Research Methods for Social Sciences course aims to provide a fundamental understanding on the scientific method, research design, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of data. Students of this course will have an opportunity to review, discuss and even conduct scientific research specifically in Communication Sciences.
Course Objectives
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of selected research methods and tools.
- Describe and examine the scientific method.
- Differentiate between scholarly and non-scholarly articles.
- Develop research questions and/or hypotheses for a given topic.
- Write a literature review for a given topic.
- Anticipate ethical issues related to research.
- Evaluate data associated with research findings.
- Judge the usefulness of various research approaches: content analysis, survey and field research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and case studies.
General Information
Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30
@ Marmara University Communication Faculty, #201
21.02.2022-09.06.2022
Course Contents
- Basic Concepts for Social Sciences
- Scientific Method and Methodologies of Scientific Research
- Major Types of Social Science Research
- Theory and Research
- Ethics in Social Science Research
- Academic Reading and Writing
- Qualitative Methods: Content Analysis
- Qualitative Methods: Ethnographic Research
- Qualitative Methods: In-depth Interviews
- Quantitative Methods: Survey
- Quantitative Methods: Network Analysis
- Mixed Methods
Grading
Midterm and Final projects will be affecting your grade for this course. Student’s class participation will be awarded with extra points. Students may have additional points via pop quizzes, presentations and special projects.
Midterm Guideline
For the midterm project students are encouraged to focus on a research subject within social sciences. For that research subject students will experience the literature review process and they will write a short report. Here is the guideline for the midterm project:
- Minimum 800 words
- English is preferred, additional 10 points will be given for a proper English report.
- Minimum 4 scientific citations
- Proper citing and usage of references are rewarded with 40 points.
- Fluent usage of language 10 points
- Clear definition of the research area 10 points.
- Related theoretical background usage 20 points.
- Critical Qualities 10 points.
- Content Integrity 10 points.
- Any types of plagiarism normally make your report fail. For the midterm, up to 20 points are taken. In case of plagiarism bonus points won’t be applied.
Final Guideline
The final project is a research proposal. Students may use the literature review that they had prepared for the midterm for this project. A proper research proposal should include:
– Title: A title which include the research subject and the methodology (10 points).
–Background: Background is the literature review for the research proposal. Key concepts and theories should be defined and related researches’ findings should be shared in the background. (10 points for the definitions of the key concepts or/and theories, 10 points for sharing related researches findings.)
– Research Questions and Purpose of the Research: In this section questions that the desired research are going to answer should be listed and purpose of the research should be emphasized. (Research Questions 5 points, Purpose of the Research 5 points)
-Methodology: The methods that is going to be used for answering research questions should be shared. Information on the proposed research act (how data is going to be collected, how data is going to be analyzed, which steps the researcher is going to follow, what constraints the research have, etc.) should be given in detail. ( Reasoning of the method selection 10 points, Information on the research action 10 points)
-Time Schedule: A time schedule with every critical steps should be shared. (5 points)
-Resource Planning: Every resources that is needed for conducting the research should be listed, and approximately their costs should be shared. (5 points)
-References: In background and methodology sections citations should be used. For in-text citations and the reference list APA format is needed.(30 points)
Final project should be at least 1000 words. Less than 1000 words will get a minus 20 points.
Plagiarism will decrease the total points.
Final Project should be send by e-mail (aloha@burakpolat.com) until 31.05.2022.
Students that shared the final project just in time.
Final exam will be a multiple choice exam during the final examination week. The overall points you have for the final project will be the %40 percent of the final exam.
Bonuses
Quiz I – + 5 points to Midterm (9.3.2022)
Quiz 2 – +2 points to Midterm (23.03.2022)
Class Participation
Course Materials
Presentations:
Research Paper Examples:
- Tokgöz Şahoğlu, C. & Polat, B. (2018). TRANSMEDYA, KOLEKTİF ANLATI VE KENT: POKÉMON GO ÖRNEĞİ. Yeni Düşünceler, 2018; 9: 114-129.
- Polat, B., Dilmen, N.E. & Sütcü, C.S. (2021). TÜRKİYE’DE TWİTTER KULLANICILARININ RETWEET PRATİKLERİ ÜZERİNE KULLANIMLAR VE DOYUMLAR PARADİGMASI İLE BİR KARMA ARAŞTIRMA. e-Journal of New Media, Volume 5 Issue 2, p.112-135.
- Polat, B., Tokgöz Bakıroğlu, C. & Demirhan Sayın, M. E. (2013). Hactivism in Turkey: The Case of Redhack. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, Vol 4 No 9, 628-636.
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