M EDIA TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 525: THE PRACTICE OF SCHOLARSHIP Instructor: Eszter Hargittai Office hours: by appointment Contact: scholarship08-at-hargittai.com Class meeting times and location are available to Northwestern students via CAESAR. Course Description and Objectives The overall goal of this course is to teach students how to write a publishable-quality empirical research paper. Students will work on formulating a research question, explaining the motivation for the project and its significance and writing up a research proposal. The focus is on empirical social-scientific research. This course will help students critically evaluate social science research, creatively plan research projects and confidently conduct empirical research projects. Additional goals include: to learn the foundations of research proposal preparation; to master the craft of reviewing scholarly papers and research proposals; to demystify the process of publishing papers in professional journals; and to strengthen and polish presentation skills. Readings Although you are only required to buy a personal copy of the asterisked book, you are encouraged to consider purchasing personal copies of the others. You will not be assigned to read them in their entirety for this course, but they are well worth owning. The rest of the readings listed in the course schedule are available in the course packet, on the course management site of this course or will be handed out in class. You may buy copies of these books via numerous online retailers. I link to the pages at Amazon.com but you can use others as well such as Barnes and Noble, eCampus, or look for the cheapest options at AddALL. Babbie, Earl. 2004. The Practice of Social Research. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [An earlier edition should also be fine.] Becker, H. 1986. Writing for the Social Scientists. Chicago: University of Chicago Press *Booth, W.C., G.G. Colomb, J.M. Williams. 2003. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Recommended (this or something similar): Turabian, Kate L. 1996. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Revised by John Grossman and Alice Bennett. 6th edition. Although this book is only referenced in the Course Schedule a few times, please consult it during the quarter as you encounter questions about writing (e.g. use of quotation marks, notes, bibliographies, abbreviations, etc.). Requirements and Expectations Attendance Attendance is required. The format of this class if interactive. Students will be asked to comment on their peers' work often and so class participation is crucial. Readings Make sure to read material before you start working on the written assignments. Assignments Each week (except week 1) you will be asked to prepare something in writing. These assignments are listed in detail on the course schedule. Assignments are due to the instructor or the entire class (specified weekly) at noon on Sundays unless otherwise indicated for the specific week on the course schedule. Meeting this deadline is important because in the case of most assignments others in the class have to have enough time to comment on your work before class. Do not leave the reading and writing assignments to the last minute. You will not be able to do them well in one sitting. You must read other people's submissions before class so you can have an informed discussion about others' projects in class. Grades Evaluation will be based on class participation including comments on others' work (30%) and written assignments (weekly assignments: 40%; final draft: 30%). Academic Integrity You are responsible for reading and abiding by the University Principles Regarding Academic Integrity (available online: http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/uniprin.html). Make sure to document all of your work and acknowledge the ideas and work of others. Possible sanctions, as per the university guidelines, include reduced or failing grade, a defined period of probation or suspension, exclusion from the university and notation on the official record. You must not, in any way, misrepresent your work or be party to another student's failure to maintain academic integrity. DO NOT cheat, plagiarize or disregard the University Principles Regarding Academic Integrity in any way, it is NOT worth it! When in doubt, ask the instructor for clarification. Absences Emergencies do happen. If you cannot make a deadline, please contact the instructor immediately to figure out a schedule that will work. It is crucial not to get behind in class work because each assignment builds on previous assignments. You are responsible for obtaining class notes, handouts, assignments, etc. from fellow students in case of an absence. Course Schedule Please note that the course schedule is subject to some changes depending on how students are making progress. Any such changes will be communicated to you either in class or on email. Week 1: Introduction Week 2: Formulating a Problem Week 3: Working on Revisions Week 4: Elements of a Paper Week 5: Significance Week 6: Literature Review Week 7: Research Methods Week 8: Refereeing Week 9: Draft Proposal Discussions 1/9 Week 1. Introduction We will discuss the format of the seminar, introduce ourselves to the group and will start discussions about research interests. Readings Booth et al., Part I (do not have to read 2.4) Babbie, pp.94-107. Becker, Preface, Chapters 1 & 6 1/14 Week 2. Formulating a Problem Readings Booth et al., Chapters 3 ("From Topics to Questions") & Chapter 4 ("From Questions to Problems" including the Quick Tip on Disagreeing with Your Sources) Babbie, Chapter 2 ("Paradigms, Theory and Social Research"), pp.473-478. ("Reading and Writing Social Research") Kahn, C. Ronald. 