Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sills
Office: Graham Building 320
Office Hours: T/TH 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & by
appointment
Email: sjsills@uncg.edu
Location: Graham Building 402
Class Times: M 6:00 pm ‐ 8:50 pm
Texts: No required text; all required readings online or in
Sociology 616 course reserves
Advanced Research Methods
Dr. Stephen Sills
WEEK Date Topics Assignment Training/ Research Activity
Introduction to Course &
1 14-Jan Conducting a literature review Endnote Training
21-Jan NO CLASS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY
Why do we do empirical
research? Positivism, the
Science Wars, & the
2 28-Jan Philosophy of Science…
Ethics of human subject NIH Training Certificate Due
3 4-Feb research (Online)
Conceptualization and
4 11-Feb Research Design Annotated Bibliography Due IRB Training Feb 13th
5 18-Feb Interviewing I
Research question, testable
hypothesis, 1-3 open-ended questions
to add to interview (linked to survey
6 25-Feb Interviewing II questions) Interview Protocol
7 3-Mar Observing
10-Mar NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
8 17-Mar Visual Methods
9 24-Mar Analysis I - Qualitative Data
10 31-Mar Sampling Sampling Tools
Research question, testable
hypothesis, 3-5 questions (or scale) to
11 7-Apr Survey design I add to student survey Remark Office Tutorial
Research question, testable
hypothesis, 3-5 questions (or scale) to
12 14-Apr Survey design II add to faculty survey
Data entry using Remark Office
13 21-Apr Analysis II – Mixed Data & Quantitative analysis
Data Entry and Analysis of survey
responses (descriptive, bivariate,
14 28-Apr Data Processing multivariate)
15 5-Apr Writing Synthesis of research findings
7-May FINAL RESEARCH REPORT DUE
Course Overview
This course is designed to cover general methods and stages of social research
including: project conceptualization and design, ethics of human subject research,
conducting a literature review, basic sampling techniques, survey design and
administration, interviewing, textual analysis, observation, and research report writing.
The three hour weekly seminars will be divided into two parts: a student‐lead reading
and discussion group and an applied practical research project.
Course Objectives
This course has two objectives. The first is to develop an understanding of and basic
skills in the design and execution of empirical research for answering social science
research questions. In this regard, the course complements required courses in
Advanced Data Analysis and Sociological Theory. By building on those courses, and the
information and methods covered during this semester, you should be able to design
and execute empirical research for your Master’s Thesis. The second objective is to learn
to critically evaluate empirical research. Using the material covered during the semester
you will be in a better position to discern good research from bad research.
A few recommendations for success with this course and others…
1. Get a Google mail account and activate the virtual desktop features including the
calendar, documents & spreadsheets, etc. This will give you the ability to work on your
files from any computer. You will never have a situation in which you left an important
file on another machine. It will also give you the ability to collaborate on spreadsheets
and documents as well as share calendars.
2. Get on a few listservs. I recommend EVALTALK . Although it is geared towards
professional evaluators there is a lot of useful discussion on methods. Another that I like
for its discussions on qualitative methods is QUALRS-L (Qualitative Research for the
Human Sciences). Here are a few lists of listservs:
a. http://www.mtsu.edu/~baustin/mailto.htm
b. http://www.uga.edu/squig/listservs.html
3. Ask questions often. Others in the class may already know the answers. Even if no one
knows the answers to your particular questions, we can search for them.
4. Find some good music; you’ll spend some time in front of the computer in this course. I
like http://www.pandora.com .
Reading Discussion Group
The reading and discussion group will require attendance and advanced reading by all.
Attendees are expected to have studied the assigned selections for the week in advance
of the seminar meeting. There will be a discussion leader for each meeting. The role of
the discussion leader is two‐fold. First, they are expected to prepare a 5‐10 minute
overview of the reading (PowerPoint slides or a handout may be useful). The overview
should contain the following information:
• a brief overview of the major point(s) of the assigned reading;
• a critique of the reading (i.e., what the discussion leader thinks that people
should take away from the reading); and
• points of contention with the reading
In all the critique should entail roughly 4‐8 PowerPoint slides or one page of notes for
distribution to the other students. The purpose of the overview is intended to give
context to the subsequent discussions, not to act as a substitute for reading.
The second major role of the discussion leader is to moderate the discussion. This
involves preparing questions and discussion points to open the discourse as well as
facilitating the informal discussion of the readings. The discussion leader should work
to ensure that all attendees at the seminar are involved in the discussion (whether they
want to be involved or not). Special emphasis should be given to discuss the positive
aspects of the readings, since people have a natural tendency to concentrate on
perceived failures.
