Moscow School for Social and Economic Sciences

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PS016. Methods of field research in Sociology
Brief description of the unit
Intended learning outcomes
Learning and teaching processes (including the use of e-learning)
Assessment (including the use of e-learning)
PS017. Focus-groups
Brief description of the unit
Intended learning outcomes
Learning and teaching processes (including the use of e-learning)
Assessment (including the use of e-learning)
PS018. Introduction to Data Analysis Using SPSS
Brief description of the unit
Intended learning outcomes
Learning and teaching processes (including the use of e-learning)

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PS016. Methods of field research in Sociology

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title	Methods of field research in Sociology
Unit code	PS016
Credit rating	15
Level	MA
Contact hours	21
Pre-requisite units	History of Political Thought, Method of Sociological Research
Co-requisite units
School responsible	Moscow School of Social & Economic Science (Faculty of Political Science)
Member of staff responsible	Natalia Daudrikh, MA, Sociology

AIMS

- To provide students with an understanding of principles and practical realization of basic research methods

- To introduce the fundamental concepts and approaches applied by field sociological research

- To give basic practical skills of preparation and realization of empirical research in sociology

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT

Content

Measurements problem in sociological research. Operational definition. Indicators of quality of a scale.
Sample. The base types of sample. A technique of definition of structure of territorial sample.
Structure of the questionnaire. Classification of questions. Kinds and preventive maintenance of the base mistakes by development of the questionnaire. Design of the questionnaire.
The work plan’s structure. A preparatory stage: development of the field documentation, questionnaire design.
Base techniques of pilot work.
Base principles of training of interviewers to research
Organization of field research in sociology.

Core Reading

- Baker J.L. Doing social research. 2nd ed. NY: McGraw-Hill inc., 1994.

- Black T.R. Evaluating social science research. An introduction. London, Sage, 1993.

- Burgess R.G. In the field. An introduction to field research. Unwin Hyman ltd., 1984.

- Foddy W. Constructing questions for interviews and questionnaires. Theory and practice in social research. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

- Gorden R.L. Interviewing: Strategy, Techniques and Tactics. NY: Dorsey Press, 1980.

- Hansen H., Hurwitz N., Madow G. Sample survey. Methods and theory. NY: Sage, 1993.

- McNeill P. Research Methods. 2nd ed. L-NY: Routledge, 1994.

- Oppenheim A.N. Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement. L-NY: Printer publishers, 1992.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Category of outcome	Students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding	- know fundamental concepts and approaches applied by field sociological research; - know methods of preparation and realization of empirical research in sociology - understand principles and practical realization of basic research methods;
Intellectual skills	- demonstrate a critical awareness of the methodology and methods of field sociological research; - possess a wide interdisciplinary perspective of diverse and competing approaches within empirical research; - develop the ability of quality–quantity concepts in contemporary sociology;
Practical skills	- prepare and realize sociological empirical research (planning, staging, analyzing and reporting); - resolve problems: identify the features of problem, including aspects of risk and select approaches and solutions; - identify desired communication outcomes; enhance understanding and engagement by academic and professional audiences; - research independently, by identifying and managing library and information resources including online, correctly citing, acknowledging and referencing sources; - undertake effectively independent and self-managed learning;
Transferable skills and personal qualities	- effective written and oral communication; - reflect and write analytically; - engage in scientific discussion and deliver creative and original thought; - find information and use information technology (including e-library resources) - exercise self-reliance skills and develop independent learning ability; - manage time and work to deadlines.

LEARNING AND TEACHING PROCESSES (INCLUDING THE USE OF E-LEARNING)

- Contact hours: lections (70%) and tutorials (30%).

- Private assignment preparation

- Directed reading (paper and electronic texts)

- Essay writing

ASSESSMENT (INCLUDING THE USE OF E-LEARNING)

Assessment task	Length	Weighting within unit (if relevant)
Essay	3000-5000 words	100%

Date of current version	12 March 2010
Approved by Deans’ meeting	23 March 2010

PS017. Focus-groups

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title	Focus-groups
Unit code	PS017
Credit rating	15
Level	MA
Contact hours	21
Pre-requisite units	History of Political Thought, Method of Sociological Research
Co-requisite units
School responsible	Moscow School of Social & Economic Science (Faculty of Political Science)
Member of staff responsible	Dr. Marina Vlasova

AIMS

This course provides an introduction to methodology, methods and practice of focus-groups. It demonstrates students the place of focus groups in the system of qualitative methods of collecting and analyzing sociological data. During the course students should study the basic methodological and technical principles used to design the work with focus groups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT

Content

1. Focus groups as a method of sociological and marketing research.

2. Methodological and technical principles of designing focus groups.

3. Focus group planning and staging

4. Methods of work with a focus group.

5. The role of the moderator in a focus group.

6. Analysis and presentation of results of focus group data.

7. Types of reports on focus group results.

Core Reading

- Krueger R.A. Focus Groups: A Practical Guide For Applied Research. New Delphi, The International Professional Publishers, 1994, P. 1-39.

