Let’s do research!

We are here! It is time to conduct research. Below is a copy of your research paper assignment. Please read it and then think about what your research will focus on – what will be your concept: Criminology, Education, Public Health, Stratification or Work?

Once you pick a concept you wish to study, go to the discussion section and self-select a group so you can help each other in the research process. We can share our research process with each other, look at data together, and talk out any challenges we face. Remember, each student conducts their own research and write their own paper. Each will pick at least one X and one Y to study a covariation for their research paper.
The next set of assignments will help you create a research project and final paper.

Conducting research, step-by-step
This is the flow of steps needed to do analysis. Do not skip the steps as this will make your process more difficult.
Find a data set you want to use.
Pick an X and a Y.
Write up your data and methods sections of your final paper.
Find one peer-reviewed article through google scholar to use in a short literature review.
Write your literature review section.

Do the analysis in Excel and create a Figure.
Write up your Findings section and include your Figure.
Write a short Introduction and Conclusion.
Compile your literature in a Reference section and format it using ASA format.
Give your study a cool title.

Take a deep breath, smile, and be proud of yourself: you are now an analyst.
Research Project
The final paper will include an introduction, literature review, data and methods, findings, conclusion and reference section. Please use my handout “Format of Most Sociological Papers” for specific information that is required to be included in each section. Format of most sociological papers. Download Format of most sociological papers.
INTRODUCTION

What is the research question and why is it important?
Introduce your key variables.

LITERATURE REVIEW
(Each student must find and include at least 1 peer-reviewed article to support their research)
(Do not call this section “Literature Review”. Instead, name it something about the relationship between your variables. Look at other articles for examples).
What is the research topic?
Why is it important?
Do you propose an hypothesis? If so, state it.
Each student is required to find (and include) at least 1 applicable scientific article in this section. (Remember to cite it in the body of the essay (Last name year), and in the REFERENCE section using ASA format: ASA Format
DATA
You must use secondary data from a legitimate website — if you want to use a site not on my list you must get prior approval (no exceptions).
Define measures and unit of analysis.
METHODS
Describe how will you conduct your study.
FINDINGS
Describe what you found. Does it support your hypothesis? Rejected? Theory holds? Refuted?
Each analysis MUST have at least one graphic representation of the findings (table or figure).
CONCLUSION
Synthesize your research with existing knowledge.
REFERENCES
In addition to the literature I provide, you must locate and incorporate 1 article in your project.
ASA format only
THE PROCESS OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Each student is responsible for one final paper that contains each of the above elements (intro, literature review, data/methods, findings, conclusion, and references).
Each student is responsible to conduct original research using secondary data. The research should employ a comparison of at least two variables. What you compare is up to you.
You MAY NOT use a report or study for your paper – this is plagiarism (see my syllabus for policy). You must design and produce your own study.
Please save your paper as a pdf or doc/docx file — no cloud submissions will be accepted.

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