SOCI 60: The Practice of Social Research Benjamin Graham
SOCI 60: The Practice of Social Research Benjamin Graham
SOCI 60: The Practice of Social Research Benjamin Graham
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<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Practice</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Office Hours: M 11:30-12:30, W 10:30-12:30<br />
SSB 447<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Business and Logistics<br />
• Syllabus and Course Information: http://polisci2.ucsd.edu/bagraham/<br />
• Syllabus will change during the quarter. Check online for updates.<br />
• Homework assignments and lecture slides will also be posted here.<br />
• Lecture slides are not a substitute for good notes!<br />
• My Office Hours: M 10:30-12:30, W 11:30-12:30 in SSB 447<br />
• Your TAs will also have <strong>of</strong>fice hours -- see the syllabus.<br />
• Section begins next week.<br />
• Russell Schutt, Investigating the <strong>Social</strong> World, 6th Ed.<br />
• 5th Edition should be fine<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Your Grade<br />
• 5 Homework Assignments ................... 35%<br />
• Midterm ................................................ 25%<br />
• Final ..................................................... 30%<br />
• Participation ........................................ 10%<br />
• Participation: Do the readings, show up, participate.<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
A preview <strong>of</strong> the course<br />
• <strong>The</strong> big picture <strong>of</strong> social research<br />
• Conceptualization, Measurement and Sampling<br />
• Causation and <strong>Research</strong> Design<br />
• A range <strong>of</strong> methodologies:<br />
• Experiments, Surveys, Qualitative Methods, Historical and Comparative<br />
Methods and Quantitative Methods<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Quantitative Methods<br />
•Yes, that means math<br />
•No, it won’t kill you<br />
•We will use SPSS<br />
•Section will be held in the computer lab<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Homework<br />
• Five assignments, worth 35% <strong>of</strong> your grade (7% each)<br />
• Due at the beginning <strong>of</strong> class. May be submitted ONLY in class.<br />
• Late by 1 class period = 50% deduction. Later than that not accepted.<br />
• All homework must be typewritten.<br />
• You may discuss answers with your classmates, but submitted work must be<br />
your own.<br />
• If you discuss your homework with other students, you must list their<br />
names on your homework.<br />
• DO NOT submit answers identical to other students. That will be<br />
considered cheating.<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Welcome to <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
• <strong>Social</strong> science involves bringing science to the land <strong>of</strong> amateurs.<br />
• Why are people homeless? vs Why does ice float?<br />
• Sociology, political science, economics, social psychology, business...<br />
• <strong>Social</strong> research skills are good for at least two things:<br />
• Making $$$<br />
• Saving the World<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
I keep saying that the sexy job in the next<br />
10 years will be statisticians.<br />
-- Hal Varian<br />
Chief Economist at Google<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
But I’m not training you in statistics<br />
<strong>The</strong>ory<br />
Action<br />
<strong>Research</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
I’m training you in social research<br />
<strong>The</strong>ory<br />
Action<br />
<strong>Research</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Intergenerational Poverty<br />
Poverty Today<br />
Poverty Tomorrow<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Lack <strong>of</strong> Education<br />
Low Skills<br />
Poverty Today<br />
Poverty Tomorrow<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Bad Health<br />
No Access to Doctors<br />
Poor Nutrition<br />
Poverty Today<br />
Poverty Tomorrow<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Bad Health<br />
Poor School Attendance<br />
No Access to Doctors<br />
Poor Nutrition<br />
Poverty Today<br />
Poverty Tomorrow<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Progresa: <strong>The</strong> Program<br />
• Problem: An intergenerational cycle <strong>of</strong> poverty<br />
• Education, health, nutrition<br />
• Progresa: Conditional cash transfer program, began in 1997<br />
• Send your kids to school, get them to the health clinic for regular health<br />
checkups, and you get $$ and food.<br />
• $50-65 per month (USD) -- up to $1<strong>60</strong> per family<br />
• Money is given to the mother<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Bad Health<br />
Poor School Attendance<br />
No Access to Doctors<br />
Poor Nutrition<br />
Poverty Today<br />
Poverty Tomorrow<br />
Friday, September 23, 11
But does it work that way?<br />
<strong>The</strong>ory<br />
Action<br />
<strong>Research</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Progresa: <strong>The</strong> Evaluation<br />
• Randomized evaluation conducted by the International Food Policy <strong>Research</strong><br />
Institute<br />
• Randomized at the community level. Control group received the “treatment”<br />
18 months later.<br />
• Children in “treated” communities did better<br />
• 20% school enrollment increase for girls, 10% increase for boys<br />
• 12% less illness for children under 5<br />
• Less malnutrition and stunted growth for children under 3.<br />
• Families spent 13% more on food, and ate a healthier diet.<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
Progresa: Some Questions<br />
• What effect do you think the results <strong>of</strong> the Progresa evaluation had?<br />
• What would have happened if the Progresa evaluation had showed no effect?<br />
• Could there have been any negative effects from doing an evaluation?<br />
• What programs in the US are randomized?<br />
• Is it ethical to randomize social programs?<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
For Next Week<br />
• Read Chapter 1 in the Schutt book before Monday’s class.<br />
• Attend the section you are enrolled in.<br />
• Check the syllabus for <strong>of</strong>fice hours. Office hours will start next week.<br />
• Also, there is an article about Progresa posted on my website if you are<br />
interested.<br />
• All course info is under the “Teaching” section <strong>of</strong> my website:<br />
• http://polisci2.ucsd.edu/bagraham/<br />
<strong>SOCI</strong> <strong>60</strong>: Lecture 1<br />
<strong>Benjamin</strong> <strong>Graham</strong><br />
Friday, September 23, 11
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