Quantitative Research Methods in Social Sciences

Lecturer: Lia Tsuladze, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social and Political
Studies, Tbilisi State University, Georgia.

Course Aims. The ai of the course is to failiarize students !ith "uantitative research
ethods in social sciences, as !ell as to facilitate the to gain #ractical s$ills of
conducting "uantitative researches. Therefore, students !ill not only receive theoretical
$no!ledge on the related to#ics but also, based on it, underta$e #ractical !or$ such as
develo#ing a social research #rogra, designing a sa#le, constructing a "uestionnaire,
and conducting a standardized%structured intervie!. As survey research is considered to
be the ain ethod of "uantitative research, students !ill se"uentially cover all its stages
fro develo#ing a research "uestion to the data analysis and re#orting.
Course Format. Lectures that #rovide students !ith necessary theoretical bac$ground,
and seinars and discussions, !here students #resent their #ractical assignents and give
feedbac$ to one another. Students !ill !or$ in the grou#s of &'( on the #ractical
assignents and #resent the to the !hole grou# at each seinar.
Course Contents.
1. Introduction to quantitative research methods. Survey research as the main
method of quantitative research
)ntroduction* T!o ethods of social research ' "uantitative and "ualitative, basic
differences bet!een the. Social research and theory* The interaction of theory and
research. The #rocess of theory construction and the #rocess of theory testing.
Survey research as the ain ethod of "uantitative research. A brief history of
survey research. The scientific characteristics of survey research.
References:
De +aus, D. A. ,-../0. Survey in Social Research ,1
nd
ed.0. London* Un!in 2yan. 3h.
1.
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. &.
-
8eill, 9. ,1//:0. Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key Points in the Classic
Debate. ;etrieved
htt#*%%!ilderdo.co%research%<ualitative+ersus<uantitative;esearch.htl=Features
. Social Research !ro"ram
7hat is a social research #rogra and !hy is it necessary to start a research !ith
develo#ing a #ro#er research #rogra> The structure of a social research #rogra, its
theoretical and #rocedural #arts. The structure of a theoretical #art* -. Forulating a
research "uestion and stating its i#ortance? 1. )dentifying a to#ic and an ob@ect of the
research? &. 3larifying the research ai and ob@ectives? and (. Develo#ing the research
hy#otheses. The structure of a #rocedural #art* -. Designing a sa#le? and 1. )dentifying
a##ro#riate research ethods.
An eAa#le of a research #rogra* Li$aBs PhD research* CAutonoy and
Sanctions in Socialization in the 3onteAt of Georgian 3ulture.D
Assignment: Students choose a #articular to#ic of their interest and develo# a
theoretical #art of the research #rogra in the grou#s of &'(. A coon to#ic is chosen
by the !hole grou#? ho!ever, each subgrou# !or$s on a #articular as#ect of this to#ic.
References:
De +aus, D. A. ,-../0. Survey in Social Research ,1
nd
ed.0. London* Un!in 2yan. 3h.
&, (.
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. -.
2ar#er ;., Helly I. ,1//&0. Ieasuring Social 3a#ital in the UH. !ational Statistics"
retrieved !!!.statistics.gov.u$%socialca#ital
#. Seminar
Presentation and discussion of the social research #rogras by the grou#s of students.
Feedbac$ fro the !hole grou#* )dentifying strengths and !ea$nesses of each research
#rogra and i#roving the.
$. %y&es of Survey Research. 'asic Survey (esi"ns
1
7hat is survey> Pur#oses of survey research* Descri#tion, eA#lanation, and
eA#loration. Ste#s in 3onducting a survey. Iain ty#es of survey research* Self'
adinistered "uestionnaires, ail surveys, internet surveys, #ersonal intervie!s, and
tele#hone intervie!s. )ntervie!s versus "uestionnaires* advantages and disadvantages of
each. 5thical considerations, an intervie!erBs central tas$ and the #rinci#les of
#erforance.
The issues related to selecting a survey ethod* Po#ulation issues, sa#ling
issues, "uestion issues, content issues, bias issues, and adinistrative issues.
4asic survey designs. 3ross'sectional surveys and longitudinal surveys* trend
studies, cohort studies, and #anel studies. +ariations on basic designs* #arallel sa#les,
conteAtual studies, and socioetric studies. The !ays of choosing an a##ro#riate design.
References:
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. (.
De +aus, D. ,1//10. Surveys in Social Research ,J
th
ed.0. London* ;outledge. 3h. 6.
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. 1, K.
8e!an, 7. L. ,1//&0. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
A##roaches ,J
th
ed.0. 4oston* AF4. 3h. -/, ##. 1K&'1K6, 16.'&/(.