- Merton R.K., Fiske V., Kendall P.L. The Focused Interview: A Manual of Problems and Procedures. N.Y., The Free Press, 1990.

- Morgan D.L. Focus Groups As Qualitative Research, New Delphi, The International Professional Publishers, 1988.

- Stewart D.W., Shamdasani P.N. Focus Groups. Theory and Practice. L.-N.Y., The International Professional Publishers, 1990.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Category of outcome	Students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding	- know methodology, methods and practice of focus-groups; - know the place of focus groups in the system of qualitative methods; - understand the basic methodological and technical principles used to design the work with focus groups;
Intellectual skills	- develop the understanding of correlation between quantitative and qualitative methods in sociology; - promote the understanding of defenition of the aim, object and subject of research; - realise the technique of stimulating communication; - develop the understanding to methodological approaches to the analysis of qualitative research data;
Practical skills	- resolve problems: identify the features of problem, including aspects of risk and select approaches and solutions; - identify desired communication outcomes; enhance understanding and engagement by academic and professional audiences; - research independently, by identifying and managing library and information resources including online, correctly citing, acknowledging and referencing sources; - undertake effectively independent and self-managed learning;
Transferable skills and personal qualities	- effective written and oral communication; - reflect and write analytically; - engage in scientific discussion and deliver creative and original thought; - find information and use information technology (including e-library resources) - exercise self-reliance skills and develop independent learning ability; - manage time and work to deadlines.

LEARNING AND TEACHING PROCESSES (INCLUDING THE USE OF E-LEARNING)

- Contact hours: lections (57,3%) and tutorials (42,7%).

- Private assignment preparation

- Directed reading (paper and electronic texts)

- Essay writing

ASSESSMENT (INCLUDING THE USE OF E-LEARNING)

Assessment task	Length	Weighting within unit (if relevant)
Essay	3000-5000 words	100%

Date of current version	12 March 2010
Approved by Deans’ meeting	23 March 2010

PS018. Introduction to Data Analysis Using SPSS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title	Introduction to Data Analysis Using SPSS
Unit code	PS018
Credit rating	15
Level	MA
Contact hours	21
Pre-requisite units	History of Political Thought, Method of Sociological Research
Co-requisite units
School responsible	Moscow School of Social & Economic Science (Faculty of Political Science)
Member of staff responsible	Dr. Dmitriy Rogozin, Dmitriy Saponov, MA, PhD student

AIMS

Data analysis is a necessary component of modern sociological and political studies. The statistical software package SPSS is an all-purpose means of data analysis. The overall aim of this course is to familiarize students with basic data analysis techniques and implementation of these techniques using SPSS. To achieve these aims the following special tasks will be addressed:

- Review and classification of tasks leading to data analysis(

- Familiarizing students with various types of data

- Considering basic analytical techniques

- Deriving correlations between types of research and methods of analysis

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT

Content

1. Summarizing Data

2. Relationships between Categorical Variables

3. Practical techniques for using SPSS

4. Mean Differences Between Groups: T Test

5. Mean Differences Between Groups: One-Factor ANOVA

6. CHAID Analysis

7. Regression models

Core Reading

- Breiman, L., J. H. Freidman, R. A. Olshen, and C. J. Stone. Classification and Regression Trees. New-York, Chapman and Hall, 1984.

- Devyatko I. Methods of sociological research. Yekaterinburg, 1998 (In Russian).

- Hardy M.A. Regression with dummy variables // Sage University Paper series on Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. N 93. Newbury Park, CA, USA: Sage Publications, 1993.

- Raynald Levesque SPSS Programming and Data Management: A Guide for SPSS and SAS Users

- Sidorenko E. Mathematical methods in psychology. St. Petersburg, 2006 (In Russian)

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Category of outcome	Students should/will (please delete as appropriate) be able to:
Knowledge and understanding	- know and understand basic data analysis techniques; - know and understand SPSS method in data analysis;
Intellectual skills	- choose a method of analysis adequate to the input data and research objectives;
Practical skills	Implement the selected analytical method using SPSS: - to modify the initial data to the form appropriate for the analysis; - to perform correctly the required analytical procedures; - to present and interpret the results. In addition students should be able to: - resolve problems: identify the features of problem, including aspects of risk and select approaches and solutions; - identify desired communication outcomes; enhance understanding and engagement by academic and professional audiences; - research independently, by identifying and managing library and information resources including online, correctly citing, acknowledging and referencing sources; - undertake effectively independent and self-managed learning;
Transferable skills and personal qualities	- effective written and oral communication; - reflect and write analytically; - engage in scientific discussion and deliver creative and original thought; - find information and use information technology (including e-library resources) - exercise self-reliance skills and develop independent learning ability; - manage time and work to deadlines.

LEARNING AND TEACHING PROCESSES (INCLUDING THE USE OF E-LEARNING)