Solid Science: Research Methods

This first course will cover the fundamental principles of science, some history and philosophy of science, research designs, measurement, sampling and ethics. This basic material will lay the groundwork for the more technical stuff in subsequent courses. The course is comparable to a university level introductory course on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, but has a strong focus on research integrity. We will use examples from sociology, political sciences, educational sciences, communication sciences and psychology.

Week 1: Origins of the scientific method

• non-scientific and scientific ways to gain knowledge, types of scientific claims 
  
• history of the scientific method (classical period, enlightenment, modern science) 
  
• philosophical considerations: ontology and epistemology 
  
• approaches to science (qualitative versus quantitative) 
  
• warm-up assignments (not graded)

Week 2: The scientific method

• the empirical cycle and testing hypotheses 
  
• scientific criteria and causality 
  
• threats to internal validity 
  
• variables of interest and disinterest 
  
• small assignments (graded)

Week 3: Research designs

• true experiments, manipulation and randomization 
  
• experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational designs 
  
• factorial and repeated measures designs 
  
• matching and ecological validity 
  
• small assignments & paper on week 1 & 2 due (graded)

Week 4: Measurement

• variables and operationalizations 
  
• measurement levels and types, validity and reliability 
  
• surveys, questionnaires and tests, items and scales 
  
• other forms of measurement 
  
• small assignments (graded)

Week 5: Sampling

• threats to external validity 
  
• random and non-random sampling 
  
• random sampling methods 
  
• sampling bias and error, sample size 
  
• assignments & paper on on week 3 & 4 due (graded)

Week 6: Practice, ethics & integrity

• research protocols and data management 
  
• ethics towards participants and research integrity 
  
• review and publication process 
  
• questionable research practices
  
• small assignments (graded)

Week 7: Study week

• time to catch up and study for the final exam
  
• time to ask your final questions
• time to work on last paper

Week 8: Exam week

• paper on week 5 & 6 due (graded), final exam (graded) and course evaluation