Introduction to research methods 2100-SPP-L-D1IRME
Ćwiczenia (CW) Semestr zimowy 2023/24

1) W. Lawrence Newman, Basics of Social Research: Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches. Pearson New International Edition 2014 (3rd ed) (or other editions of this book)

2) Earl Babbie, The Basics of Social Research. Wadsworth 2011 (5th ed) (or other editions of this book)

3) John W. Creswell, Research design. Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage 2014 (4th ed) (or other editions of this book)

1) Students know methods of collecting and analyzing empirical data in social sciences (K_W02)

2) Students know ethical principles and integrity rules of social research, including the ways of quoting, referencing, and respecting authorship (K_W08)

3) Students know how to design and carry out a complex research project and how to link research questions to appropriate research methods and analytical tools (K_U01)

4) Students are able to present own innovative research project and justify the underlying choices (K_K02)

5) Students are able to cooperate on collecting the required data and assessing the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the social program (K_K04)

1) Active attendance is required for workshops, which entails being prepared by completing assigned readings. Active attendance also means responding to instructor’s questions and participating in group work.

2) The maximum allowed number of absences is 2. Any absences beyond 2 must be supported by a doctor's statement (or another appropriate document).

3) Any absences beyond 2 must be made up by scheduling a meeting during the instructor's office hours, no later than 3 weeks after the absence and within the last week of the course.

4) Grading for workshops is pass/fail. It consists of 3 in-class small tests, including a group work-based test. All small tests must be passed to pass the workshop. The deadline for completion is the final workshop class. In the event of failing any of the small tests, a retake opportunity will be provided during the first session.

5) “Good” or “very good” outcome of the tests results in a bonus (see point 4).

1) 2023-10-04

Organisational issues. Sources of knowledge. Scientific and non-scientific inquiry. Objects of empirical research. Scientific method, research method, data collection technique

Assigned reading: Babbie, Ch 1, Newman Ch 1

2) 2023-10-11

Positivism and positivist assumption of social research. Ideals of objectivity. Explanation. Generalization.

Assigned reading: Babbie, Ch 2 Only these parts: Early Positivism, The Traditional Model of Science, Deductive Theory Construction

3) 2023-10-18

Antipositivist approach to social research. Induction, deduction, abduction. Explanation and understanding. Interpretive and critical approaches in social sciences. Comparison of qual and quant approaches in social research. Small q and large Q approach to qualitative research

Assigned reading: Babbie, Ch 2 Only: Inductive theory construction

4) 2023-10-25

Overview of research process. Inspirations to ask research questions. Types of research questions and the main types of research (descriptive, exploratory, explanatory, (non)longitudinal). Variables and hypotheses. (False) assumptions of research questions.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 4 but for Units of analysis, Newman Ch 5

5) 2023-11-08

Refining research questions. Systematic literature review for academic dissertations. Integrity, plagiarism, ethical concerns (part 1) in empirical research. Paraphrasing, quoting, referencing.

Assigned reading: Newman Ch 3 &4

6) 2023-11-15

Research objects and their types. Object-finding relationship. Ecological and individualistic fallacy. Researching universes and samples. Main sampling strategies.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 4 Only: Units of analysis, Babbie, Ch 7

7) 2023-11-22

Conceptualisation: From abstract to indicators. Types of indicators in social research

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 5 part 1

8) 2023-11-29

The measurement. Validity and reliability of measurement. The levels of measurement. Data and types of databases. Why “measurement” poorly fits to Qual studies.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 5 part 2

9) 2023-12-06

Outcomes; findings; conclusions; evidence-based practical recommendations in social research. The scope of generalisation. Resume of research process.

Assigned reading: Babbie 4, 5, 7 once again

10) 2023-12-13

Utilizing secondary data in social research. (Non-) longitudinal research with use of secondary data. Basic comparative research.

Assigned reading: Newman Ch 9

11) 2023-12-20

Sociological observation as a research method. Types of observation. Single and multiple case study.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 10

12) 2024-01-10

Individual interviews, FGIs, survey method.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 9 but for Questionnaire Construction

13) 2024-01-17

Types of questionnaires and questionnaire questions.

Assigned reading: Babbie Ch 9 only Questionnaire Construction

14) 2024-01-24

Experimental method

Assigned reading: Newman Ch 8, Babbie Ch 8

- Group discussion

- Individual tasks (questions, cases, problems to be solved)

- Group tasks (questions, cases, problems to be solved)

- Presentations

- Tests