Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Applied Research Methods (Face-to-Face)

SOC 3450-01

Course: SOC 3450-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: HSOC
CRN: 32382

Course Description

The major topics we will cover are: ethics in research; reviewing the scholarly literature; measurement; sampling; collecting qualitative and quantitative data using various research methods, such as surveys, experiments, content analysis, field research, and existing statistics; analyzing qualitative and quantitative data; and writing a research proposal.

Required Texts

  • Basics of Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (3rd edition), by W. Lawrence Neuman, ISBN 0-205-76261-1

Learning Outcomes

(1) Gain factual knowledge about qualitative and quantitative research methods, (2) apply course material by designing your own research proposal, and (3) develop specific skills needed by social scientists. 

Course Requirements

  • Group research paper (200 points)
  • Two exams (200 points each)
  • Homework assignments (20 points each)
  • Peer evaluation (120 points)

Course Outline

Dates        Readings              In-Class Activities                                        Assignments Due

 

Aug 28                                     Review syllabus, form research groups, 

                                                do exercises in problem formulation and                                 

                                                thinking of research topics                               

______________________________________________________________________________

Sep 2         Chapter 1              Discuss the various research methods             Assignment 1            
                                                            

Sep 4         Pages 172-175,      Qualitative/quantitative methods,                   Assignment 2

                  208-210, 239-241, mixed-methods

                  290-293, 322-325                                                                           

______________________________________________________________________________
 
Sep 9         Chapter 3               Ethics in research & IRB forms                       Assignment 3
                                                                                                            
Sep 11                                                                                                             Assignment 4

______________________________________________________________________________

Sep 16       Chapter 4               Using internet for research, lit. reviews,           Assignment 5

                                                & how to write an introduction

Sep 18                                     How to read journal articles &                         Assignment 6

                                                exercises in variables & units of analysis                                              

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Sep 23       Chapter 5               Measurement lecture & exercises                                 

Sep 25                                                                                                             Assignment 7 

______________________________________________________________________________

Sep 30       Chapter 6               Sampling lecture & exercises                                                                                                                           

Oct 2                                                                                                               Assignment 8             
______________________________________________________________________________

Oct 7         Chapter 7               Survey lecture & exercises                               
                 
Oct 9                                                                                                               Assignment 9             ______________________________________________________________________________

Oct 14                                     NO CLASS- FALL BREAK                                                                                        

Oct 16                                     MIDTERM EXAM   
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oct 21       Chapter 8               Experiment lecture & exercises                                    

Oct 23                                                                                                             Assignment 10
______________________________________________________________________________

Oct 28       Chapter 9               Nonreactive research               
                                                                    
Oct 30                                     Secondary analysis                                           Assignment 11 ______________________________________________________________________________

Nov 4        Chapter 10             Analyzing data lecture & exercises                   Assignment 12                                                                                                                                  
Nov 6                                      Class in computer lab                                       Assignment 13
______________________________________________________________________________

Nov 11      Chapter 11             Field research & focus groups                          Assignment 14                                                           

Nov 13                                                                        
______________________________________________________________________________

Nov 18      Chapter 13             Analysis of qualitative data                              Assignment 15                                                                                                                         
Nov 20                                                                                                             Assignment 16
______________________________________________________________________________

Nov 25                                    NO CLASS- THANKSGIVING BREAK                             
                                                                                                                        
Nov 27                                    NO CLASS- THANKSGIVING BREAK                                          
______________________________________________________________________________

Dec 2        Chapter 14             Writing a research report                     
                  

Dec 4                                       Student groups present papers
______________________________________________________________________________

Dec 8                                       GROUP PAPERS DUE: 9am                      
______________________________________________________________________________

Dec 11                                     FINAL EXAM: 11am
______________________________________________________________________________

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

 If you miss an exam, you will receive a zero for that exam.  However, if you have appropriate documentation, such as a doctor’s note from the free Student Health Clinic (www.suu.edu/clinic), you can take a make-up exam. 

Attendance Policy

  • The requirements for this course are far too rigorous to tolerate poor attendance.  Thus:
 
  • Students are allowed five unexcused absences for the semester. A failing grade for the course will be given to any student who exceeds this limit.  

  • Also, being late will count as half of one absence. Thus, coming to class late on two occasions will count as one full absence.  

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.