Professor:
John R. Mitrano, Ph.D.
Class Meetings:
W 5:00-7:40 p.m..
Office Hours:
TTR 9:30-11:30 a.m. and W 12:00-1:00 p.m. and by appointment
Office Phone:
(860) 832-3145
Office Location: Sanford Hall - 304
E-Mail Address:
mitranoj@ccsu.edu
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
1) Galvan Writing
Literature Reviews Pyrczak
Publishing, 1999.
2) Arksey & Knight Interviewing for Social
Scientists Sage Publications,
1999.
3) Rossman & Rallis Learning in the Field:
An Introduction to Qualitative Research
Sage Publications, 1998.
4) Karp
Speaking of Sadness Oxford
University Press, 1996.
5) Various handouts and readings
When you enter this class the first week, I imagine
you do so primarily because this is a required course for sociology majors.
My goal over the semester is to transform your outlook on qualitative
research and analysis. I want you to come to view it not as a dull
“requirement”, but rather as one of the
more useful courses you will complete at CCSU.
By the end of the semester, I want you to have:
•become acquainted with the theoretical, ethical,
and historical traditions of qualitative methodology
•experienced social research firsthand by
conducting and completing a research project using qualitative methods
•developed the ability to critically evaluate
other social research
•grappled with some of the ethical implications
of studying human beings
•acquired a greater knowledge and understanding
of the discipline of sociology
•successfully fulfilled a degree requirement
In attempting to accomplish such feats, you will be
exposed to the arguments made in classic texts and articles in the lieu will be
e classic texts and articles in the field of qualitative research methods and
engage in different exercises that,
taken together, will comprise a final research project.
1) The “world” has multiple meanings to people;
2) People act toward all “objects” in terms of
the meanings they have for them;
3) These meanings are shaped by people’s
interactions with others;
4) People develop particularlistic bonds or
associations with others; and
5) Activity has an emergent quality.
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS & METHODS OF EVALUATION:
In this course, you will have several assignments
that will be used to evaluate your performance and determine an overall final
grade. Each will be explained in
greater detail as the semester progresses; however, they will include the
following:
1)
Three (3) Take_Home Question Sets [Each
15% of your final grade= 45% of final grade]
2)
Research Project
[50% of your final grade]
The purpose of this assignment is to give you the
opportunity to experience the actual formulation of a research project,
including its design, the collection of data, the analysis and interpretation of
the data once it has been collected, and the reporting of one’s research
findings. Essentially, you will
produce a journal-quality final research project on a topic of your choosing.
Thefinal product you hand in will include the following sections:
Introduction and Literature Review
Methodology (i.e., discussion of interviewing and
observational techniques)
Findings
Final Comments/Areas for Future Research
References
Your attendance and participation in class will
also be taken into account for your final grade in the course.