Applied Research Project
This semester we will engage in an project to study the International Global Studies
program at UNCG. You will be involved in all phases of the research process: design,
sampling, data collection, data cleaning, and analysis. You will conduct a survey of IGS
students and an online survey with faculty teaching IGS cross‐listed courses. You will
also conduct face‐to‐face interviews with a random sample of students in the program
(stratified and representative of those new to the program, those who have been in the
program for 1‐2 years, and those completing a capstone course in the program).
Our research questions, literature review and data collection will be aligned with IGS
mission and objectives:
IGS Mission (10/18/2006)
The mission of International and Global Studies (IGS) is to provide an interdisciplinary,
international and global curriculum beyond that of traditional individual academic
disciplines. The program as a whole seeks to enrich, complement, and coordinate
departmental offerings and to support the University’s mission by enhancing students’
knowledge of the world.
Objectives
1) Research and Analyze ‐ Students will be able to locate and analyze a broad
range of information and source material related to international and global
studies.
2) Synthesize and Evaluate ‐ Students will be able to synthesize and critically
evaluate scholarly literature related to international and global studies.
3) Application in Writing ‐ Students will be able to present clear and persuasive
arguments in writing on general and specialized international and global topics.
4) Application in Speaking ‐ Students will be able to present clear and persuasive
oral arguments on general and specialized international and global topics.
5) Foreign Languages ‐ Students will attain a third‐year‐level college proficiency
in a foreign language.
6) Intercultural sensitivity ‐ Students will demonstrate intercultural sensitivity
and cross‐cultural competency skills.
ASSIGNMENTS
Complete each of the following individual assignments by the scheduled due dates. These
assignments are designed to supplement the readings and lectures and train you for the
tasks of the research project. Late assignments will be penalized ‐10% each day.
Lecture Leaders (20%)
An important part of the course will be facilitating the discussion on readings. On roughly
five occasions you will be assigned a reading for which you will act as the discussion leader.
Please e‐mail a 1‐page outline of the reading and 3‐5 questions for discussion to other class
members PRIOR to class (allow enough time for printing, not 10 minutes before class).
Lecture Participation (10%)
Participation in the reading discussions is mandatory. Evidence of reading and contribution
to the conversation are required.
Human Subjects Research Trainings (10%)
Please complete the computer‐based training provided by the NIH
(http://cme.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/humanparticipant‐protections.asp ). The two‐
hour tutorial is designed for those involved in conducting research involving human
participants. It satisfies the NIH human subjects training requirement for obtaining Federal
Funds. Once registered you may return to the site over several sittings to complete the
course. Upon successfully answering the quiz questions at the end of each module, you will
be given the option to print a certificate of completion. Print two copies of the certificate;
keep one for your records (5%).
If you have not already completed a UNCG IRB training, you will also be required to attend
(an additional 5%, if you have already attended a training please bring a copy of your
training certificate). Sign‐up for a workshop at:
https://utlc.uncg.edu/workshops/list_by_category.jsp?cat_id=77000580
Everyone must be certified in order to participate in the class research project!
Annotated Bibliography Assignment (10%) ‐
Using only academic (peer reviewed) journals find 5 empirical research articles on evaluation
and assessment in higher education and aligned with the mission or objectives of IGS. Do
not review theoretical, review, or meta‐research articles. Read the articles with special attention
to the methods and findings. Submit a copy of the articles with your annotated bibliography
(see http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm). Your annotation should
include the following information:
• Citation in ASA Style;
• research question;
• population characteristics;
• research method;
• primary findings; and
• critique or comments.
Turn in your articles (I prefer stable URLs, DOI #, or digital copies such as PDfs), a list of the
search terms you used, a list of the databases you queried, and an electronic copy of your
bibliography (.doc, .rtf, or .pdf). DO NOT RELY ON THE ABSTRACT ALONE.
Interview Assignment (20%.) ‐ You will write 2‐3 open‐ended questions that will be
incorporated into the interview protocol. These questions should explore one of the goals of
the IGS program. We will develop a random, stratified sample of individuals for interviews.
You will be responsible for contacting the individual, scheduling a time for the interview,
traveling to a mutually agreed upon location (I recommend the library, EUC, or other
“neutral” location), conducting the interview, recording the interview (see me regarding
availability of digital recorders), and transcribing the interview. We will use these
transcripts both to inform the survey as well as in our final analysis reports. Transcripts and
a copy of your recording will be needed on April 16th.
