Course Code and Title: SOS 611-Methodology I

Course Type: Elective
Course Level: Masters
Year and Semester: Autumn/Spring
Course Length: One Semester
Pre-requisite(s): None
Language of Instruction: Turkish
Course Credits: 3 0 3
ECTS Credits: 7
Name of Lecturer: Dr. Abdulkerim Sönmez
Course Contents: This course deals with the basic philosophy and assumptions of positivism (naturalism) and constructivism and the methodological tools and strategies they employ in studying, understanding and explaining social life. To this end the course concentrates first on how each methodological approach deals with the relation between being, knowledge, theory and methodology. This is followed by an examination and discussion of how experimental, statistical, comparative, and historical and case study methods are employed in each methodological approach and what kinds of ethical, procedural and practical problems arise from the employment of each method. These examinations and discussions are carried out by reference to classical and contemporary well known examples of sociological studies as well as examples drawn from studies conducted by the students themselves.
Course Objectives: At the end of the course the students are expected to be able to recognize and analyse the methodological strategies employed in a given sociological study, and to be able to make informed decisions about the methodological, practical and ethical issues involved in the intended/planned research that they will be doing as part of their postgraduate studies.
Teaching Method: Lectures and discussions.
Assessment Method: Short presentations and participating in classroom discussions (25 percent), assignments or written exams (75 %).
Recommended Reading:
J.W. Moses and T. L. Knutsen. (2007) Ways of Knowing. Competing Methodologies in            Social and         Political Research,  Hamshire and New York. Palgrave Macmillan.
N. Gilbert. (1993). Researching Social Life, London, TO and New Delhi: Sage Publications.
J.H. Goldthorpe. (2007) On Sociology (Vol. One: Critique and Program) California:   Stanford          University Pres, pp.1-116.
D. Rueschemeyer. (2003) ‘Can One or a Few Cases Yield Theoretical Gains?’ in Comparative          Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences, ed by J. Mahoney and D. Rueschemeyer,            Cambridge University Pres, pp. 305-336.
J. Mahoney. (2003) ‘Strategies of Causal Assessment in Comparative Historical Analysis’ in
Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences, ed by J. Mahoney and D. Rueschemeyer, Cambridge University Pres, pp. 337-372.
G. Delanty and P. Strydom. (2003). “Introduction: What is the Philosophy of Social            Science” in       Philosophies of Social Science. The Classic and Contemporary Readings, ed by G. Delanty       and P. Strydom. Maidenhead-Philadephia: Open University Pres, pp. 1-12.
_____ (2003) “Positivism, its dissolution and the emergence of post-empiricism” in G.       Delanty and P. Strydom (eds), pp. 13-25.
_____ (2003) “The interpretative tradition” in G. Delanty and P. Strydom (eds),pp. 85-98.
E. Durkheim. (2003/1895) “What is a social fact” in G. Delanty and P. Strydom (eds), pp. 26-30.
M. Weber. (2003/1904) “ ‘Objectivity’ in social science” in G. Delanty and P. Strydom (eds), pp. s.             107-120.
A. Schutz. (2003/1954). “Concept and theory formation in the social sciences” in G. Delanty and P.          Strydom (eds), pp. 134-141.
American Sociological Association. (2008) Code of Ethics and policies and Procedures of the ASA       Committee on Professional Ethics.
Economic and Social Research Council. (2008). Research Ethics Framework.
British Sociological Association (2002 and 2004). Statement of Ethical Practice fort he British           Sociological Association.
Neuman, Laurence W. (2008/2006) Toplumsal Araştırma Yöntemleri (cilt 1 ve 2) İstanbul: Yayın Odası.