Faculté des sciences sociales | Faculty of Social Sciences

École d’études sociologiques et anthropologiques

School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies

COURSE TITLE
SOC-2316 C
Survey Design and Quantitative Data Acquisition
Winter 2024

Course Information
Class Schedule:
Thursday 7:00PM to 9:50PM
Room: Vanier (VNR)-2025

Instructor Information:
Name: Maziar Jafary
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: After each class or by appointment

Communication Preferences: Email

Other instructor(s)/TAs: (To be announced on Brightspace)

Before emailing a question, please fully read this syllabus and explore the associated resources. The
answers to many questions can be found in this document and students may be referred to the syllabus
if the answer is already available. Please allow at least two (2) business days for responses to inquiries
before pursuing another route of communication.

Official Course Description

Development of quantitative survey research from problem formulation to preliminary data analysis.
Operationalization of concepts and formulation of questionnaires based on a substantial literature
review. Identification of sources and statistical tools available for the problem under study.
Methodological and statistical definitions. Sampling from theory to practice. Conducting the survey (pre-
testing and administration of questionnaires). Application of computer tools to perform a rudimentary

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statistical analysis of the data collected. Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics. Particular
attention is paid to issues of ethics, professional autonomy, teamwork and the relationship between
data and social life.

Course Learning Outcomes

General Course Learning Outcomes
The students will learn about designing and conducting surveys with different methods of data
collection. They will practice quantitative data analysis in laboratories under the supervision of the
professor. Software such as SPSS and Excel will also be taught and practiced in the course.

Specific Course Learning Outcomes

The students are expected to learn the main methodological approaches and specifically hypothetico-
deductive approach. They will also write down assignments and research papers while using data
collection and data analysis methods that the professor teaches in the class.

Teaching Methods
The professor presents the course materials using PowerPoints. The students will also practice data
analysis methods during the sessions of laboratories (in the classroom).

Course Calendar
Course subject Evaluation Readings
(Deadlines)
Week 1 Introduction to the course; - Course outline
(January 11) Introduction to surveys and
survey design Williams, Malcolm (2003). Making Sense of
Social Research, SAGE Publications, pp. 8-
20.
Week 2 Variables; - Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative
(January 18) Hypothetico-deductive Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
approach and testing Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
hypothesis Stata, pp. 5-10.

Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good

Research Guide for small-scale social
research projects (Second edition), Open
University Press, 6th edition, pp. 236-249;
pp. 131-143.
Week 3 Introduction to data - Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good
(January 25) collection and quantitative Research Guide for small-scale social

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 data analysis/ Introduction research projects (Second edition), Open
to SPSS University Press, 6th edition, pp. 3-11; pp.
236-249.

Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative

Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
Stata, pp. 10-12.
Week 4 Workshop on the basics of - Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative
(February 1) SPSS Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
Stata, pp. 12-20; pp. 57-69.
Week 5 Univariate analysis with SPSS Deadline for Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good
(February 8) Measures of Central Assignment 1: Research Guide for small-scale social
Tendency February 10 research projects (Second edition), Open
University Press, 6th edition, pp. 236-249;
pp. 144-160.

Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative

Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
Stata, pp. 12-20; pp. 37-55.
Week 6 Graphics with SPSS Deadline for Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good
(February Research paper Research Guide for small-scale social
15) proposal (in group): research projects (Second edition), Open
February 17 University Press, 6th edition, pp. 236-249;
pp. 252-263.
Week 7 Statistical Significance and p- - Julie Pallant (2011), SPSS survival manual, A
(February Value; step by step guide to data analysis using
29) Confidence Intervals; SPSS, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, pp. 14-23.

Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative

Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
Stata, pp. 80-91.
Week 8 Relationships and bivariate Deadline for Stockemer, Daniel (2019), Quantitative
(March 7) analysis with SPSS (1) Assignment 2: Methods for the Social Sciences A Practical
March 10 Introduction with Examples in SPSS and
Stata, pp. 125-132.

Julie Pallant (2011), SPSS survival manual, A

step by step guide to data analysis using
SPSS, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, pp. 213-
220.

Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good

Research Guide for small-scale social

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 research projects (Second edition), Open
University Press, 6th edition, pp. 284-287.
Week 9 Relationships and bivariate Deadline for Julie Pallant (2011), SPSS survival manual, A
(March 14) analysis with SPSS (2) Research paper step by step guide to data analysis using
progress report (in SPSS, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, pp. 221-
group): 237.
March 16
Denscombe, Martyn (2003), The Good
Research Guide for small-scale social
research projects (Second edition), Open
University Press, 6th edition, pp. 299-301.
Week 10 Relationships and bivariate - Julie Pallant (2011), SPSS survival manual, A
(March 21) analysis with SPSS (3) {T-test step by step guide to data analysis using
and Analysis of variance SPSS, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, pp. 102-
(ANOVA)} 118.
Week 11 In-class exam In-class exam: -
(March 28) March 28
Week 12 Presentations of the groups Final research -
(April 4) paper presentation
(in group)
Deadline for Assignment 3: April 6

