1. Welcome!
SSCI-E 100a
Lecture 1

2. Today’s agenda Introduce myself Introduce the course
Introduce some of the key terms

3. Who am I?
Evan Kleiman, Ph.D. Office hours: By appointment

4. Goals of the course
Develop a comprehensive understanding of how research is conducted in social science.

5. What types of things will I learn?
All parts of the research process from development of a research question to execution of a research project to dissemination of scientific findings.
In addition:
controversies and debates
becoming an exceptional presenter
how to effectively present their findings in both spoken and written media.

6. Structure of the course
Primarily a seminar course
This will mirror graduate school
First part will involve instruction, second part discussion

7. Structure of the course
Part I: Basics of research methods, philosophy and ethics. This part will cover the introductory material that is needed to understand the basic concepts of research in social science.
Part II: The nuts and bolts of research design, statistics, and writing. The finer mechanics that are needed to understand how studies are designed and manuscripts are written. We will begin to explore the philosophy of social science here.
Part III: Beyond nuts and bolts. This part will cover the other skills that are necessary for success as a beginning social scientist. We will continue to explore the philosophy of social science here.
Part IV: Presentations, exams, and wrapping up. This will be the conclusion of the course.

8. Important parts of the course

9. Reaction papers Five total, 2% each Due the day before class
i.e., before 12:01am Wednesday
Can be on course readings or any other topic
Except when otherwise noted
Between 1 and 2 pages double spaced

10. Quizzes/final Quizzes Final exam Five total Multiple choice
Given near beginning of class
Final exam
Similar content and format to quizzes
More items

11. Research proposal Will be a research proposal for a study
You won’t actually do the study (but could for a thesis)
Will have several components
Outline
Draft
Presentation
Final paper

12. Why study research methods at all?
Very important first step in conducting your own research
Will help with theses, graduate school, and in the future.
To become skilled producers of research.

13. Main goal as a consumer = distinguish science from psuedoscience
Even if you don’t become a researcher, Even if you don’t ever read a journal, You are still a consumer of research.
Main goal as a consumer = distinguish science from psuedoscience

14. Science and Pseudoscience
Scientific research is our most trustworthy source of knowledge.
But people sometimes have trouble distinguishing science from pseudoscience.
Pseudoscience – claims of evidence that masquerade as science but violate the basic criteria of scientific investigation

15. Characteristics of science
Systematic Empiricism -- rely on systematically-obtained observations to draw conclusions about the world
Public Verification -- findings must be observed, replicated, and verified by other researchers
Solvable Problems -- must study questions that are potentially answerable through systematic empiricism

16. Characteristics of pseudoscience
Nonsystematic and Nonempirical Evidence
Evidence based on myths, untested beliefs, anecdotes, opinions, or poorly designed studies that do not measure up to scientific standards
No Public Verification
Unsolvable Questions and Irrefutable Hypotheses

17. How do we do this science stuff?
Formulating hypotheses
Hypotheses
specific predictions generated by theories
are testable (i.e., falsifiable)
are directional
cannot be proven; only supported
posit an association between 2 or more variables
Can be causal or correlational

18. Where does this stuff all go?
Empirical Research Reports
“Journal Articles”
Empirical = scientific

19. Journal Articles
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion

20. Introduction Serves as the body of the paper Introduces the problem
Frames past research
How does it fit into the big picture?
Research all fits together and builds upon itself
State the hypothesis
Prediction, testable, and directional.

21. Method How was the study ran? Goals of the method section Participants
Measures
Treatments
Procedures
Goals of the method section
Inform understanding of the study
Replication

22. Results What did the study find?
Summary and statistical interpretation of the data
Tell how the data were interpreted
Statistics tell a story

23. Discussion What do the results of the study mean?
How does this fit into the big picture?
Limitations
Future directions

24. What do printed articles look like?

25. How do papers get published?
Not by the Research Stork
Peer review process

26. Peer Review Process Paper is submitted to journal
Internal review (triage)
Sent for external review
Paper is accepted, revised, or rejected
Editor makes decision
External reviewers send recommendations
Choosing the correct journal is very important. Your paper must fit in terms of content, structure, and quality.
The editor summarizes the main points of the reviewers and makes a decision. Decisions include revise and resubmit, reject, or accept outright.
The process will repeat itself if the paper is not accepted. Either at this journal if a chance to revise is offered, or at another journal if the author decides to submit elsewhere.
The editor decides if the paper has any chance of being accepted. If it does, it goes on to the next step. If it doesn’t, it will be rejected outright.
The paper is sent to others in the field who are familiar with the research topic and asked to evaluate the study. The paper is usually anonymous here.
The reviewers critique the study and make comments in reference to improvements that should be made.

27. The Peer Review Process
Can take a long time
Few weeks to a few months
Can be very frustrating
Is a system that is a necessary evil, but is in need of improvement

28. See you next class! What to do now?
Think about some broad topic areas for your final paper.