SOC 205 Introduction to Social Research introduces students to research methods in the social sciences. Students will be introduced to the major procedures for carrying out systematic investigation of the social world. It will encourage students to critically evaluate the methods, strategies and data that are used by social scientists and provide training in analysis of a range of qualitative and quantitative data.
Prerequisites: ENGL 110 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 45 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Identify and describe the key philosophies of science that underpin social science research and appreciate their implications for research practice
- Identify, explain, and apply the basic concepts of research, including variables, operationalization, sampling, reliability, and validity
- Recognize the ethical issues involved in research, and practice ethical research standards
- Identify the main methods of collecting data in social research and determine which is most appropriate for specific kinds of research questions
- Identify and explain the difference between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research and what types of research questions can be answered with each method
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and formulate your ideas both verbally and in written form
- Research and analyze evidence from scholarly and professional publications
- Construct a research proposal that includes an abstract, introduction, literature review, research questions, ethical considerations, and methodology
- Exhibit professional behaviours including respect for colleagues, punctuality, willingness to think independently, and pride in presentation of work
Teaching and Learning Approach
Introduction to social research is fully on-line. For every topic students will read the lecture component and the
corresponding readings. Students have the opportunity to interact with other students in the course through the
group discussions.Learning Resources
Bryman, A., and Bell, E. (2023). Social research methods. (6th ed.). Oxford University Press, Canada.Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Social research strategies
2. Research designs
3. The nature of quantitative research
4. Interviewing and questionnaires
5. Structured observation and content analysis
6. Nature of qualitative research
7. Ethnography & participant observation
8. Interviewing
9. Sampling
10. Quantitative data analysis
11. Qualitative data analysis
12. Combining research methods
13. Writing up social research
14. Conclusions
15. Final examAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
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| On-line discussions | 1,2,3,4,5,6,9 | 10% |
| Journal assignments | 1,2,3,4,5,6,9 | 15% |
| Assignment #1 | 6,7,9 | 10% |
| Assignment #2 | 1,2,6,7,9 | 15% |
| Assignment #3 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | 25% |
| Final Exam | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.