Survey Assignment I (5%) – We will be conducting a survey of IGS students. You will
develop a testable hypothesis aligned with one of the goals of the IGS program (for
consistency use the same goal as in the Interview Assignment). You will then develop 3 to 5
survey questions to be included on the survey. We will workshop these questions in class
then incorporate them into a final version of the survey. You will assist in the administration
of the survey as well as data entry.
Survey Assignment II (5%) ‐ We will be conducting an online survey of IGS faculty. You
will develop a testable hypothesis aligned with one of the goals of the IGS program (for
consistency use the same goal as survey assignment I). You will then develop 3 to 5 survey
questions to be included on the survey. We will workshop these questions in class then
incorporate them into a final version of the survey.
Final Report (20%) ‐ Using SPSS you will analyze the survey results (descriptive, bivariate,
multivariate). You will specifically focus on your proposed hypothesis. You will write a
research report (intro, lit review, methods, findings, and discussion) incorporating literature
from the annotated bibliography, the survey, and interviews. This report will be due on May
7th.
READINGS
Review Readings:
If it has been a while since you took a methods course or just need a refresher, I recommend the
following texts and web resources for general reading:
• Babbie, Earl R. 2002. The Basics of Social Research. 2nd Edition. Wadsworth. $1 used on
Half.com http://search.half.ebay.com/The‐Basics‐of‐Social‐Research_W0QQmZbooks
• Child Care & Early Education Research Connections Website. “Research Methods”
http://www.childcareresearch.org/servlet/DiscoverResourceController?displayPage=
methods.jsp and “Assessing Research Quality”
http://www.childcareresearch.org/servlet/DiscoverResourceController?displayPage=
researchquality.jsp
o Quantitative Research Assessment Tool
http://www.childcareresearch.org/discover/datamethods/downloads/qua
ntitativeresearch.pdf
o Qualitative Research Assessment Tool
http://www.childcareresearch.org/discover/datamethods/downloads/Qua
litativeResAssessTool.pdf
• Checklists and Tools for Use in School Evaluation
• Evaluation for Learning
• Wolfer, Loreen 2007. Real Research: Conducting and Evaluating Research in the Social
Sciences. Allyn and Bacon $28 used on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer‐
listing/0205416624/sr=1‐4/qid=1166724709/ref=sr_1_4/002‐1891161‐
7501644?ie=UTF8&s=books
• Trochim, William. 2006 The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd Edition.
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/contents.htm.
• Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research
WEEK ONE
Getting Started
• Introduction to the course & the research project
• Introduction to writing literature reviews using Endnote
Conducting a literature review
Required Readings:
1. McInerney, D. M. “Writing Your Literature Review For An Effective Article” Chapter 4
in Publishing Your Psychology Research: A Guide to Writing for Journals in Psychology and
Related Fields [Blackboard] Also available as e‐book via Jackson Library
2. Fink, Arlene. 2005. “Chapter 4: Doing the Review” In Conducting research literature
reviews : from the Internet to paper 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
[Blackboard]
WEEK TWO
Required Readings:
Why we do empirical research
3. Whyte, William Foote. 1986. ʺOn the Uses of Social Science Research.ʺ American
Sociological Review 51:555‐563. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003‐
1224%28198608%2951%3A4%3C555%3AOTUOSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐1
4. Blumer, Herbert. 1954. ʺWhat is Wrong with Social Theory?ʺ American Sociological Review
19:3‐10. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003‐
1224%28195402%2919%3A1%3C3%3AWIWWST%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐G
5. Becker, Howard S. 1996. ʺThe Epistemology of Qualitative Researchʺ in Jessor, Richard,
Anne Colby, and Richard Schweder, eds., Essays on Ethnography and Human Development.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press. http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/qa.html
6. Ragin, Charles and David Zaret. 1983. ʺTheory and Method in Comparative Research:
Two Strategies.ʺ Social Forces 61:731‐754. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0037‐
7732%28198303%2961%3A3%3C731%3ATAMICR%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐F
Positivism, “the Science Wars,” and Social Epistemology
7. Baldus, Bernd. 1990. ʺPositivismʹs Twilight?ʺ Canadian Journal of Sociology / Cahiers
canadiens de sociologie 15:149‐163. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0318‐
6431%28199021%2915%3A2%3C149%3APT%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐%23
8. Hilgartner, Stephen. 1997. ʺThe Sokal Affair in Context.ʺ Science, Technology, & Human
Values 22:506‐522. URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0162‐