Trochi, 7. ,1//K0. Survey Research. ;etrieved
htt#*%%!!!.socialresearchethods.net%$b%survey.#h#
). Questionnaire (esi"n
<uestion content and #rinci#les of "uestion design. Ty#es of "uestions and
res#onse categories. Develo#ing "uestion res#onses. Guides to "uestion construction and
!ording issues. <uestionnaire design issues* Length of "uestionnaire? "uestionnaire
layout? "uestion order and forat? non'res#onse. Pilot testing* 5valuating "uestions and
"uestionnaires. Ieasureent "uality* reliability and validity.
An e$am#le o% a &uestionnaire: CRRC Data Initiative '(() * Individual
Questionnaire"
Assignment* Students develo# theatic sections for "uestionnaires ,in the grou#s
of &'(0 for the research to#ic they have develo#ed a research #rogra on.
&
References:
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. :.
De +aus, D. ,1//10. Surveys in Social Research ,J
th
ed.0. London* ;outledge. 3h. :.
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. :, 6.
8e!an, 7. L. ,1//&0. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
A##roaches ,J
th
ed.0. 4oston* AF4. 3h. -/, ##. 1K6'166.
*. Seminar
Presentation and discussion of the "uestionnaire sections by the grou#s of students.
Feedbac$ fro the !hole grou#* )dentifying strengths and !ea$nesses of each
"uestionnaire and i#roving the.
+. Inde,es and Scales
)ndeAes versus scales. )ndeA construction* ite selection? bivariate relationshi#s
aong ites? ultivariate relationshi#s aong ites? indeA scoring? handling issing
data. )ndeA validation* internal versus eAternal validation.
Scale construction and #rinci#les of easureent* unidiensionality, reliability,
validity, linearity, and re#roducibility. Ty#es of scales* Thurstone scale? 4ogardus scale?
Li$ert scale? and Guttan scale. )ssues that co#licate scaling and soe solutions to
these #robles.
An e$am#le o% scales: CRRC Data Initiative '(() * Individual Questionnaire"
Assignment* Students develo# scales for their "uestionnaires ,in the grou#s of &'
(0.
References:
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. 6.
De +aus, D. ,1//10. Surveys in Social Research ,J
th
ed.0. London* ;outledge. 3h. --.
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. --.
Trochi, 7. ,1//K0. Scaling. ;etrieved
htt#*%%!!!.socialresearchethods.net%$b%scaling.#h#
(
-. Seminar
Presentation and discussion of the scales by the grou#s of students. Feedbac$ fro the
!hole grou#* )dentifying strengths and !ea$nesses of each "uestionnaire and i#roving
the.
.. Survey Sam&lin"
The logic of survey sa#ling. Ty#es of sa#ling ethods* #robability and
non#robability sa#ling.
Probability sa#ling* the i#lications of hoogeneity and heterogeneity?
conscious and unconscious sa#ling bias? re#resentativeness and #robability of selection.
Po#ulations and sa#ling fraes. Size of a sa#le and sa#ling error.
Ty#es of #robability sa#ling designs* si#le rando sa#ling? systeatic
sa#ling? stratified sa#ling? ultistage cluster sa#ling. Pro#ortionate and
dis#ro#ortionate sa#ling and !eighting.
Ty#es of non#robability sa#ling designs* Accidental or convenience sa#ling?
#ur#osive or @udgeental sa#ling? "uota sa#ling.
+$am#les o% sam#le designs: Sam#ling university students, sam#ling medical
school %aculty, sam#ling +#isco#al churchomen, sam#ling -a.land households"
Assignment: Students develo# a co#lete research #rogra including both
theoretical and #rocedural #arts.
References:
De +aus, D. A. ,-../0. Survey in Social Research ,1
nd
ed.0. London* Un!in 2yan. 3h.
J.
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. J, K.
8e!an, 7. L. ,1//&0. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
A##roaches ,J
th
ed.0. 4oston* AF4. 3h. 6.
Trochi, 7. ,1//K0. Sam#ling. ;etrieved
htt#*%%!!!.socialresearchethods.net%$b%sa#ling.#h#
J
1/. Seminar
Discussion and analysis of different sa#le designs. Presentation of co#lete research
#rogras.
11. Survey Research 0thics. !retests and !ilot Studies
The ethics of survey research* voluntary #artici#ation? no har to res#ondents?
anonyity and confidentiality? identifying #ur#ose and s#onsor? analysis and re#orting.
Professional code of ethics.
