Active Learning Exercises for Research Methods in Social Sciences
- Beth P. Skott - University of Bridgeport, USA
- Masjo Ward
Based on the premise that when students engage in an activity instead of simply reading about it, they understand it better, this book offers 29 hands-on, active learning exercises for use in research methods courses in the social sciences.
The activities were created by instructors throughout the United States and tested for effectiveness in their classrooms. They include group activities and solo activities, presented in very accessible language for students. Each exercise is directly related to a concept of research methods and aims to help students become better researchers.
“The key strength is the non formal nature of the dialogue, setting a tone of comfort around a subject that typically creates stress for students. Secondly, students get to test their learning in a non-threatening way using the activities.”
“It is organized around an active, student-centered style of learning. It makes use of topics that are relevant to students' lives. It makes abstract and quantitative aspects of methods concrete and approachable.”
I will use a few exercises from the book that pertain to qualitative methods. If I was teaching a mixed methods course this text would be a must. Is there anyway that as an instructor I can buy the password-protected instructor's resource? I have found that so help in teaching Phil McMichael's Development and Social Change.
I ordered this in hoping to find some excellent teaching strategies for introducing the other books that I require my students to purchase from Sage. Some great ideas for use in the classroom.
A bit too quantitatively heavy for our focus in research methods.
I will use this book to complement Creswell's new edition and to bring exercises on research design.
Haven't taught research methods since receiving review text. Will teach this spring but book already selected. Will use as an adjunct text and consider adopting for future course.
The exercises in this book provide a critical bridge between theoretical concepts in research methodology and real world applications at the undergraduate level.
After reviewing this text, I decided to use it for POLS 300, Policy Analysis as a required text, and for POLS 200, Introduction to Public Policy, as a recommended text.
I can't wait to share it with my students.
I didn't find the exercises particularly innovative, useful or clearly explained. They don't seem to be designed to help students learn research methods. Rather, they are mostly internet exercises or filling out worksheets with very generic questions.
Sage College Publishing
