Welcome to the course guide for Sociology 401:Capstone Experience taught by Dr. Richards. This guide is meant to assist students in SOC 401 for their capstone research project. Please use the tabs at the top to find information for your research and interest. If you have any questions or comments about this guide, please let me know!
The purpose of sociological research is to investigate and explain how human society functions.
"Although claims and opinions are part of sociology, sociologists use empirical evidence (that is, evidence corroborated by direct experience and/or observation) combined with the scientific method or an interpretive framework to deliver sound sociological research. They also rely on a theoretical foundation that provides an interpretive perspective through which they can make sense of scientific results. A truly scientific sociological study of the social situations up for discussion in the cafeteria would involve these prescribed steps: defining a specific question, gathering information and resources through observation, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis in a reproducible manner, analyzing and drawing conclusions from the data, publishing the results, and anticipating further development when future researchers respond to and retest findings."
A Research Question will be neither too broad or too narrow
General Topics/Areas of Interest
Too Broad
Too Narrow
Narrow(er) Research Question/Guide of Inquiry
Creating a Research Question |
What is your general topic? |
Who: |
What: |
When: |
Where: |
What is you research question? |
Ask the following 8 questions to evaluate the quality of your research question and the ease with which you should be able to answer it: