Sociology 320 - Spring 2007
Thurs., March 1, 2007
Introduction. This is part of a three-week long unit on qualitative research methods. The first week (Wk 7) focused on field research (observational) methods; this week (Wk 8) centers on historical research methods; the third week (Wk 9) examines methods of qualitative data analysis. The unit includes two research practica; this is the second. Both will generate 'raw data'. You will then choose one of these two sets of 'raw data' to develop further, and write up as a formal, analytical research essay, Assignment #3, which is due on Thursday, March 8.
Reading. This assignment assumes you have completed reading Schutt, ch. 12, "Historical and Comparative Research"; have done Homework Set #6 (Schutt, ch. 12, Practice Exercise #5, 'Historical and Comparative Methods'); and have attended class on Tuesday, February 27, when we will discuss that chapter, homework, and this assignment.
Date and Location. This research practicum will take place at the regularly scheduled course time, Thursday, March 1. It will take place in the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) Public Reading Room, inside the CIC Library on the WSU-TC campus.
Source Material. There are two sets of archival source materials for this exercise, both located in the DOE Reading Room: (a) the DOE Hanford Newspaper Clippings File (organized by year from late 1985); and (b) the Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting Minutes Files (organized by year from the beginning of the HAB in 1994). Additional resources related to the above are available at:
Assignment. This is an exercise in historical research. Your assignment is as follows: (a) work together in (preferably) a two- (or, if necessary, three-) person data collection/ research team; (b) select two different years, at least five years apart, in the life of the Hanford Nuclear Site; (c) skim through the Newspaper Clippings File and HAB Meeting Minutes File for those two years; (d) identify one sociologically interesting topic to examine comparatively between those years; (e) go back through the source files for those two years; (f) answer the questions, In what ways has that sociologically interesting phenomenon/ dynamic changed between the two years selected? What would you hypothesize are the reasons for these changes?
Methods and Materials. (a) Time for this exercise is limited to one class period. To maximize what you get out of it, be at the DOE Reading Room at 2:50 pm, sharp, ready to roll. (b) Each research team should come prepared with ~ 50 pp. of 3-hole-punched, ruled, notebook paper; pencils; and erasers. (c) After completing steps 5b, 5c, and 5d, above, write out a formal statement of your research question (max. 1 sentence). (d) Each member of the research team is responsible for going through one archival source (Newspaper Clippings File or HAB Meeting Minutes File) and taking legible notes on relevant materials in that file for the two years selected. (e) Share & compare preliminary findings. (f) Together, outline your answers for 5f, above. (g) After class, photocopy your research notes so you each have a copy.
Discussion. Come to class, Tuesday, March 6, prepared to discuss your Historical Research Practicum experience.
last updated February 26, 2007