Research Methods for Social Science

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Research Methods for Social Science

• Ani Kitiashvili
• Department of Psychology
• Tbilisi State University

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Research Methods for Social Science

• Designed for the first-year post-graduate
  students
• Compulsory
• Course Duration 2 semesters, 30 weeks
• 10 ECTS (90 content hours, 160 independent
  working)
• Average number of students 5-6

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Syllabus

• Course objectives
• Course Organization
• Content - Weekly Schedule
• Topics
• Reading Material/main and supplementary
• Topics for presentations
• Homework tasks
• Assessment

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Aim of the Course

• To introduce and make students to understand
  social research and research process
• To learn about the basic data collection methods
  available to social scientists quantitative and
  qualitative research methods
• To enable students to make an appropriate choice
  of methods in doing research
• To develop research-related skills important for
  conducting research

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Results

• -have knowledge about the social research how to
  conduct social research use proper methods
• -have research-related skills plan research,
  collect data, analyze and report findings

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Course Structure

• Lecture
• Presentations
• Discussion
• Homework
• Discussion
• Feedback
• Workshop

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Lectures

• Students learn basic terms and concepts in
  Social Research advantages and disadvantages of
  particular research methods Linking theory and
  method

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Topics

• Research Design and Research Questions
• Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
• Survey Research
• Questionnaire Design
• Experimental Research
• Qualitative Interviewing
• Focus Groups
• Observation
• Oral/Life histories
• Content analysis
• Case Study Research

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Presentation

• The second part of the session is based on
  students presentations presentation is followed
  by discussion.
• Students can choose the topic of presentation at
  the beginning of the course
• Students will be encouraged to bring their own
  research problems and approaches to the
  presentations

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Examples of Presentation Topics

• Is it possible that the social research be
  value-free?
• Discuss the key problems related to the
  interviewing on sensitive topics?
• Problems with missing data in survey research?

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Workshop

• Once students introduce theoretical views of the
  research methods workshops will be arranged
• In workshops students can practice in carrying
  out the research and processing the data.

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Example of Workshop

• small group role- playing situation
• - In workshop interview each student will be
  in the role of an interviewer, an interviewee and
  an observer.
• -The topic of the interview will be selected
  in advance, which will allow students to plan the
  interview process and read material
• -The interview will be audio-typed and
  transcripts will be made. By the end of the
  workshop students will receive a feedback.

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Homework

• During the course student will be provide
  specific tasks for their homework
• Student will get the written comments (feedback)
  on their homework by the instructor and peers.

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Examples of homework

• Survey Research
• DEFINE
• Research problem research questions/Hypothesi
  s
• Variables
• Relevance of the of method to the research
  topic
• Sampling procedure
• Instrument construction
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Presentation of findings.

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Stracture of Homework

• Research topic
• Literature review
• Research question/hypothesis
• Method used in research
• Participants
• instrument
• procedure
• Analysis of the data
• Description of the results
• Discussion
• References
• All material should be written in APA Style.

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Methods

• Brainstorming
• Group working
• Discussion
• Feedback
• Case study
• Games-role play
• Presentations

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Material

• Books
• Reader
• Handouts
• Lecture notes
• Power point presentation
• Topics for presentation homework tasks

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Reading

• Survey Research
• Bryman, A. (2004). Social Research Methods.
  Oxford UP
• Divide de Vaus (2002). Survey in Social Research
  (5th edition), London Routledge
• Fowler, F. (2002). Survey Research Methods (3rd
  edition), Thousand Oaks sage
• Alreck, P.L Settle, R.B (1995). The Survey
  Research Handbook (2nd edition), Chicago Irwin
• Supplementary
• Robson, C.(2003). Real World Research, Blackwell
• Catherine, M.(1988). The Survey Methods. London
  George Allen Unwin.

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Assessment

• Participation in workshops (30)
• Presentation (5)
• Homework (50)
• Final exam (15)

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Grading of Workshops

• 6 workshops
• Research planning
• Development of the workshop material
• Correspondence of the process with the topic
• Breadth/ appropriateness of reading
• Structure/organization
• Communication

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Grading Criteria for Presentation

• Presentation
• Correspondence of the material content with the
  topic of presentation
• Clear wording
• Exact time management
• Nonverbal interaction with the audience (eye
  contact, voice) to keep audience attention to
  the topic
• Using Visual aids
• Using handouts and other supporting materials
• Discussion after the presentation
• -Relevant answers

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Homework Grading Criteria

• Correspondence of the material with the topic
• Breadth/ appropriateness of reading
• Structure/organization
• Clarify of expression and writing professionally
• Critical/conceptual analysis
• Technical components

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Final Exam

• At the end of the course students will write an
  exam. Students will be provided selected material
  and will be asked to comment on the text and make
  appropriate amendments.

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• Thank You!

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DISCUSSION