Article Comparison Assignment: Same Question, Different Methods

Abstract

Students write a short paper comparing two journal articles in which the authors use different research methods to address the same research question. This assignment is used in an introductory research methods course to encourage students to think about how research methods related to other aspects of the research process: using a particular paradigmatic...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Research Methods

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

* The article pairs chosen are hoped to be on topics that students will find substantively interesting. This keeps the number of students writing on each pair relatively balanced.
* Citations provided to students do not include page numbers. This is to discourage students from attempting to simply pick the shortest-seeming pair. Other instructors...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. 1. Use library resources to locate and retrieve sociological journal articles.
2. 2. Analyze specific pieces of research to uncover the relationships between sociological questions, the methods used to answer them, and sociological findings

Goal Assessment(s):

1. 1. Articles are not provided for students. They must use the library system to locate articles themselves. Students are encourage to avail themselves of opportunities to learn more about the library’s databases and other resources.
2. 2. This main goal is assessed using the paper that students write. An feedback guide/rubric is available to students with the assignment. This is used in addition to written feedback, not as a replacement.