University of the West Indies Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) MSc RESEARCH

METHODS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (SALI6012) Semester I, 2008/9 Mondays: 2:00 5:00 p.m.
LECTURERS: Dr. Jimmy Tindigarukayo*1

Tel. No.: (876) 927-1234 Email: jimmy.tindigarukayo@uwimona.edu.jm

Tel. No.: (868) 645-6329 Email: godfrey.stbernard@sta.uwi.edu

Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard

Course Objective: In this course the student will become acquainted with social research methodologies such as survey and field research, questionnaire design, content analysis, analysis of existing data, focus group, individual and group observation (including participatory observation) etc. The course will also introduce students to the safeguards against errors in both data collection and data analysis and reporting. In addition, the course will draw the attention of students to an important but often neglected aspect of social research, i.e. ethical issues in social research, covering such topics as voluntary participation, anonymity and confidentiality and the need to adhere to professional code of ethics. How each method is, or may be, related to contemporary policy issues will be an integral part of the course. Practical experience from studies done in small countries will be used to expose the students to practical issues in social research. The student will also be introduced to the basics of analysing research data.

Course Coordinator

Assessment: 1. 2. 60% for Coursework (35% for Module 1 and 25% for Module 2). 40% for final examinations.

MODULE I: Research Design and Methods of Data Collection (8 weeks) Module Leader: Dr. J. Tindigarukayo. ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN Reading List Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, 2007, Ch. 4 Singleton, Royce et al. Approaches to Social Research, 1988 Ch. 4 Chadwick, Bruce et al. Social Science Research Methods, Ch. 2 Miller, Delbert. Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement, Third Edition, Part 1 MEASUREMENT AND SAMPLING Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, Chs. 5-7 Chadwick, Bruce et al. Social Science Research Methods, Ch. 3 Singleton, et al. Approaches to Social Research, Chs. 5-6 Kalton G (1983): Introduction to Survey Sampling. Sage Publications METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION IN SOCIAL SCIENCES 4. Qualitative Research Methods Field research Focus groups Participatory research appraisal Elite interviews

Readings: Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, Ch. 10 Chadwick, Bruce. Social Science Research Methods, Ch. 4 Singleton, et al. Approaches to Social Research, Ch. 11

5. Quantitative Research Methods Experimental research Aggregate data (Analysing existing statistics) Content analysis (Analysing recorded human communications)

Readings: Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, Chs. 8, 11 Chadwick, Bruce. Social Science Research Method, Ch. 7 Singleton, et al. Approaches to Social Research, Ch. 12

6. Social Survey Methods

The Interview Method The Questionnaire Method Formulating Questions for a Survey Survey Implementation Editing, Coding and Data Entry Analysis of Survey Data Writing a Survey Report Readings:
Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, Ch. 9 Chadwick, Bruce. Social Science Research Methods, Chs. 5-6 Bryman, Alan and Duncan Cramer. 1997. Quantitative Data Analysis With SPSS for Windows, Routledge, London and New York

7. Evaluation research Babbie, Earl. The Practice of Social Research, Ch. 12 Chadwick, Bruce. Social Science Research Methods, Ch. 11 Weiss, Carol. Evaluation Research, 1972 Pitman, L. (ed.). Evaluation Research, Methods: A Basic Guide, 1977 ASSIGNMENT FOR MODULE 1 2008/2009

You are required to conduct a research on a topic of your choice, on which you should write a concise report on your results. The following suggestions may be helpful for your project. You do not need to follow them by the letter. 1. INTRODUCTION: This involves statement of the problem, which should be as precise as possible in discussing the following: (i) what the Study is about; (ii) major objectives of the Study; and (iii) justification of the choice for your topic. 2. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY: Here you provide background information in as much detail as you consider appropriate, but as precisely as possible. If you are studying an organization, for example, the background information could include: (i) when the organization was established; (ii) the purposes for which it was established; (iii) the structure of the organization; (iv) its size, in terms of the number of people employed; etc. 3. LITERATURE REVIEW: In this section, you selectively discuss the literature that relates to your study, bearing in mind that: previous studies related to your research topic are critically examined and analyzed; and you locate gaps left behind by such studies, which you seek to bridge in your study.

4. METHODOLOGY: You need to discuss very clearly the following: all methods used in collecting your data (e.g. structured method used; if a questionnaire was used, state general contents and how it was administered, and include it as an appendix for the report; sample studied (where applicable) by addressing the following: (i) What was the total population from which the sample was selected? (ii) How did you select the final sample to make it representative? 5. ANALYSIS OF DATA: Summarize your main arguments and indicate the extent to which they have been supported or not supported by your findings. For theoretical related research, clearly indicate how your central hypothesis was tested using data collected. Remember that a finding that refutes a hypothesis is as significant as a finding that supports the hypothesis. Bearing this in mind, don't bend results to fit expectations (whether theoretical or practical). For applied research, clearly indicate how the data you have collected will contribute towards the solution of the problem that your research set out to study. 6. CONCLUSION: State the significance of the results for: (a) theory, (b) public policy, or (c) practical solution to some socio-economic or political problems. Provide recommendations arising from the study and suggest any possibilities for further research to cover what you could not cover. N.B. You are strongly advised to read chapter 17, Earl Babbie, The Practice of survey, elite interviews, aggregate data, focus group, etc.), with a justification for each

Social Research, 11th Edition, Belmont, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2007. 5

This chapter is particularly useful in the discussion of how to avoid plagiarism when writing a research report. This assignment, which should not be more than 15 pages (double spaced) should be submitted not later than November 12, 2008. Late papers will be heavily penalized. MODULE II: Basics in the Analysis of Research Data (2 Weeks) Module Leader: Dr. St. Bernard (i) DATA PROCESSING Abdulah, Norma. Designing Social Surveys in the Caribbean. Singleton, et al. Approaches to Social Research, 2nd Edition, Ch. 14 Moser and Kalton. Survey Methods in Social Investigation, 2nd Edition, Ch. 16 Neuman, W. Lawrence. Social Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Ch. 12 Norusis, Marija. From Paper into a File in Introduction to Statistics Guide: SPSS-X Planning Institute of Jamaica. Appendix 1: Survey Design Section VII: Data Entry/Cleaning in Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions Report 1992 (ii) DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION Abdulah, Norma. Designing Social Surveys in the Caribbean, Pp 107-118 Singleton, et al. Approaches to Social Research, 2nd Edition, Chs. 14 &15 Moser and Kalton. Survey Methods in Social Investigation, 2nd Edition, Ch. 17 Neuman, W. Lawrence. Social Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Ch. 12 6

Frankfort-Nachmias and Leon-Guerrero. Society, Chs. 2 and 3

Social Statistics for a Diverse

Phillips Shively, W. The Craft of Political Research, 2nd Edition, Chs. 7-9 Bernstein et al. An Introduction to Political Science