CREDIT HOURS: 3 for each term	INSTRUCTOR: Yu-Wen Chen
TIME: Tuesday, 9:10-12:10	OFFICE PHONE: 33661259
ROOM: Social Work 211	OFFICE: 408

I. Course Domain
This is a required course for junior students majored in social work. The major purpose of this course is to teach students research methods often used in the field of social work. To many social work students, research seems to be cold and mechanistic. However, there are many social problems need us to take action, and we need to use scientific ways to solve these problems. This course not only teaches students knowledge about social research, but asks students to conduct a research project by themselves. The first semester will focus on quantitative methods, while the second semester will focus on qualitative methods. Students are required to conduct a group research project throughout the whole year. They are free to decide their areas of interest, and are expected to carry out the project cooperatively. In addition to the written report, students have to make an oral presentation of their research findings at the end of the second semester. In addition to classroom lectures, a laboratory session is scheduled on a weekly basis. The research assistant will be present to help students with their questions.

II. Course Objectives
1. To understand the theoretical principles on which scientific research was based.
2. To learn to conduct empirical studies in a scientific way, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
3. To know how to read empirical articles.
4. To learn how to present research knowledge in a publishable manner.

III. Books
Earl Babbie (2002). The basics of social research (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Class handouts

IV. Grading systems
1st semester:
The final grade is composed of three parts:
1. Assignments and participation in class as well as laboratory sessions provide 20% of the final grade.
2. A midterm exam counts for 40% of the final grade.
3. A group project: a research proposal (including the draft of the questionnaire) counts for 40% of the final grade.
2nd semester:
The final grade is composed of three parts:
1. A midterm exam counts for 40% of the final grade.
2. A written research project report counts for 40% of the final grade.
3. An oral presentation of the research findings counts for 20% of the final grade.

V. Class Schedule
1st Semester
Part I: Overview
09/20：Introduction and overview
09/27：Theory, concept and variables
10/04：Ethics and politics of social research

Part II：Research Design
10/11：Research design and process
10/18：Research topics, hypotheses and questions
10/25：Finding literature and literature review
11/01：Conceptualization, operationalization and measurement
11/08：Indicators, scales, and typology
11/15：School holiday
11/22：Midterm exam
11/29 ＆ 12/06：The construction of measurement tools

Part III: Research Methods (Quantitative)
12/13：Writing a research proposal
12/20：Survey research
12/27：Experimental Design
01/03：Sampling methods
01/10：Due day of the final paper

2nd Semester:
02/21：Introduction of qualitative methods
02/28：National holiday
03/07：Observational study
03/14：Focus groups and action research
03/21：Unobtrusive research
03/28：Comparisons of quantitative and qualitative research
04/04：Spring break
04/11：Quantifying data
04/18：Data analyses
04/25：Midterm exam
05/02：Presentation of quantitative data
05/09：Writing a research project
05/16：Single-system designs
05/23：Evaluation research
05/30：Analyzing qualitative data
06/06：Oral presentation I (4 groups each week)
06/13：Oral presentation II
06/20：Oral presentation III
06/23：Final project is due by 5:00 pm