This course is a general introduction to the contemporary research methods that are employed in the social sciences. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the process of social research and how it relates to theory development and problem investigation. Qualitative and quantitative techniques and applications will be discussed. Other topics will include: ethics and politics of social research, the nature of causation, conceptualization, operationalization, development of hypotheses, and sampling techniques. Research examples will be a key aspect of the lectures and seminars.
This course is a general introduction to the contemporary research methods that are employed in the social sciences. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the process of social research and how it relates to theory development and problem investigation. Qualitative and quantitative techniques and applications will be discussed. Other topics will include: ethics and politics of social research, the nature of causation, conceptualization, operationalization, development of hypotheses, and sampling techniques. Research examples will be a key aspect of the lectures and seminars.