2439%28199723%2922%3A4%3C506%3ATSAIC%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐N
9. Wylie, Alison. 2000. ʺQuestions of Evidence, Legitimacy, and the (Dis)Unity of Science.ʺ
American Antiquity 65:227‐237. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002‐
7316%28200004%2965%3A2%3C227%3AQOELAT%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐Y
Optional Readings:
• Bryant, Joseph M. 1992. ʺTowards a Respectable, Reflexive, Scientific Sociology: A Note
on the Reformation Required.ʺ Canadian Journal of Sociology / Cahiers canadiens de
sociologie 17:322‐331. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0318‐
6431%28199222%2917%3A3%3C322%3ATARRSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐G
• Charney, Davida. 1996. ʺEmpiricism Is Not a Four‐Letter Word.ʺ College Composition
and Communication 47:567‐593. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010‐
096X%28199612%2947%3A4%3C567%3AEINAFW%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐S
• Cooper, Marilyn M. 1997. ʺDistinguishing Critical and Post‐Positivist Research.ʺ College
Composition and Communication 48:556‐561. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010‐
096X%28199712%2948%3A4%3C556%3ADCAPR%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐I
• Goldman, Alvin. 2006. “Social Epistemology.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Access online at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology‐
social/
• Lenski, Gerhard. 1991. ʺPositivismʹs Future: And Sociologyʹs.ʺ Canadian Journal of
Sociology / Cahiers canadiens de sociologie 16:187‐195.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0318‐
6431%28199121%2916%3A2%3C187%3APFAS%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐7
• Thornton, Stephen. 2006. ʺKarl Popper.ʺ The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edward
N. Zalta (ed.), Access online at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/
WEEK THREE
Ethics of human subject research
Required Readings:
10. The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and
Behavioral Research. 1979. The Belmont Report Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the
Protection of Human Subjects of Research.
http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/belmont.html
11. Lincoln, Yvonna S. and William G. Tierney. 2004. ʺQualitative Research and Institutional
Review Boards.ʺ Qualitative Inquiry 10:219‐234. [Blackboard]
12. LeCompte, Margaret and Jean Schensul. 1999. “Ethical treatment of research participants
and care for human relationships.” Chapter 9 in Designing and Conducting Ethnographic
Research (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit, Vol 1). Altamira. [Blackboard]
Films
• Zimbardo, Philip 1971 Quiet Rage: The Stanford Prison Experiment Online at
http://www.guba.com/watch/3000048452
• Obedience: The Milgram Experiment Online at:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=5512184
Optional Readings:
• Buchanan, Elizabeth A. 2004. Readings in Virtual Research Ethics: Issues and Controversies
Hershey, PA Idea Group Publishing. http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?87303
• Trochim, William. 2006 The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd Edition.
[http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/contents.htm]. Read the following topics and
the subsections within:
o Ethics ‐ http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/ethics.htm
WEEK FOUR
Required Readings:
Conceptualization and Research Design
13. Trochim, William. 2006 The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd Edition. Read the
following topics and all subsections within:
a. Conceptualizing Research ‐
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resprob.htm
b. Design - http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/design.htm
14. Babbie, Earl R. 2005. “Chapter 4 Research Design” in The Basics of Social Research.
Wadsworth. [Blackboard]
15. LeCompte, Margaret and Jean Schensul. 1999. “An overview of research design.”
Chapter 4 in Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit, Vol
1). Altamira.
16. Blumer, Herbert. 1956. ʺSociological Analysis and the ʺVariableʺ.ʺ American Sociological
Review 21:683‐690. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003‐
1224%28195612%2921%3A6%3C683%3ASAAT%22%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐E
Optional Readings:
• Adcock, Robert and David Collier. 2001. “Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for
Qualitative and Quantitative Research,” American Political Science Review 95(3): 529‐546.
http://journals.cambridge.org/article_S0003055401003100
• Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “Validity and
Reliability in Ethnographic Research.” Chapter 11 in Essential Ethnographic Methods:
Observations, Interviews, and Questionnaires (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira.
• Stinchcombe, Arthur. 1968. ʺThe Logic of Scientific Inferenceʺ Constructing Social
Theories. pgs 15 to 56.