Deadline for Final research paper (in group): April 14

Assessment Strategy
(The details for the assessment strategies will be available on Brightspace under the tab
“Assignments”)

Assignment 1 (10%)
Deadline Type
February 10 Assignment (1 or 2 students)

Research paper proposal (in groups of 2 or 3 students) (2.5%)

Deadline Type
February 17 Group assignment

Assignment 2 (10%)
Deadline Type
March 10 Assignment (1 or 2 students)

Research paper progress report (in groups of 2 or 3 students) (2.5%)

Deadline Type

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 March 16 Group assignment

In-class exam (25%)

Deadline Type
March 28 Individual exam

Assignment 3 (15%)
Deadline Type
April 6 Assignment (1 or 2 students)

Final research paper presentation (in groups of 2 or 3 students) (5%)

Deadline Type
April 4 Group assignment

Final research paper (in groups of 2 or 3 students) (30%)

Deadline Type
April 14 Group assignment

Attendance
Attendance is required for the students to achieve the learning goals of the course. Additionally, the
students need to practice the software (SPSS) during the class.

EIN (fail) Grading Policy

Course Failure - EIN (F): In accordance with article A-3.6. (Academic Regulation A-3 – Grading System |
About us (uottawa.ca)), a student receives the equivalent to a failure mark whenever he or she has
failed to complete one or more evaluations identified as mandatory in the course syllabus approved by
the academic unit.
According to the policy established by the School, any evaluation worth 25% or more of the final grade
is considered mandatory. Note that a refused request for a deferral can therefore lead to a failure mark.

Late Assignments
All assignments are to be submitted by their due date and time.

All late submissions will be immediately docked 5%, with an additional 5% for each subsequent day late
to a maximum of 3 days, including weekends. After 3 days all outstanding assignments will be given a
zero (0%) grade.

Declaration of Absence from an Evaluation – Missed exams and requests for deferral:
Absence from any examination or test, or late submission of assignments on medical grounds or due to
exceptional personal circumstances, must be reported by submitting the online Declaration of Absence
from an Evaluation form within five (5) working days of the examination date or the assignment
deadline.
Academic regulation A-8.6

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Please note that students can request a maximum of one (1) deferred evaluation per course, and this
evaluation must take place as soon as possible, within six (6) months of the end of the term.
If you have any questions, please contact the School secretariat ([email protected]) within (5) working
days of the date of the examination or test or the assignment deadline.

 Deferred Exam Period – Winter 2024:

 Midterm exams: April 11, 2024
 Final exams: July 7 to 13, 2024

Exams Integrity

 Please note that the exam for this course will be an in-class exam and closed-book; and, it will be
held during the exam schedule.
 Please be mindful of academic integrity requirements for the assignments and research papers.

Required Materials
Texts and all required readings of the course are available on Brightspace (Tab Weeks).

Bibliography
- Albers, Michael J. (2017). Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis in the Behavioral and Social
Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Martyn Denscombe (1998). The Good Research Guide for small-scale social research projects, Open
University Press.
- Acharyya, Rajat and Nandan Bhattacharya (2020). Research methodology for social sciences,
Routledge.
- Patrizia, Albanese and Lorne Tepperman (2018). Principles of sociology: Canadian perspectives, Don
Mills, Ontario, Canada: Oxford University Press.
- Wiarda, Howard J. (2010). Grand theories and ideologies in the social sciences, New York: Palgrave
Macmillan.
- Dépelteau, François (2018). The Palgrave Handbook of Relational Sociology, Springer International
Publishing.
Pallant, Julie (2011). SPSS survival manual, A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS, Australia:
Allen & Unwin.
- OpenStax (2017). Introduction to Sociology, Rice University.
- Wallace, Walter L. (1983). Principles of scientific sociology, Hawthorne, N.Y.: Aldine Pub. Co.

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Intellectual Property Rights of Course Content
If you would like clarification regarding the intellectual property right of course content, please visit the
Copyright Office webpage or consult your professor.
©Maziar Jafary _ All rights reserved.

Institutional Policies and Academic Regulations

It is very important to know the institutional policies and academic regulations associated with your
academic success. This information is available on the Faculty of Social Sciences website, on the Student
Hub webpage under the “Institutional policies and academic regulations” tab.

Academic Fraud Regulations

If you would like clarification regarding academic integrity and misconduct, please consult Academic
Regulation A-4 or consult your professor.

Regulations on bilingualism at the University of Ottawa

Per Academic Regulation A-1 : « Except in programs and courses for which language is a requirement, all
students have the right to produce their written work and to answer examination questions in the
official language of their choice, regardless of the course’s language of instruction. »