will receive no
adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for
failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
Drop Date: Oct.
18, 2011
Course Description:
Students will learn to design
quantitative sociological research and will gain hands-on experience carrying
out a comprehensive data analysis and writing up a research project that
investigates current social issues. Topics include choosing a research
question, conducting a literature review, developing hypotheses and a model of
your research, and analyzing quantitative survey data. Regular attendance and
enthusiastic participation at lectures is welcomed!
Required
Ø
Babbie et al. 2011. Adventures in Social Research, 7e.
Sage Publications. ISBN 978141298245
Ø
Assorted Reserve
Readings at the Cardinal Carter Library (see reading schedule)
Ø
Sage Student
Website (for data sets and SPSS help for mini assignments and additional reading
material at http://www.sagepub.com/babbie7e/study/intro.htm
Ø
Note: You will also need a calculator with basic statistical functions
Course
Evaluation:
Collaborative SPSS Mini Assignments 30% (6
assignments x 5% each)
Individual Research Assignment (Dec. 1): 35%
Final Exam (TBA Dec. 10-21): 35%
Lectures and Labs:
a detailed schedule of lecture topics and readings
will be posted on the course webpage at http://publish.uwo.ca/~pakvis/. You
will also find the lecture outlines (in .ppt format),
supplementary material and other important course information posted there.
Note that: Although laptop use will be permitted in the
classroom during lectures, King's University Policy specifies that "Students found to be using laptops
for purposes not directly related to the class may be subject to sanctions
under the Student Code of Conduct. See http://www.kings.uwo.ca/files/file/about/code_of_conduct
2003.pdf"
Class time will be
divided into two parts: we will start with a lecture/discussion period in DL012
and we will then move to the Instructional Computer Lab in W143 where you will
hone your SPSS skills through the completion of a series of practical
assignments and through performing a comprehensive data analysis.
SPSS Mini Assignments:
You and a partner
will complete six mini SPSS assignments using the text "Adventures in
Social Research" by Babbie et al. The SPSS
assignments are designed to help you prepare for the SPSS analysis used for the
research assignment (below) and are worth 5% each, for a total of 30% of your
final grade. A portion of each class will be spent in the instructional
computer lab (W143) and will be devoted to working on and completing these
assignments. The SPSS mini assignments will be submitted for grading on Sept.
29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. These assignments will be a
collaborative effort. They will be done in groups of two (2) and the mark
assigned will be the same for both group members. Mini assignment details can
be found by clicking on the Lecture,
Research Assignment:
A
research assignment, worth 35% of the final grade, is required for this course.
This assignment is an individual effort. The assignment consists of
developing a problem statement and research question, designing a model to be
tested using variables from a large Canadian data set: The Canadian Community
Health Survey 2007 and testing the model using a multivariate techniques and
writing a full quantitative research report. Click
here to access the User Guide with a description of the data set and data
collection details.
Specific
assignment details will be given in class and can be found by clicking on the
link below. The assignment will be completed in stages as the course
progresses. It will be submitted on
8.5x11" paper, be double-spaced, and stapled and have a cover page with a
title, course name, my name, your name and student number. The written
report is due at the beginning of class Thursday,
Dec. 1, 2011.
A late
penalty of 2%/day will be applied to late papers unless appropriate
documentation has been submitted to the Academic Dean's office. Late assignments may be
dropped off in the green mailbox,
located in the Annex by SA150, in an envelope
addressed to me.
The
assignment must be your own work. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence.
Scholastic
offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate
policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence,
at the following Web site:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
click here for research
assignment details
Final Exam:
A final exam, worth 35% of the final mark, will be held during the December
exam period (Dec. 10 – 21.) It will focus on all material covered during the
semester. The tentative format will be combination of definitions, short answer
and m/c questions and will include an SPSS analysis. Accommodation for a missed
final examination will be provided once documentation for legitimate medical or
non-medical reasons is provided to the Academic Dean's office (See the Policy on Accommodation for Medical
Illness at https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm
for more information.) The use of electronic devices
is not permitted during the exam.
ADDITIONAL NOTE
REGARDING ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation for
religious reasons may also be granted. For more detail on this policy, please
see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/
and http://www.uwo.ca/equity/docs/mfcalendar.htm
Please be advised
that students must give proper
written notice for such an accommodation in accordance with the directives in
the 2010-11 UWO Academic Calendar.
click
here for Lecture Date, Reading and mini assignment Schedule