GSI: Sociological Research Methods
This course explores the basic methods of sociological research. Students will examine the relationship between social theory and research, the research process, choosing a sample, conditions for inferring causation, and methods of data collection, along with the applications and ethics of sociological research.
Instructor: Prof. Andrei Boutyline
Term: Fall 2026
Course Overview
This course introduces students to the main ways that sociologists conduct research. Key themes include the different approaches that researchers use to collect and analyze data about society: asking people questions (interviews and surveys), observing and participating in social life (ethnography and experiments), and examining records and documents (contemporary and historical). We will consider the strengths and weaknesses of these methods in order to see how each approach is appropriate for some questions and less useful for others. Throughout the term, students will also gain firsthand experience with social research by conducting their own research project on a topic of their choice and producing a small-scale research paper.