1994. "Sounding Board: Picking a Research Problem - The Critical Decision." The New England Journal of Medicine 330(21):1530-1533. (26 May) [available on NU courseware] Hargittai, E. 1999. "Weaving the Western Web: Explaining Differences in Internet Connectivity Among OECD Countries" Telecommunications Policy. 23(10/11):701-718. [copy available on NU courseware] & Hargittai's initial statements written for above paper [these documents will be distributed in class] Written Assignments 1. Two-page statement of research topic that illustrates logic from questions to problems from Chapters 3 & 4 in Craft of Research. Start with the three-step formula (Topic-Question-Significance) outlined in Booth et al. Email around your statement to everybody by Sunday noon. 2. Come up with a question for an exercise on units of analysis. Email the instructor your sentence (by Tue noon) so she can compile them into an in-class exercise. 1/21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - no class Written Assignment 1. Revise your three-step proposal based on feedback from class discussion and email it to the instructor for feedback by Sunday noon. Use the hand-out you were given in class as a template for the one-page description. This document should only contain the information outlined in the handout, no narrative is necessary at this time. 1/28 Week 3. Working on Revisions Readings Booth et al., Chapters 7 ("Making Good Arguments"), Chapter 8 ("Claims"), Chapter 9 ("Reasons and Evidence") Babbie, pp.85-94. ("Research Design") Becker, Chapter 3 ("One Right Way") Written Assignment 1. Depending on feedback from the instructor, revise your three-step proposal using the handout you had been given on 1/14. If instructor's feedback suggests revisions then revise. If instructor's feedback suggests that what you had submitted on 1/20 is fine then revision is not manditory. Email your three-step proposal to everybody by Sunday noon. 2/4 Week 4. Elements of a Paper Readings Babbie, pp.107-114. ("How To Design a Research Project", "The Research Proposal") Becker, Chapters 4 ("Editing by Ear") & Chapter 5 ("Learning to Write as a Professional") Written Assignment 1. IF your project summary has not been approved yet then email to everybody in a revised version by Sunday noon. 2. Select an example of an "excellent" empirical paper and defend it as such. Prepare a two-page statement. Justify your selection on grounds of substantive contribution, clarity of argument, soundness of evidence, and significance. Email to everybody a copy of the article/book chapter. (If you only have a hard copy then scan it in on the department's copier and email around the resulting document.) Email everybody your statements and example of an excellent paper by Sunday noon. 2/11 Week 5. Significance Readings Becker, Chapter 8 ("Terrorized by the Literature") Written Assignment 1. IF your project summary has not been approved yet then email everybody a revised version by Sunday noon. 2. Three-page description of the significance of your question. Why is it important? Why should anyone care? Email everybody your assignment by Sunday noon. 2/18 Week 6. Literature Review Readings Booth et al., Chapters 5 ("From Problems to Sources") & 6 ("Using Sources") Babbie, Appendix A ("Using the Library") Go over your notes from our in-class discussion regarding different search approaches Written Assignment 1. Five- to seven-page literature review that grounds the research problem theoretically ensuring that the unique contribution of the proposed analysis is clear. Discussion should focus on writing quality and pertinence of review to the research question. You may end up revising your research question again as you work on this assignment. Email your review to the instructor by Sunday noon. 2/25 Week 7. Research Methods Readings Babbie, Chapter 5, skim Chapters 8-12; read carefully the chapter for the method you plan to use Booth et al., Chapters 10 ("Acknowledgements and Responses"), 11 ("Warrants"), & 15 ("Communicating Evidence Visually") While working on this section, be sure to consult Turabian Chapters 6 & 7. Written Assignment 1. Prepare a revised statement of research topic, up to 5 pages. Outline the methodological approach you plan to pursue. Include a description of the data you plan to analyze, its suitability to your problem, and your analytical approach. Data for social science research are always humbling. Preparing for this assignment may entail rewriting your research question. You might want to design table cells or some other visuals that address specific questions. Do not include a literature review. Email everybody your revised statement by Sunday noon. 2/3 Week 8. Refereeing Readings Becker, Chapter 7 ("Getting It out the Door") Paper to be reviewed (you will be given this paper in class) Written Assignment 1. Prepare a review of the paper you will be given in class. Write the review as though you were serving as a referee to a journal. Email your review to the instructor by Sunday noon. 2/10 Week 9. Draft Proposal Discussions Readings Booth et al., Part IV Prologue, Chapters 12 ("Planning and Drafting"), 13 ("Revising Your Organization and Argument"), & 14 ("Introductions and Conclusions") Babbie, - pp.113-114 for a reminder of proposal elements Becker, Chapter 10 ("A Final Word") Turabian, Chapter 1 Written Assignment 1. Ten to twelve-page proposal is due by Saturday noon. We will sign up ahead of time depending on how everyone is doing. Everyone must prepare written comments on and present in class one other student's proposal. 2/19 Final Paper Due Final Papers (approximately 15 pages) are due to the instructor in hard copy at noon Wednesday, March 19th. Use the comments you received on your draft proposal to improve the final draft.