Sample Sociology 100/101 Assignment

The goal of the social sciences is to explain, predict, and understand, with the main goal being to produce knowledge.  Once knowledge has been produced it is important that sociologists share this knowledge and communicate with one another.  One of the ways this knowledge can be shared is through its publication in professional journals.  To understand what is happening in sociological research today it is essential to be able to read and evaluate the professional literature.

Your assignment is to read, discuss, and evaluate a professional research article focused on a specific sociological issue.   There are specific sections covered in professional research articles and your task is to briefly discuss these sections and evaluate them.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SPECIFIC SECTIONS THAT MUST BE COVERED:

INTRODUCTION:

What is the title of the article?  Who is (are) the author(s) of the article?  What is the name of the professional journal the article was published in?  What was the date of publication?  (This information should be in complete sentences)

Conceptualization

1) Statement of the Problem

What is the research problem?  What is the author investigating?

2) Social Theory

What social theory is being investigated?  What social theory emerged?

LITERATURE REVIEW

What reference does the author make to previous research on this topic?  Discuss the previous research findings that are mentioned in the article.

INTRODUCTION OF THE CURRENT STUDY

1) Variables

What are the major variables in the study?  What are the specific issues being investigated?

2) Hypothesis/Hypotheses or Research Question

What is the major hypothesis of the study?  OR What is the specific research question being investigated?

RESEARCH DESIGN (Research Methods)

1) Sample: Who are the specific individuals included in the study?  How many individuals were included in the study?  What were the sampling techniques?

2) Research Method: What method(s) was used for collecting the data?

3) Implementation and Conclusion of Research

When and where was the data collected?  Who collected the data?

What type of statistical analysis was used?  How was the data analyzed? (you may not understand all of the information in the section on statistical analysis, therefore, you may have some quoting in this section).

Were tables presented in the results?  What was contained in these tables?

Are levels of significance mentioned?

CONCLUSIONS

What conclusions were drawn from this study?  Are the hypotheses supported?  If the hypotheses are not supported is there an explanation for this deviation?

CRITICISMS

Does the study appear to be thoroughly planned?  How could the study be improved?  You may mention the criticisms that the author/researcher discusses BUT you will also want to think about other ways in which you think the study could be improved).

Examples of professional journals:

American Journal of Sociology

Annual Review of Sociology

Contemporary Sociology

Current Sociology

International Journal Sociology

Journal of Sociology

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Marriage and Family Review

Family Relations

Journal of Child and Family Studies

American Journal of Economics and Sociology

International Journal of Comparative Sociology

Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Rural Sociology

Sociology

Sociology and Social Research: An International Journal

Journal of Social Psychology

Child Abuse and Neglect

Child Development

Journal of Child and Family Studies