• Tourangeau, Roger and Tom W. Smith. 1996. ʺAsking Sensitive Questions: The Impact of
Data Collection Mode, Question Format, and Question Context.ʺ The Public Opinion
Quarterly 60.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=9701143845&site=ehost
‐live
WEEK FIVE
Interviewing I
Required Readings:
17. Johnson, John M. 2001. ʺIn Depth Interviewing,ʺ Chapter 5 in Jaber F. Gubrium and
James A. Holstein, eds, Handbook of Interviewing Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[Blackboard]
18. Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “Semistructured
Interviewing.” Chapter 7 in Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations, Interviews, and
Questionnaires (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira. [Blackboard]
19. Pawson, Ray. 1996. ʺTheorizing the Interview.ʺ The British Journal of Sociology 47:295‐314.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0007‐
1315%28199606%2947%3A2%3C295%3ATTI%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐6
20. Schober, Michael F. and Frederick G. Conrad. 1997. ʺDoes Conversational Interviewing
Reduce Survey Measurement Error?ʺ The Public Opinion Quarterly 61:576‐602.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=272781&site=ehost‐live
Optional Readings:
• Darling, Rosalyn Benjamin. 2002. “ Chapter 7 ‐ Identification Techniques II:
Interviewing” The Partnership Model in Human Services: Sociological Foundations and
Practices Clinical Sociology New York Kluwer Academic Publishers.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?66720
• DiCicco‐Bloom, Barbara and Benjamin F. Crabtree. 2006. ʺThe qualitative research
interview.ʺ Medical Education 40:314‐321. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365‐
2929.2006.02418.x
• Knapik, Mirjam. 2006. “The Qualitative Research Interview: Participants’ Responsive
Participation in Knowledge Making.” International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Vol 5 no
3 http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/5_3/PDF/knapik.pdf
• Pini, Barbara. 2005. ʺInterviewing men: Gender and the collection and interpretation of
qualitative data.ʺ Journal of Sociology 41:201‐216.
http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC‐
Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=ITOF&docId=A134162652&source=gal
e&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=gree35277&version=1.0
• Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “In‐Depth, Open‐
Ended Interviewing.” Chapter 6 in Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations,
Interviews, and Questionnaires (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira. [Blackboard]
• Sturges, Judith E. and J. Hanrahan Kathleen. 2004. ʺComparing Telephone and Face‐to‐
Face Qualitative Interviewing: a Research Note.ʺ Qualitative Research 4:107‐118.
• Warren, Carol A. B. and Tracy X. Karner. 2005. “Chapter 1 ‐ Introduction to Qualitative
Methods” Discovering Qualitative Methods Field Research, Interviews, and Analysis First
Edition http://roxbury.net/images/pdfs/QMFchap1.pdf
WEEK SIX
Interviewing II
No Required Readings: Please bring your interview questions. We will assemble these into the interview
protocol and practical interview techniques.
WEEK SEVEN
Observational Research
Required Readings:
21. Whyte, William Foote. 1949. ʺThe Social Structure of the Restaurant.ʺ The American
Journal of Sociology 54:302‐310. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002‐
9602%28194901%2954%3A4%3C302%3ATSSOTR%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐J
22. Vidich, Arthur. 1955.ʺParticipant observation and the collection and interpretation of
data.ʺ American Journal of Sociology 60: 354‐360. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002‐
9602%28195501%2960%3A4%3C354%3APOATCA%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐R
23. Erikson, Kai T. 1967. “A Comment on Disguised Observation in Sociology” Social
Problems, Vol. 14, No. 4. pp. 366-373. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0037-
7791%28196721%2914%3A4%3C366%3AACODOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y
24. Fry, Lincoln J. 1973. “Participant Observation and Program Evaluation” Journal of Health
and Social Behavior Vol. 14, No. 3 274‐278 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022‐
1465%28197309%2914%3A3%3C274%3APOAPE%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐S
25. Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “Exploratory or Open‐
Ended Observation.” Chapter 5 in Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations,
Interviews, and Questionnaires (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira. [Blackboard]
Optional Readings:
• Gardner, Burleigh B. and William Foote Whyte. 1946. ʺMethods for the Study of Human
Relations in Industry.ʺ American Sociological Review 11:506‐512.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003‐
1224%28194610%2911%3A5%3C506%3AMFTSOH%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐CKolaja, Jiri. 1956.
