Quantative Research Methods

obligatory courses

Classroom

The course is intended to familiarize students with quantitative research and to provide experience in its preparation, implementation and analysis. The course syllabus allows students to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the survey and examine the process of quantitative research. Participants are required to conduct their own research project, from the moment of conceptualization and operationalization to sample selection and data collection, to data preparation and analysis culminating in a report, which is the main element of the final grade.

The course objective is to familiarize students with the survey as a research method and provide experience in preparing, conducting and analyzing surveys. The course syllabus allows students to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the survey and examine the process of quantitative research. The class is partly taught as a workshop, which enables students to get first-hand knowledge of the examined method. Working in small research teams, the participants will gradually learn the stages of a survey study, namely: conceptualization, operationalization, sample selection, subject interviewing, data processing, interpretation of findings, and research report writing.

The course lasts 2 semesters, which translates into 60 hours of class time and approximately the same amount of out-of-class time, needed to prepare a written description of the proposed research project, write a questionnaire, do the fieldwork part by conducting interviews, and finally, write a research report.

Babbie E. (2003), Badania społeczne w praktyce, PWN Warszawa.

Buttolph Johnson J. in. (2010), Metody badawcze w naukach politycznych , PWN Warszawa.

Frankfort-Nachmias Ch., D. Nachmias (2001), Metody badawcze w naukach społecznych, Zysk i S-ka Poznań.

Oppenheim A.N. (2004), Kwestionariusze, wywiady, pomiary postaw, Zysk i S-ka Poznań.

Sawiński Z., P.B. Sztabiński, F. Sztabiński (2000), Podręcznik ankietera, Warszawa IFiS PAN.

Sułek A. (2002), Ogród metodologii socjologicznej, Scholar Warszawa.

Sułek A. (2001), Sondaż polski, IFiS PAN Warszawa.

Sztabiński, P.B., Sawiński, Z i Sztabiński, F. (2005), Fieldwork jest sztuką. Wydawnictwo IFiS PAN Warszawa.

Knows and understands basic sociological concepts

Has basic knowledge of methods used in research on cultural diversity

Knows basic methods and techniques of social research and can choose appropriate methods to solve basic research problems

Understands the specificity of sociological analysis

Knows how to plan and carry out a simple quantitative and qualitative study

Has basic applied knowledge of statistical description and inference

Can record and observe social phenomena in a methodologically correct way

Can use basic sociological terms and categories to analyze societies, particularly contemporary Polish society

Can independently find facts and materials needed to conduct simple sociological analyses, using various sources in both Polish and a foreign language, and using modern technologies

Can use basic theoretical categories to describe social changes in modern societies

Can conduct a simple analysis of the consequences of the processes occurring in modern societies

Can use ethical norms and rules in research practice

Can use academic knowledge acquired in social practice

Can plan and carry out a social study using basic quantitative and qualitative research methods and techniques

Can use the basic functions of a chosen computer program for data analysis

Can effectively collaborate with members of a task team

Can share the acquired sociological knowledge

Can find, gather and synthesize information about social phenomena

Can critically assess sources

Can present results of his/her own research

Knows and observes the rules of professional ethics, including those pertaining to intellectual property

Respects dignity of persons participating in a study (respondents, informers, interviewees and other participants)

Research project, oral presentation, research report