Practical Project: Newspapers, Social Media, Google Maps, and Statistical Atlas in Social Research 4219-PP107
The class introduces students to and guides through the steps of the so called unobtrusive research that is research based on existing data and without interventions into the social world such as on-line newspapers, Google maps, Statisticalaltas.com and Yelp.com. Such research is especially valuable when travel to the site of social research is impossible or time-consuming.
Students will also learn how to use popular on-line tools such as google maps to look and draw meaningful research conclusions about US location without actually visiting them and a consumer opinion site yelp.com to learn about US inhabitants’ taste and preferences.
Students will learn to use online resources of the University of Warsaw Library (BUW) to locate, read and analyze American national and local newspapers.
Statistical atlas is an on-line resource that presents newest available most trustworthy statistical data in forms of maps and charts about any location in the United States. It is prepared on the basis of the US Census Bureau data.
Based on student’s research interests, the group prepares four 3 to 4-page reports from the research on a selected research problem in selected location. Each of the four little projects has a different leader. The result of each of the four project is presented in class by a selected member of the group.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Students learn four methods of unobtrusive research conducted in culture and social studies
Students acquire skill of working on group projects in a role of leaders and researchers
Assessment criteria
Based on student’s research interests, she prepares four 1-2 page reports from the research on a selected research problem in selected location. Each report should specify research question, sources to answer the question, the relevance of the data for this question, period for which the data is analyzed, and – that is what is most important – conclusions.
Bibliography
Earl Babbie, Practice of Social Research
Three selected academic articles reporting research with the use of the above methods, e.g.
Hwang, Jackelyn, and Robert J. Sampson. 2014. “Divergent Pathways of Gentrification: Racial Inequality and the Social Order of Renewal in Chicago Neighborhoods.” American Sociological Review 79 (4).
The selection of the articles will depend on the students’ interests.