ʺA Contribution to the Theory of Participant Observation.ʺ Social Forces 35:159‐163.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0037-
7732%28195612%2935%3A2%3C159%3AACTTTO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-B
• Ostrower, Francie. 1998. ʺNonparticipant Observation as an Introduction to Qualitative
Research.ʺ Teaching Sociology 26:57‐61. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0092‐
055X%28199801%2926%3A1%3C57%3ANOAAIT%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐R
• Pohland, Paul. 1972. ʺParticipant Observation as a Research Methodology.ʺ Studies in Art
Education 13:4‐15. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0039-
3541%28197221%2913%3A3%3C4%3APOAARM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G
• Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “Entering the Field.”
Chapter 4 in Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations, Interviews, and Questionnaires
(Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira. [Blackboard course documents]
• Whyte, William Foote. 1993. ʺRevisiting ʺStreet Corner Societyʺ.ʺ Sociological Forum 8:285‐
298. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0884-
8971%28199306%298%3A2%3C285%3AR%22CS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0
• Jackson, Jane. 2006. ʺEthnographic Preparation for Short‐Term Study and Residence in
the Target Culture.ʺ International Journal of Intercultural Relations 30(1):77‐98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.07.004
WEEK EIGHT
Visual Sociology
Readings:
26. Becker, Howard, 1995. ʺVisual sociology, documentary photography, and
photojournalism: itʹs (almost) all a matter of context.ʺ Visual Sociology 10: 1/2.
http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/visual.html
27. Epstein, Iris, Bonnie Stevens, Patricia McKeever, and Sylvain Baruchel. 2006. “Photo
Elicitation Interview (PEI): Using Photos to Elicit Children’s Perspectives.” International
Journal of Qualitative Methods Vol 5 no 3
http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/5_3/PDF/epstein.pdf
28. Ruby, Jay. 2005. ʺThe last 20 years of visual anthropology; a critical review.ʺ Visual
Studies vol. 20: Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14725860500244027
29. Wang, Caroline. 2006. PhotoVoice http://www.photovoice.com/index.html (read
Background and Methods, look at Projects and Gallery)
Film:
• Sills, S. and Miles, B. 2002. “Street Life on Mill: Homeless youth on Tempe Arizona’s
Mill Avenue”
Optional Readings:
• Harper, Douglass, 1988. ʺVisual Sociology: Expanding Sociological Visionʺ The American
Sociologist.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=5331997&site=ehost‐
live
• Margolis, Eric.1994. “Video Ethnography: Toward a Reflexive Paradigm for
Documentary” Jump Cut 39. http://courses.ed.asu.edu/margolis/videth2001.html
• Shahidul Alam 1994. “The Visual Representation of Developing Countries by
Developmental Agencies and the Western Media” ZoneZero (online magazine)
http://zonezero.com/magazine/articles/shahidul/shahidul.html
WEEK NINE
Analysis I – Qualitative Data
(Note we will concentrate on qualitative analysis in the readings/assignments as Soc 618
Advanced Data Analysis covers mostly quantitative techniques)
Required Readings:
30. Bird, Cindy M. 2005. “How I Stopped Dreading and Learned to Love Transcription.”
Qualitative Inquiry, Vol. 11, No. 2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077800404273413
31. LeCompte, Margaret and Jean Schensul. 1999. “Data analysis: How ethnographers make
sense of their data.” Chapter 7 in Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research
(Ethnographerʹs Toolkit, Vol 1). Altamira. [Blackboard]
32. Dick, B. 2005. ʺGrounded theory: a thumbnail sketchʺ, Action Research International
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/grounded.html
33. Bruce, Catherine D. 2007. “Questions Arising about Emergence, Data Collection, and Its
Interaction with Analysis in a Grounded Theory Study” International Journal of
Qualitative Methods 6 (1) http://www.ualberta.ca/%7Eiiqm/backissues/6_1/bruce.pdf
Software:
• Atlas.ti Demo http://www.atlasti.com/demo.html [Note Atlas.ti Full Version is available
in UNCG Computer Labs]
• MAXqda2 Full Version 30day Demo http://maxqda.com/2_demo.htm
• Express Scribe Transcription Playback Software http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/
Optional Readings:
• Altheide, David 1987. Ethnographic Content Analysis,” Qualitative Sociology, 1987,10:
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=10949092&site=ehost‐
live
• Altheide, David and John Johnson. 1994. ʺCriteria for Assessing Interpretive Validity in
Qualitative Research,ʺ in Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna Lincoln eds., Handbook of
Qualitative Methodology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 485‐499. [Blackboard E‐reserves]
• Atlas.ti 5 Manual http://www.atlasti.com/manual.html
• dresing‐pehl.de Free transcription software – how to transcribe
http://www.audiotranscription.de/transcribing.htm
• Jacelon, Cynthia S. and Katharine K. OʹDell. 2005. ʺAnalyzing Qualitative Data.ʺ Urologic
Nursing 25:217‐220.
