Structure of the course
The module comprises three tracks that are related: research methods, inferential statistics and a research project. The module has three types of weekly sessions: lectures, workshops and instruction classes.
Lectures
Each week we present two lectures of two hours each:
- one lecture on methods in which we discuss the general framework and fundamentals of scientific research methods, as well as more specific topics as surveys, experimental research, case study and design research;
- one lecture on statistics, in which we teach the basics of
inferential statistics.
Workshops
The weekly workshops (2 hours) are mandatory, since in these
workshops students will perform a small research project in
groups of
about 5 students each. The research project consists of
formulating,
constructing and performing a survey, followed by an analysis
of the
data and reporting of the results. In the workshop the methods
track
and the statistics track are combined into an actual research
project.
A detailed description of the set-up of the research project
is
provided in the instructions
for the workshops.
Instruction classes
The instruction classes are provided to facilitate self-study
for
the students. During the instruction classes
students can get advice from the student-assistants on the use
of SPSS
and on a selection of exercises for the statistics and methods
tracks.
Literature
The mandatory literature for this course consists of two books:
-
Anol Bhattacherjee. Social
Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices.
2nd edition, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-1475146127, ISBN-10:
1475146124.
This book is available via:- Download: Global Text Project website: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31779972/Social_Science_Research.p df
- Download: USF Open Access Collection: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3/
- Paperback: Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Science-Research-Principl es-Practices/dp/1475146124
- Paperback: Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/3842922
- Frederick Gravetter and Larry Wallnau. Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. 7th International Edition, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0-538-75496-5, ISBN-10: 0-538-75496-6.