ADM2311 FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
| Course Code: | 3102311 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and Public Adm. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. MUSTAFA KEMAL BAYIRBAĞ |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The main purpose of this course is to assist you to analyze social phenomena systematically and to deal with the operational problems of designing a research project of your own.
We will begin with discussing the very foundations of knowing. We will compare scientific knowledge with other forms of knowledge. Then, we will trace the steps involved in building scientific understanding and focus on different techniques employed in social research. We will discuss how we can use science as a means of increasing our understanding of social problems and suggest ways to resolve those problems to improve the quality of human life.
Course Content
The main objective of this course is to introduce the students to the basic concepts of social research and to provide them with an understanding of the relationship between theory, research and empirical evidence. Students will be introduced to a variety of research methods that are important to empirical political and administrative research such as survey research, observation, experimentation, content analysis and aggregate data analysis. The course also aims to provide the students with an understanding of the major approaches to the study of social, political and administrative phenomenon from a critical standpoint.
Course Learning Outcomes
. Students will also be introduced to major forms of research methods used in empirical political science research such as survey research and qualitative field research. By the end of the course, the students should be able to understand the language of social research, construct their own research project and analyze existing political science research.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Ability to reach the information they need in their daily lives, and to interpret it | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Being in command of the basic concepts of law | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Understanding the political, economical, and social transformations that occur in a wide range of areas including local and international levels | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Defining and solving problems encountered in political, social, and economic life | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Being conscious, effective and rational citizens who can comprehend the transformations taking place in Turkey and in the world today | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Being professionals who can operate as productive participants in any public organization | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Having the knowledge about how public organizations function and how their decision making processes and mechanisms work | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Developing original solutions to the problems faced in relation to their own area of interest | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Critical thinking ability | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Being in command of the interdisciplinary approaches | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution