Sociology 302

Fall 2008

Welcome to Advanced Research Methods!

The sociological perspective and sociological research are vitally important to improve the quality of human life.  The major problems facing society today are social problems.  Crime, poverty, and inequality are obviously social problems, but even war and global warming are essentially social problems.  To solve these and other problems, society needs valid sociological research that is accessible to the educated public and leaders.  In this course, you will expand your knowledge of sociological research by reading and critiquing studies on important issues facing society today and by actually conducting a study, analyzing the findings, and writing a report about the findings.  You will leave this course with the ability to interpret social science findings and carry out small survey research projects.  Through your knowledge of social science research, your friends, employers, family, and acquaintances will have access to sociological research findings that will promote solutions to social problems. 

In addition to benefiting society, your ability to understand social research will also help you personally.  Graduates with a bachelors degree in sociology reported in a recent ASA study that the skills they learned that were most important in helping them land a job were the ability to: use statistical software, write a report understandable to non-sociologists, interpret the results of data gathering, and evaluate different research methods.   If you successfully complete this course, you will possess those skills.

Dr. Terry Besser
204 East Hall, 294-6508
tbesser@iastate.edu
Office hours: 2:00 to 4:00 TWTh and by appointment