Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - SA 255 D100

Introduction to Social Research (S) (4)

Class Number: 6887

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Bascom Guffin
    mguffin@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: By appointment, in person or online

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores how sociologists investigate social relations and contexts. Students learn to develop research questions and turn them into research projects. Introduces data collection techniques and related ethical issues, the relationship between theory and research, and other fundamental concepts and issues involved in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will introduce you to how sociologists, anthropologists, and scholars in related fields work to make sense of the social world through data gathering, analysis, and interpretation.

In service of this goal, you will learn how to begin to design and practice social research yourself through hands-on experience. The course will address three main research approaches: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. These cover such methods as surveys, statistics, interviews, ethnographic observation, and audio and visual methods, among others. Through reading, in-class interactions, and hands-on experience, we will consider topics such as creating good research questions; ethical research design and practice; power relations within the research context; collecting, analyzing, and presenting data; productively bringing qualitative and quantitative data together; and critically evaluating research produced by others.

I am grateful to the generosity of Dr. Nicholas Scott, whose own syllabus for this course this current syllabus is highly indebted to.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

In this course, students will learn to:

  • Create and interpret frequency tables;
  • Conduct semi-structured interviews;
  • Use field observations, visual methods, and other qualitative tools to tell a story;
  • Triangulate qualitative and quantitative data to create deeper social analysis;
  • Critically examine how different social research methods are used to address a variety of questions;
  • Consider issues of power within the social research context.

Grading

  • Class participation and attendance 20%
  • Quantitative methods application assignment (due January 30) 15%
  • Qualitative methods application assignment (due February 27) 15%
  • Mixed methods application assignment (due March 13) 20%
  • Final mixed methods portfolio (due April 10) 30%

NOTES:

Grading: Grades in this class will be based on a percentage scale. Late submissions for all assignments will result in a grade reduction of 5 percentage points per day, unless due to a medical reason or other significant emergency. The four research assignments must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned.

Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

 

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All texts will be available through Canvas or the SFU Library.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.