SS 250 - Theory and Methods in the Social Sciences

Credit Hours: 3

A comprehensive investigation into the research process. The course will focus on observational, correlational, and survey, experimental techniques; the nature of theory; hypothesis testing and empirical data; and scientific knowledge and its applications.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

value the nature of social sciences as a scientific discipline;
apply different research methods used by social scientists;
justify the appropriateness of conclusions derived from social science research;
evaluate the design of studies to address social science questions and the effectiveness of appropriate research methods;
recognize the APA Code of Ethics in the treatment of human and nonhuman participants in the design, data collection, interpretation, and reporting of research;
present research conclusions appropriately based on the parameters of specific research methods;
demonstrate critical reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other persuasive appeals; and
evaluate appropriate information for an assignment, locate and access information, and apply information to answer questions effectively.

F/S (C, N, S)