• Morgan, George A. 2004. SPSS for Introductory Statistics: Use and Interpretation.
Mahwah, N.J Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?112901
• Power, Elaine M. 2004. ʺToward Understanding in Postmodern Interview Analysis:
Interpreting the Contradictory Remarks of a Research Participant.ʺ Qualitative Health
Research 14:858‐865.
WEEK TEN
Required Readings:
Sampling
34. Stephan, Frederick F. 1950. “Sampling” The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 55, No. 4.
pp. 371‐375. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-
9602%28195001%2955%3A4%3C371%3AS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-C
35. Mangione, Thomas W. 1995. Chapters 4‐5. Mail Surveys: Improving the Quality. Sage
[Blackboard]
36. Schensul, Stephen, Jean Schensul, and Margaret LeCompte. 1999. “Ethnographic
Sampling.” Chapter 10 in Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations, Interviews, and
Questionnaires (Ethnographerʹs Toolkit , Vol 2). Altamira. [Blackboard]
37. Guest, Greg, Arwen Bunce and Laura Johnson. 2006. ʺHow Many Interviews Are
Enough? An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability.ʺ Field Methods 18(1).
[Blackboard]
Optional Readings:
• Biemer, Paul P. 2003. Introduction to survey quality. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?85511
• Bradley, N. 1999. “Sampling for Internet surveys. An examination of respondent
selection for internet research. “ Journal of the Market Research Society, 41(4).
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=04‐13‐
2003&FMT=TG&DID=000000051903515&REQ=1&Cert=ENWsL6ScYcTULylhrnnPpTgGc
utcpaaJuK1H9MrQ9SJohfFekkyQsbVKyALO1M5VshpUCuHikDb9HgVKdAdpLA‐‐
• Chaudhuri, Arijit. 1992. Survey sampling: theory and methods. New York: M. Dekker.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?46955
• Foreman, E.K. 1991. Chapters 2 & 11. Survey sampling principles. New York : M. Dekker.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?47121
• Lehtonen, Risto. Practical methods for design and analysis of complex surveys. Chichester;
New York : Wiley, c1996. http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?17870
• Som, Ranjan Kumar. 1996. Practical sampling technique. 2nd ed. New York : M. Dekker.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?12747
WEEK ELEVEN
Survey design I
Required Readings:
Designing Questionnaires
38. Dillman, Don A. 1991. ʺThe Design and Administration of Mail Surveys.ʺ Annual Review
of Sociology 17:225‐249. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0360‐
0572%281991%2917%3C225%3ATDAAOM%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐I
39. Biemer, Paul P.; Lyberg, Lars. 2003. “Chapter 10 Practical Survey Design for Minimizing
Total Survey Error” Introduction to Survey Quality. Wiley Series in Survey Methodology.
Hoboken, N.J. John Wiley & Sons. http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?85511
40. Schonlau, Matthias.; Fricker, Ronald D.; Elliott, Marc N. 2002. “Ch 5 Guidelines For
Designing And Implementing Internet Surveys.” Conducting Research Surveys Via E‐mail
and the Web. Santa Monica, Ca: Rand. http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?72770
41. Couper, M. P. 2000. “Web surveys: a review of issues and approaches”. Public Opinion
Quarterly, 64(4).
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=4224007&site=ehost‐
live
Software:
• Remark Office OMR Demo http://www.gravic.com/remark/officeomr/downloads.html
Optional Readings:
• Arsham, Hossein. 1996 Questionnaire Design and Surveys Sampling
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/Business‐stat/stat‐data/Surveys.htm
• Boone, Kevin 2004. How to conduct a survey brief guide
http://www.kevinboone.com/howto_survey.html
• Couper, M. P., Traugott, M. W., & Lamias, M. J. 2001. Web survey design and
administration. Public Opinion Quarterly, 65(2), 230‐253.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=4939116&site=ehost‐
live
• Crawford, S. D., Couper, M. P. & Lamias, M. J. (2001). Web Surveys: Perceptions of
Burden. Social Science Computer Review, 19(2), 146‐162.
