3.00 Credits
This course aims to familiarize students with the most common research methods used in social and behavioral sciences, with an emphasis on critical thinking and becoming informed consumers of research. This course is designed to provide students in the social sciences with an opportunity to construct and present a proposal for an original research project. Throughout the course students will study quantitative, qualitative, and experimental research methods common to the various social sciences. Students will have opportunities, throughout the course, to employ these various research methods through in-class and homework assignments. By participating in this course, students will become familiar with basic research methods to advance their understanding of their discipline and of social sciences. Students will learn how to critically evaluate research methods and research claims to become more informed consumers and producers of social science research. It is not expected that upon completion of the course that you will have acquired all the skills necessary to design and conduct your own research. Becoming a competent researcher requires in-depth course work in various aspects of research methodology as well as considerable "hands-on" experience