SOCS2400 Workshop Two Notes

Course and Workshop Overview

  • Course Code: SOCS2400
  • Workshop Title: Workshop Two – Planning a research project

Key Research Concepts for Quiz Revision

  • The following foundational research methodological terms must be revised for Quiz 1:
    • Reliability vs. validity
    • Internal validity vs. external validity
  • Five Types of Research Design (requires analyzing hypothetical examples, strengths, and weaknesses for each):
    • Experimental research design
    • Cross-sectional research design
    • Longitudinal research design
    • Case study research design
    • Comparative research design

Activity One: Group Establishment and Dynamics

  • Objectives:
    • Introduce group members to one another.
    • Establish a functional method and protocol for ongoing group contact and communication.
  • Discussion Topics:
    • Reflections on past group work experiences, identifying both the best and worst experiences encountered in or out of university.
    • Actionable group strategies and protocols to ensure a positive, productive group experience.

Activity Two: Research Project Formulation

  • Assigned Research Question Framework:
    • "How much do Australians support … , and what individual-level factors are associated with their views?"
  • Topic Options for Project Selection (Choose exactly one of the five following topics to complete the research prompt):
    1. Gender equality
    2. Multiculturalism
    3. Civil liberties
    4. Economic inequality
    5. Environmental sustainability

Project Structure: Rationale and Survey Architecture

  • The 5 Components of the Project Rationale:

    1. Introduction
    2. Conceptual framework
    3. Social context
    4. Theoretical argument
    5. Hypotheses

  • The 2 Components of the Research Survey:

    1. Likert Scale Section:
    • Comprises 10 to 15 statements.
    • Purpose: Measures the extent to which respondents support the chosen topic (gender equality, multiculturalism, civil liberties, economic inequality, or environmental sustainability).
    1. Explanatory Variables Section:
    • Comprises approximately 20 questions.
    • Purpose: Measures 10 distinct individual-level factors hypothesized to influence or impact views on the chosen topic.
    • Exemplar Individual-Level Factors:
      • Age
      • Sex
      • Income
      • Media consumption
      • Religion

Conceptual Framework Development

  • Practical Focus:
    • Immediate focus is centered on constructing the conceptual framework.
    • The conceptual framework directly informs the construction of the Likert scale items.
  • Operational Questions:
    • What does it mean to support the selected topic (e.g., defining support for gender equality or multiculturalism)?
    • Which specific statements would an individual who supports the topic agree or disagree with?
  • Required Tasks:
    • Initiate literature research and group brainstorming.
    • Utilize published academic literature to define and conceptualize support for the chosen topic (e.g., establishing a literature-backed definition for a "pro-multicultural" attitude).