Homework #2 Discussion Thread

We introduced homework #2 in class last Thursday.   The assignment is described on a Google that is shared in the 351 share folder in google docs.  You can also see it, but not edit it through a link from the syllabus.  Students who were in attendance on Thursday formed groups and finished the first couple tasks in the assignment, including forming groups.  If you are not already in a group, chose from the remaining two paper choices (last two on the sign up sheet in the assignment description).

Day 5: Evaluating Research

(click on image to see full size)

Today we discussed different types of research and we practices the evaluation of research projects, and we named a few criteria that we can used to describe basic features of a study.   Those criteria are listed below.

1. Research Questions?
1. What did they want to learn?
2. Data?
1. What was the sample?  What are the key variables? How are they measured?
3. Methods?
1. How was the data collected?  What general type of research is this (e.g. descriptive?; ethnography?)
4. Analysis?
1. How did they test their hypotheses?   What did they expect to find?
5. Results?
1. What did they learn?  
6. So what?
1. Why might the findings be important?  (relate to discussion of social structure and inequality)

In class, I described a research study, and your task was to take notes that would allow you to describe that study according to each of these criteria.   In the google docs shared folder for the 351 I have shared three documents that will help you fill out each of those criteria for that study.



Click this or copy this link into your browser to go to turn in your answers:

http://bit.ly/cYtLZ6

The image above points out the files:

EvaluationsResearchStudies is a pdf of the slides from the first half of the lecture today.
ASA.Social.pdf    is the slides describing the research study
and
Brooks.Welser.Hogan.Titsworth   is an optional paper that describes the research.

Homework #1 Discussion Thread

Home work #1 is posted as a google doc.   It includes pretty detailed instructions for the first 4 tasks, the fifth will require some fleshing out.

If you have questions on any part of the assignment you have two strategies.

1. First, you should post your questions as comments in this thread, and check for answers that others have given.   When you post questions, give as much information about what you have tried so far to make it easier for others to help you.   
2. Second, you can share your document before your are finished.   You should share it with my gmail account, as indicated in the assignment, and you should share it with a couple of other folks from the class.  They might be able to help show you how to do some of the tasks.  

In Excel, To get rid of the bracketed numbers:

Highlight the contents of that data in the three columns that include the bracketed numbers.  [23]

Then, from the home tab, open Find and Replace, in the find dialog box, enter [23] ; don't enter anything in the replace box.   Click Replace all.    Then, change the number to [22] , [24], [21]. etc, till they are all eliminated.    Make sure you search including the [ ] brackets, or you will introduce errors into your data.

hope that helps.

Part of the point of this assignment is to improve your ability to figure out how to do new things.


 Below is the text of the link to the assignment.

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1pW4qcS0pZX17HKy5UP5qTVSfHGs2HnA_KRVvdrFr_Q8&hl=en&authkey=CKjmyrgN

Sagan Chapter

Science and Hope. Chapter 2; Demon haunted world. Carl Sagan.

See the PDF here.

Your task is to read this chapter for comprehension. First, identify two brief sections that you believe are especially interesting or important. Quote each, then briefly explain why you chose them. Finally, you should distill what you believe to the the primary thesis of the chapter. Write that thesis as simply and directly as you can.

PS. Link to today's outline.

PSS Link to the course syllabus: here.

Most everyone enrolled has filled out the brief class survey, if you have not yet done so, you should now:

The link to the class survey form is here.