Department of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Ateneo de Naga University
PSCM363: Introduction to Political Analysis Consultation hours: MWF (3:30-5:30PM)
First semester, SY 2015-2016 Menandro S. Abanes
Course description and outline
Society does not explain itself, nor does it examine and interpret its events. Those tasks are taken up by
students of society like you and me. They are no easy tasks. But in our efforts to achieve the tasks, we are
aided by various research methods developed by researchers who have studied society.
students of society like you and me. They are no easy tasks. But in our efforts to achieve the tasks, we are
aided by various research methods developed by researchers who have studied society.
This course focuses on methods and practices of social research. It aims to prepare and motivate
students to complete their requirement of a thesis proposal. It introduces a menu of research methods for possible use in making a defensible thesis proposal.
students to complete their requirement of a thesis proposal. It introduces a menu of research methods for possible use in making a defensible thesis proposal.
I. Practice of social research
A. Doing research
Ø Key concepts: research process, inductive, deductive
Ø Reading: How to design a research project by Earl Babbie (pp. 107-113) in The Practice of Social Research
B. Purposes of research and units of analysis
Ø Key concepts: types of research, descriptive, explanatory, time dimension
Ø Reading: Research design by Earl Babbie (pp. 90-106) in The Practice of Social Research
C. Researching for what?
Ø Key concepts: values, advocacy
Ø Readings: The case for value-free sociology by Max Weber (pp. 23-25) and Whose side are we on? by Howard Becker (pp. 26-29) in Seeing ourselves edited by Macionis and Benokraitis
D. What’s your problem?
Ø Key concepts: causation, patterns, research problem
Ø Reading: The idea of causation in social research by Earl Babbie (pp. 69-86) in The Practice of Social Research
E. Conceptualizing the research
Ø Key concepts: research proposal, research problem, framework
Ø Reading: Conceptualizing the research by Wilfredo Arce (pp. 11-21) in The Systematic Qualitative Data Research
F. Resolving your problem
Ø Key concepts: theory, framework, hypothesis
Ø Reading: Look before you leap: Some reflections on hypothesis formulation in the social sciences by Michael Costello (pp. 26-36) and What is a theory?
Additional reading: Why is my evil lecturer forcing me to learn statistics? by Andy Field (pp. 1-15) in Discovering Statistics using SPSS
II. Research processes and methods
A. To be or not to be: quantitative or qualitative?
Ø Key concepts: debate, nature of data
Ø Reading: The debate about quantitative and qualitative research by Alan Bryman (pp. 93-126) in Quantity and Quality in Social Research
B. Evaluative research
Ø Key concepts: program, project, evaluation, ex post-facto
Ø Reading: Of blackbirds and boxes: An introduction to evaluative research by Frank
Lynch (pp. 174-182) in Philippine Society and the Individual
Lynch (pp. 174-182) in Philippine Society and the Individual
C. Observational method
Ø Key concepts: social structure, qualitative
Ø Reading: Observational methods by William Foote Whyte (pp. 83-96) in Learning from the Field: A guide from experience
D. Feminist research and life history
Ø Key concepts: feminist, perspective, case study, life history
Ø Reading: Understanding sexuality through life histories by Jeanne Illo (pp. 7-29)
E. Conflict analysis
Ø Key concepts: conflict analysis, mining issues
Ø Reading: A conflict analysis of Rapu-Rapu mining issues by Menandro Abanes (pp. 150-157) in Southeast Asia Today: Development Paradigms, Reflexive Engagements
F. Discourse analysis (critical)
Ø Key concepts: discourse analysis, development models
Ø Reading: People’s Organization (POs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the Catholic Church vs. the State and a
Transnational Corporation (TNC): A Critical Discourse Analysis of Mining Issues in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1- 27) in Gibon, volume 5, 2005
Transnational Corporation (TNC): A Critical Discourse Analysis of Mining Issues in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1- 27) in Gibon, volume 5, 2005
G. Survey research (descriptive)
Ø Key concepts: volunteering, measurement
Ø Reading: To be men and women for others: Measuring volunteering in Ateneo de Naga
University by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1-64) in the University Research Council-funded research project
University by Menandro Abanes (pp. 1-64) in the University Research Council-funded research project
H. Survey research (correlation and regression analyses)
Ø Key concepts: ethnicity, religion, social distance, trust, identification
Ø Reading: Ethno-religious groups, identification, trust and social distance in the ethno-religiously stratified Philippines by Menandro Abanes et al. (pp.61-75) in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2014.02.001)