http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Journal.asp?JournalID=103767
• DeRouvray, C. & Couper, M. P. 2002. Designing a Strategy for Reducing ʺNo Opinionʺ
Responses in Web‐Based Surveys. Social Science Computer Review, 20(1)
http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Journal.asp?JournalID=103767
• Dillman, Don A. and Dennis K. Bowker. 2001. “The Web Questionnaire Challenge to
Survey Methodologists.” in Ulf‐Dietrich Reips & Michael Bosnjak, eds. Dimensions of
Internet Science. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich, Germany.
http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/dillman/zuma_paper_dillman_bowker.pdf
• Dillman, Don A. And Leah Melani Christian. 2005. ʺSurvey Mode as a Source of
Instability in Responses Across Surveys.ʺ Field Methods 17:30‐52.
http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/dillman/papers/Mixed%20Mode%20Submission%20to%20Fie
ld%20Methods.pdf
• Dillman, Don. Available Papers website http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/dillman/papers.htm
• Dillman, Don. Available Papers website http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/dillman/papers.htm
• Don A. Dillman and Leah Christian. 2002. “The Influence Words, Symbols, Numbers,
and Graphics on Answers to Self‐Administered Questionnaires: Results from 18
Experimental Comparisons.”
http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/dillman/papers/single_space_fig_table.pdf
• Foreman, E.K. 1991. Chapters 12. Survey sampling principles. New York : M. Dekker.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?47121
• Frary, Robert B. 1996. “Hints for designing effective questionnaires.” Practical
Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 5(3). http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=5&n=3
• Hiskey, S. & Troop, N.A. 2002. Online Longitudinal Survey Research: Viability and
Participation. Social Science Computer Review, 20(3).
http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Journal.asp?JournalID=103767
• Mangione, Thomas W. 1995. Chapters 2‐3; 7‐8. Mail Surveys: Improving the Quality. Sage
[copy of book with Dr. Sills]
• Paul Barribeau et al. 2005. Survey Research. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University
Department of English. http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/survey/
• Walonick, David S. 2004. Excerpts from: Survival Statistics.
http://www.statpac.com/surveys/surveys.doc
WEEK TWELVE
Survey Design II
No Required Readings: We will spend this period working on the survey design and preparing for fielding
both the faculty and student versions of the survey.
WEEK THIRTEEN
Analysis II –What to do with mixed data
42. Greene, Jennifer C.; Valerie J. Caracelli; and Wendy F. Graham. 1989. “Toward a
Conceptual Framework for Mixed‐Method Evaluation Designs” Educational Evaluation
and Policy Analysis 11: 3 255‐274 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0162‐
3737%28198923%2911%3A3%3C255%3ATACFFM%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐F
43. Ivankova, Nataliya, Creswell, John W. , and Stick, Sheldon. 2006. “Using Mixed-
Methods Sequential Explanatory Design: From Theory to Practice.” Field Methods;
Feb2006, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p3-20 [Blackboard]
44. Morgan, David. 1998. “Practical Strategies for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative
Methods: Applications to Health Research.” Qualitative Health Research. DOI:
10.1177/104973239800800307 [Blackboard]
45. Silverstein, Gary and Laure Sharp. 1997. “Ch 7. Reporting the Results of Mixed Method
Evaluations” User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations
http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/CHAP_7.HTM
No Required Readings: We will spend this period working on survey data entry and analysis.
Optional Module: Focus Groups
Required Readings:
• Edmunds, Holly. 1999. Chapters 1‐4. The Focus Group Research Handbook Lincolnwood,
Ill. NTC Contemporary http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?13311
• Goebert, Bonnie.and Rosenthal, Herma M. 2001. Chapters 4‐5. Beyond Listening: Learning
the Secret Language of Focus Groups New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
http://library.uncg.edu/cgi/ebooks.pl?72386
• Morgan, David L. 1996. ʺFocus Groupsʺ Annual Review of Sociology Vol. 22 129‐152
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0360‐0572%281996%2922%3C129%3AFG%3E2.0.CO%3B2‐
Q
Optional Readings:
• Woodring, Jonathan C., Susan M. Foley, Gabriella Santoro Rado, Keith R. Brown, and
Doris M. Hamner. 2006. ʺFocus Groups and Methodological Reflections.ʺ Journal of
Disability Policy Studies 16:248‐258.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=19899277&site=ehost‐
live
• Barbour, Rosaline S. 2005. ʺMaking sense of focus groups.ʺ Medical Education 39:742‐750.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365‐2929.2005.02200.x