POLS 390 Political Inquiry & Analysis Summer 2013

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1 POLS 390 Summer 2013 Instructor: Noriko Shiratori Office: Saunders 632 L Office hours: By appointment Session: May 28 July 5 Class hours: MTWRF 12 1:15pm Class room: Saunders 242 Course Description This course is designed to engage students in complex and critical thinking about research methods. A variety of basic methods and steps in conducting research will be introduced. The course will begin with an overview of both qualitative and quantitative research, followed by a selection of methods used in social science, political science and policy analysis. Two weeks will be spent particularly on content analysis. Content analysis is one of very few research methods that can be employed qualitatively and quantitatively, opening up a wide array of methodological possibilities (Hesse-Biber & Leavy, 2005). Any kind of text including narrative, transcripts, visual images and media data source can be used to analyze. Although the main focus of this course is qualitative research, students will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with quantitative methods as well, because statistics are everywhere in the real world. Key concepts, theories and perspectives from critical standpoints will be incorporated in every class session. (Hesse-Biber, S & Leavy, P. The Practice of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2005). Student Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research 2. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of various methods 3. Formulate research questions 4. Learn methods as practical tools to answer research questions 5. Craft a research paper that will persuade intelligent readers what you found 6. Most importantly, students will find that research is interesting Diversity Methodological issues and problems pertaining to the study of different ethnocultural and special populations that includes minorities and women will be addressed. p. 1

2 Course Texts and Required textbooks Reinharz, S Feminist Methods in Social Research. New York: Oxford University Press Hesse-Biber, S. & Leavy, P. (2010). Handbook of Emergent Methods. New York, NY: The Guilford Press Additional reading materials will be provided on Laulima from the books listed below: Agresti, A. & Finlay, B. (1999). Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. Upper Saddle River, NJ: PRENTICE HALL. Bardach, E. (2005). A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving. Washington, D.C.: A Division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. Hesse-Biber, S. & Leavy, P. (2007). Feminist Research Practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Kvale, S. & Brinkman, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Silverman, D. & Marvasti, A. (2008). Doing Qualitative Research. A Comprehensive Guide Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Course Requirement Class participation is essential for this course. Students are expected to come to class prepared and participate in all class discussions. Students will have the opportunity to create simple surveys and conduct interviews into experimental and manageable research projects of their own. They will then craft their findings into a research paper that demonstrates their understanding of methods. They will also give a presentation focusing on the methods. In addition, students will serve as peer reviewers of their classmates one-page proposal. Course Policies Class attendance is mandatory for this course. If there are unforeseen emergency events and you are not able to attend class, it is crucial to contact me at (808) or nshirato@hawaii.edu, so we can communicate about a way to make up class time. No late papers are accepted. UH Student Conduct Code The University of Hawai`i explicitly prohibits cheating or plagiarism (Acts of dishonesty) of any kind in the academic environment. Any student determined to be in violation of the code below will receive an F in this course. Cheating includes but is not limited to 1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; 2) use of source beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; 3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the UH faculty, staff or student; 4) engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty p. 2

3 member in the course syllabus or class discussion. The term plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. ( Disability Access University of Hawai`i KOKUA program is available for students with disability. Call if needed. Course Assignments and Grading Attendance & participation: 10% Experimental: 20% (to be explained in the first week) In-class peer review: 10% A one-page proposal of your research project: 15% Final research paper: 35% Class presentation: 10% Course Schedule Week Class Session Content Assignments 1 st Week Course Introduction What is research? Protection of Human subjects discussion of IRB (UH Committee on Human Studies) Overview of qualitative research Overview of quantitative research Experiment 1: Simple survey creation UH Student Conduct Code Effective use of UH library & its support services Reinharz, Ch 1. Introduction HB & L (2010), Ch 1. History of methods in social science research: Ch 2. Gender inclusion, contextual values, and strong objectivity Reinharz, Ch12. Original feminist research methods S & M, Ch 2. What you can (and can t) do with qualitative research K & B, Ch 4. Ethical issues of interviewing A & F, Ch 1. Introduction (to statistics) HB & L (2007), Ch10. Feminist survey research Research starts with questions! Start thinking about your research question. p. 3

4 2 nd Week Qualitative Research Designing qualitative research project Discussion on basic techniques on interviewing In-depth interview Experiment 2: Interviewing Quantitative Research Scientific research Concepts and logic of measurement S & M, Ch 6. Selecting a topic K & B, Ch1. Introduction to interview research Reinharz, Ch 2. Feminist interview research K & B, Ch 5. Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing K & B, Ch 7. Conducting an interview Reinharz, Ch 4. Feminist survey research and other statistical research formats A & F, Ch 2. Sampling and measurement 3 rd Week Qualitative Analysis Content analysis Quantitative Analysis Descriptive statistics Reinharz, Ch 8. Feminist content analysis S & M, Ch 11. Beginning data analysis HB & L (2010), Ch 5 & 6. Document research, Ch 7. Ground theory as an emergent method A & F, Ch 3. Descriptive statistics 4 th Week Qualitative data & interpretation Content analysis Quantitative data & interpretation Bivariate analysis Multivariate analysis HB & L (2007), Ch 8. The feminist practice of content analysis HB & L (2010), Ch 20. Data analysis and interpretation; HB & L (2010), Ch 24. Hearing voices A & F, Ch 7. Comparison of two groups S & M, Ch 8. Choosing methodology (especially pp ) 5 th Week Multiple Methods Ethnography Oral history Feminist methodological perspective: making different assumptions about the world; asking different questions Due (Friday): Submit your tentative proposal (one-page) Due (Wednesday): Submit your revised proposal In-class peer review of your proposal p. 4

5 5 th Week Reinharz, Ch 3. Feminist ethnography HB & L (2010), Ch 12 & 14. Ethnography Reinharz, Ch 7. Feminist oral history HB & L (2010), Ch 11. Three dimensions and more. Oral history beyond the paradoxes of method. Reinharz, Ch 11. Feminist multiple methods research HB & L (2007), Ch 9. Feminist approaches to mixed-methods research 6 th Week Wrap-up Discussions & consultation on each student s project Student presentation Bardach, Appendix C: Semantic tips Due (Friday): Final draft Student presentation: Focus on the methods used p. 5

Sociology 521: Social Statistics and Quantitative Methods I Spring Wed. 2 5, Kap 305 Computer Lab. Course Website

Sociology 521: Social Statistics and Quantitative Methods I Spring 2012 Wed. 2 5, Kap 305 Computer Lab Instructor: Tim Biblarz Office hours (Kap 352): W, 5 6pm, F, 10 11, and by appointment (213) 740 3547;