3onducting #retests* Pretesting the sa#le design? the research instruent? the
data collection? the data #rocessing? and the analysis.
3onducting #ilot studies* Pilot'study sa#ling? research instruent? data
collection and data #rocessing? and finally, analysis.
5valuating #retests and #ilot studies* "uestion clarity? "uestionnaire forat?
variance in res#onses? internal validation of ites? and finally, analysis and re#orting.
Practice* Students #retest in class several "uestionnaires develo#ed by the
,assignents J F :0 through #erforing in the roles of intervie!ers and intervie!ees.
References:
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. -1, -..
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. (.
1. (ata !rocessin" 1 Codin"
3oding* 3lassifying res#onses' #recoding and #ostcoding. Allocating codes to
variables. Allocating colun nubers to variables. Producing a codeboo$. 3hec$ing for
coding errors.
Pre#aring variables for analysis* 3hanging, colla#sing, and reordering the
categories of variables. 3reating ne! variables fro eAisting ones. Standardizing
variables to enable better co#arisons. Dealing !ith issing data.
+$am#le o% coding: CRRC Data Initiative '(() * Individual Questionnaire"
Assignment: Students use the aboveentioned "uestionnaire to create ne!
variables fro the eAisting ones ,in the grou#s of &'(0.
K
References:
De +aus, D. ,1//10. Surveys in Social Research ,J
th
ed.0. London* ;outledge. 3h. ., -/.
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. --.
E##enhei, A. 8. ,-..10. Questionnaire Design, Intervieing and Attitude
Measurement. London F 8G* 3ontinuu. 3h. -(.
1#. Seminar
Presentation and discussion of the assignents by the grou#s of students. Feedbac$ fro
the !hole grou#.
1$. (ata Analysis
Analyzing data* the logic of univariate, bivariate, and ultivariate analyses.
Univariate analysis* fre"uency distributions? easures of central tendency? easures of
variation. 4ivariate analysis* crosstabulations and scattergras? easures of association.
Iultivariate analysis* statistical control and trivariate tables.
References:
De +aus, D. ,1//10. Surveys in Social Research ,J
th
ed.0. London* ;outledge. 3h.
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. -(.
8e!an, 7. L. ,1//&0. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
A##roaches ,J
th
ed.0. 4oston* AF4. 3h. -1.
Alrec$, P. L. F Settle, ;. 4. ,-../0. /he Survey Research 0andboo.. 2oe!ood,
)llinois* )r!in. 3h. -/, --.
1). Research Re&ort
The structure of a research re#ort, its ( ain #arts* -. )ntroduction ' creating a
research s#ace and Choo$ingD the readers? 1. Iethods ' #rocess descri#tions? &. ;esults '
coenting on the data, aditting difficulties in inter#retation, and citing agreeent
!ith #revious studies? and (. Discussion%3onclusion ' consolidating a research s#ace and
identifying useful areas for further research.
Forats for reference lists using ASA%APA ,Aerican Sociological
Association%Aerican Psychological Association0 style of references.
:
+$ercise* Iatching the eleents of a research re#ort !ith their descri#tions
#roducing a basic frae!or$ for a research re#ort. 3reating a reference list using
ASA%APA style.
References:
4abbie, 5. ,-..60. Survey Research Methods ,1
nd
ed.0. 4elont* 7ads!orth. 3h. -6.
8e!an, 7. L. ,1//&0. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
A##roaches ,J
th
ed.0. 4oston* AF4. 3h. -K.
S!ales, 9. I. and Fea$, 3.4. ,-..(0. Academic 1riting %or 2raduate Students" Iichigan*
The Univesity of Iichigan Press.
En APA style of docuenting sources*
htt#*%%!ebster.conet.edu%a#a%indeA.ht
htt#*%%!!!.a#astyle.org%elecref.htl
En ASA Style of docuenting sources*
htt#*%%o!l.english.#urdue.edu%o!l%resource%J6&%/-%
htt#*%%!!!.calstatela.edu%library%bi%rsalina%asa.styleguide.htl
Assessment:
Attendance ' -/L
Partici#ation in discussions ' 1/L
Assignents ' (/L
Final eAa ' &/L
Learnin" 2utcomes:
Students are failiar !ith survey research as the ain ethod of "uantitative research.
They have ac"uired not only theoretical $no!ledge about each stage of survey research,
but also #ractical eA#erience of underta$ing its #articular stages, naely, develo#ing a
research #rogra, constructing a "uestionnaire, designing a sa#le, and conducting a
standardized%structured intervie!. They are also failiar !ith the basic structure of a
research re#ort and $no! ho! to docuent sources using ASA%APA style of references.
6