It is intended to help students develop an understanding of what a research problem is and how to pose one. In addition, the student will learn how to evaluate relevant evidence. In learning how to conduct social research, one of the major points of the course will be to show that the issues of theoretical and practical interest define what methods are used. Methods do not define research interests.
Methods are tools for conducting research on issues of social import.
In short, they help us to learn more about how society works. We will therefore examine the variety of methods available to the social researcher in light of theoretical issues of concern, paying close attention to which methods are best suited for different problems under consideration. We will discuss the pros and cons of these various methods, illustrated by examples. We will cover research design, sampling techniques and rudimentary data analysis. Upon completion of this course, you should be better able to critically evaluate the research you encounter in your social science course work and in the mass media.