SOCIOLOGY 3322a (530)
FALL 2009
COMMUNITY ANALYSIS: RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
Instructor: Prof. Patricia Pakvis
Class Time: Monday 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am -12:30 pm
Place: BR204
Office: St. James 301a
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:30-1:30 pm
Phone: 519-432-8353 ext. 28390
E-mail: pakvis@uwo.ca
Webpage: http://publish.uwo.ca/~pakvis/
Drop Date: October 15
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to provide students with the tools necessary to conduct research in the community through the use of selected qualitative research methods and through the examination of certain ethical issues that might arise when conducting
research with community groups. We will cover a variety of qualitative research methods best suited when doing research with communities, such as: community-based research, interviewing, participatory action-research, feminist methodology, social programs evaluation. Working in consultation with the instructor, students will be expected to develop their own community-based research project by the end of the term.
Course Antirequisite:
Sociology 332. You will be deleted from a class list if you have previously taken an antirequisite course unless this has the approval of the Dean. These decisions may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course because you have taken an antirequisite course.
Course Prerequisite:
Sociology 2215 a/b, or the former Sociology 215 a/b, or permission of the instructor. Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you will 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.
Format:
Seminar course
Assignment and Grading Structure:
Ongoing Preparation and Participation 10%
Mini-Assignments (2) 30%
Research Proposal/Presentation 30%
Final Examination 30%
Required Texts and
• Berg, Bruce L. (6th edition). 2007. Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Allyn & Bacon.
• Selected
PLEASE NOTE: All assigned reading should be read before the class for which they are assigned. It is also your responsibility to check ahead of time when library reserve readings are to be read, so that you can go to the library, make copies of them, read them in advance and be prepared to discuss them in class.
EXPLANATION OF ASSIGNMENTS & OTHER EVALUATION CRITERIA:
A. Ongoing Preparation and Participation (10% of Final Mark). Students are expected to attend classes, to do all required readings in advance, to demonstrate comprehension and deep engagement with the assigned readings throughout the term and to actively participate in seminar discussion and all other class activities. Instructor will keep a weekly log of both attendance and active participation. In order to achieve a B or higher grade in the participation mark students need to regularly both attend classes and participate. In addition, there will be group research meetings held during class time (approximately once every two weeks) during which students will discuss their choice of project and their planning progress and receive feedback on their proposal from both their peers and the instructor.
B. Mini-Assignments (30% of Final Mark). There will be two mini-assignments to be handed in during the course, each worth 15% of the final mark.
The first assignment is due on Monday, October 5th, 2009 and will consist of a problem statement and an annotated bibliography for a community-based research project. More details can be found below.
The second mini assignment is due on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 and will entail a detailed methodological plan for the above community-based research project. Depending on the chosen problem, it may consist of methods such as an interview schedule, a survey, plans for observation, etc. More details can be found below.
C. Research Proposal/Presentation. (30% of Final Mark). Each student will submit a detailed proposal for a community-oriented research project on Monday, November 30th, 2009. The proposal is to be approximately 6-8 typed double-spaced pages. The proposal will be based on the work completed in the two mini assignments, and should incorporate any feedback given by the instructor for these assignments. It will include an outline of the chosen problem or topic, a thesis statement, a literature review and a detailed community-based research methodology to be employed. More details are posted below.
Also, the student is to present to the class a brief presentation (approximately of 10 minutes) of their proposed research, at which point feedback will be given to the student by both the instructor and the class. The presentation is worth 10% of the total mark of the assignment. Click on the link below for the presentation schedule.
D. Final Examination. (30% of Final Mark).
There will be a final examination on all topics and readings discussed during the semester. It will be held during the December examination period. The examination will include definitions, short answer questions and may include a longer essay question.
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