Research Methods in Social Sciences(COM235)
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credit | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM235 | Research Methods in Social Sciences | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prerequisites | |
| Admission Requirements |
| Language of Instruction | French |
| Course Type | Compulsory |
| Course Level | Bachelor Degree |
| Course Instructor(s) | Vildan MAHMUTOĞLU vmahmutoglu@gsu.edu.tr (Email) Mutlucan ŞAHAN msahan@gsu.edu.tr (Email) |
| Assistant | |
| Objective | This course is an introduction to social science research; its aim is to provide students with the methodological skills necessary to design a scientific investigation and to collect and analyze appropriate data. |
| Content |
Major methodological debates of social sciences Research design in social sciences Data collection and analysis |
| Course Learning Outcomes |
To be aware of major methodological debates and dichotomies of social sciences To problematize a research object in social sciences To know the techniques of field research and using them appropriately |
| Teaching and Learning Methods | Students are expected to design a research project and apply the methods learned in the course. |
| References |
Raymond Quivy, Luc van Campenhoudt, Manuel de recherche en Sciences sociales, Dunod, 2006. Howard Becker, Tricks of the Trade How to think about your Research while you’re doing it, University of Cicago Press, 1998. Ted Benton, Ian Craib, Philosophy of Social Science, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. Karl Marx, Kapital, Yordam, 2011, s. 17-30. Karl Marx, 1857 Girişi Max Weber, Collected Methodological Writings, Routledge, 2013 Pierre Bourdieu, L’opinion publique n’existe pas |
Theory Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Basic concepts and debates |
| 2 | Nature, human, law and regularities |
| 3 | What do social sciences do? Comprehensive and explanatory approaches |
| 4 | Reason and sense as sources of knowledge / What is theory and how does it relate to method? |
| 5 | Fact-value tension |
| 6 | Universal, singular and reality |
| 7 | Midterm exam |
| 8 | Testability and objectivity |
| 9 | Correlation and causality |
| 10 | Abstraction |
| 11 | İdeal-type and social fact |
| 12 | Structure and agent |
| 13 | Ethical issues |
| 14 | Final exam |
Practice Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Course structure and functioning |
| 2 | What distinguishes scientific thought? Is social science possible? |
| 3 | What do social sciences do? Comprehensive and explanatory approaches |
| 4 | What is theory and how does it relate to method? |
| 5 | Formulation of hypotheses |
| 6 | Research design and sampling |
| 7 | Midterm exam |
| 8 | Data collection, quantitative and qualitative techniques |
| 9 | Data collection, qualitative techniques |
| 10 | Analyzing data |
| 11 | Analyzing data, testing hypotheses |
| 12 | Writing and presentation of research |
| 13 | Writing and presentation of research |
| 14 | Final exam |
Contribution to Overall Grade
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 1 | 40 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 60 |
| Toplam | 2 | 100 |
In-Term Studies
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 0 | 0 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 100 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Toplam | 1 | 100 |
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Will have effective written and oral communication skills in Turkish | X | ||||
| 2 | Will have a thorough knowledge of at least two foreign languages | X | ||||
| 3 | Will be informed about art and culture, human rights, social, professional and ethical values, law and legislation, quality standards, and will be aware of their responsibility on these subjects | X | ||||
| 4 | Will have sufficient knowledge about social sciences, professions and sectors in communication and media, innovative and entrepreneurial practices | X | ||||
| 5 | Will have the ability to use, in an effective and creative way, the techniques and tools and information technologies necessary for interactive and conventional media, in the context of health and safety in the workplace | X | ||||
| 6 | Will have the ability to develop documentary and fictional content related to their field for interactive and conventional media; also the ability to produce and manage this content in group | X | ||||
| 7 | Will have the theoretical knowledge and ability to carry out and share scientific work on communication environments and processes of interactive and conventional media and on the individual and social outcomes of the latter | X | ||||
| 8 | Will have the knowledge of analysis and modelling techniques to analyse interactive and conventional media and the communication environments and processes | X | ||||
| 9 | Will have the ability to question and critically analyse developments and problems concerning interactive and conventional media and the communication environments and processes, will be aware of the public interest, social responsibility and the environment, will be sensitive to contemporary world’s and Turkey's current problems; will develop a libertarian, democratic, constructive and problem-solving approach | X | ||||
| 10 | They are familiar with the historical development processes of electronic, digital media and film; and the current developments in these fields | |||||
| 11 | They learn sociological, cultural and aesthetic approaches in electronic, digital media and film | X | ||||
| 12 | They learn the political economy of cultural industries, labour and production relations, analysis of marketing and consumption patterns. | X | ||||
| 13 | They learn at a first level how to use the equipment necessary for the production of audio-visual content for TV, radio and digital media and of films in different genres | |||||
| 14 | They gain experience in conducting creative activities in electronic, digital media and film; in producing and working in groups | X | ||||
| 15 | They acquire theoretical information in the fields of public relations, advertising, integrated marketing communication and organizational communication | X | ||||
| 16 | They are familiar with the research, planning, implementation and evaluation processes in public relations and advertising; they can create campaigns, present them effectively and write reports | X | ||||
| 17 | They have knowledge of organisational communication, crisis and risk communication, reputation management, media relations, media planning, digital media management, brand management and interpersonal communication. They are able to carry out activities in these areas | |||||
| 18 | They use public relations and advertising strategies and tactics appropriate to the specificities of conventional and new media | |||||
| 19 | They are aware of legal regulations, ethical codes in public relations and advertising, and they remain faithful to them | |||||
| 20 | They are familiar with the different theoretical approaches regarding the social place, role and functions of journalism as a social institution and phenomenon; they are familiar with the process of producing information for conventional and digital media | X | ||||
| 21 | They are familiar with the structural and technical specificities, management characteristics of conventional/mainstream media, as well as alternative media structures | |||||
| 22 | They are familiar with the new conceptual and theoretical discussions emerging from interactive/digital media in terms of social sciences and humanities | X | ||||
| 23 | They are familiar with the historical development of journalism in Turkey and in the world; they can analyse it in the context of social and political history | |||||
| 24 | They have the ability to effectively use information technology, printing and publishing techniques; to write a press article using data collected on the web and on social media, to visualize this data and to publish it | |||||
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Assignments | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Project | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 132 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 5.28 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 5 | ||