Grades are in

I've submitted grades for BA 762. For the sake of expediency, I did not write-up evaluations of the papers. But I did take notes while reading them so if you would like some comments let me know.

Term papers due Sunday Dec 20th at the latest

You can turn in papers any time up through Sunday night midnight. All submissions should be in electronic form only.

Class time for Oct 23 2009 changed to 10:30am-1:30pm

Just a reminder that we are meeting early on Oct 23rd in order to accommodate the econ lecture at 2pm. After this week, we will revert to our usual time.

Changes in the schedule

Two classes have been *added* to the schedule.

Room change for BA 762

Gentlefolk, we have changed rooms. From now on, class meets in B&E 446. Well, except for when we don't, which is:

• Sept4. Meet in B&E 452
• Dec 11. Meet in B&E 209

Change in direction for the class

I realized after the last class (on factor analysis) that I was doing the class a disservice. The mathematical underpinnings of measures of association, regression, factor analysis etc are not what you guys need most. There are kind of three ways of teaching a course like this. 

Approach 1. In-depth examination of research methods from a formal, mathematical perspective. So formal measurement theory, vectors and matrices, how correlation really works, the underlying math of factor analysis, and so on.

Approach 2. In-depth, hands-on workshop on how to use the main techniques of data collection, construction and analysis in the social sciences. Mostly about the software and the actual nuts and bolts.

Approach 3. Survey of the components of a research project. Exposure to key concepts, such as measurement, validity, reliability etc, as well data collection techniques and data analysis techniques. Emphasis on what they are and what they are used for, but not how they work. 

I intended the course to be a combination of Approach 1 and Approach 2.  But now I am going to reorganize things to be about 70% Approach 3, and 30% Approach 2. My sense of aesthetic purity says go 100% Approach 3, but I can't resist showing you some tools you can use to analyze real data. It is too much fun.

Of course, it is hard to let go of the math stuff too. So my approach is going to be "if you don't ask, i won't tell". But I hope you do ask about the mathematical nuts and bolts underneath the techniques, and I will explain.

Welcome!

This blog is used solely to publish announcements concerning BA 762 Research Methods, a PhD class taught by Steve Borgatti at the University of Kentucky