Describe how the key research findings could be applied and propose two questions about society.

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ASSIGNMENT 1

REVIEWING RESEARCH AND MAKING CONNECTIONS Due Week 4: 122 points

You’ve learned about the importance of research and the steps of the sociological research process. For your first assignment, you will begin to work with this process by carefully reviewing an article about a research study. The goal is to have you analyze the article to see how the steps of the research process informed the research presented in the piece. This assignment will also encourage you to make connections between the research and your own life.

To analyze your article, follow the Ask, Research, Learn, Do process that is outlined below. This process was introduced in your webtext as a simplified version of the sociological research process. It’s a useful tool to help you think critically, answer questions, and solve problems.

Instructions: Complete both parts of the assignment by following the instructions below.

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PART A: REVIEW THE RESEARCH 1) Review Articles

a) Prepare to complete your assignment by reviewing the articles below. Select one for the focus of your first assignment.

• “What ‘Personal Space’ Looks Like Around the World” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ worldviews/wp/2017/04/24/how-close-is- too-close-depends-on-where-you-live/?utm_ term=.8f70ef8686ad

• “Millennials aren’t job-hopping any faster than Generation X did” http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2017/04/19/millennials-arent-job- hopping-any-faster-than-generation-x-did/

• 6 facts about the U.S. military and its changing demographics http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2017/04/13/6-facts-about-the-u-s- military-and-its-changing-demographics/

2) Use the research information presented in the article to answer the questions below. You should write four paragraphs, one for each step listed in bold. Refer to Chapter 2 of the webtext as necessary.

a) Ask:

• What was the topic of the research?

• Who was studied in the research?

• What was the research question that was answered by the information in the article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/24/how-close-is-too-close-depends-on-where-you-live/?utm_term=.8f70ef8686ad
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/24/how-close-is-too-close-depends-on-where-you-live/?utm_term=.8f70ef8686ad
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/24/how-close-is-too-close-depends-on-where-you-live/?utm_term=.8f70ef8686ad
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/24/how-close-is-too-close-depends-on-where-you-live/?utm_term=.8f70ef8686ad
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/19/millennials-arent-job-hopping-any-faster-than-generation-x-did/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/19/millennials-arent-job-hopping-any-faster-than-generation-x-did/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/19/millennials-arent-job-hopping-any-faster-than-generation-x-did/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/13/6-facts-about-the-u-s-military-and-its-changing-demographics/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/13/6-facts-about-the-u-s-military-and-its-changing-demographics/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/13/6-facts-about-the-u-s-military-and-its-changing-demographics/

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b) Research:

• What research methods were used?

• Summarize the process researchers used to collect data.

c) Learn:

• What were the key findings of the research?

• What conclusion was drawn from the research?

d) Do:

• What follow-up question would you now like to ask and research based on this article?

• Why did you choose this follow-up question?

PART B: MAKE CONNECTIONS 1) Use your article review to help answer the questions

below. You should write two paragraphs, one for each question.

a) How can you apply the key research findings to your own life?

b) What are two additional questions that you have about society based on this research?

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Use Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.

• Use section headers (Ask, Research, Learn, Do, and Make Connections) and write left indented paragraphs under each corresponding section.

• References are not required for this assignment as you will use one of the assigned articles and your webtext.

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• Include a cover page containing the title of the assign- ment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date.

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RUBRIC Grading for this assignment will be based on the following rubric:

POINTS: 122 ASSIGNMENT 1: REVIEWING RESEARCH AND MAKING CONNECTIONS

Criteria Unacceptable

Below 60% – F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% – D

Fair

70-79% – C

Proficient

80-89% – B

Exemplary

90-100% – A

1. Ask

Identify the re- search topic, the people studied, and the re- search question.

Weight: 18%

Does not identify the research topic, the people studied, or the research ques- tion. The infor- mation provided is incorrect.

Insufficiently identifies the re- search topic, the people studied, and the research question. The information pro- vided is mostly inaccurate and/ or two or more questions are answered incor- rectly.

Partially identi- fies the research topic, the people studied, and the research ques- tion. The informa- tion provided is generally accu- rate, but some relevant details are missing or one question is answered incor- rectly.

Identifies the re- search topic, the people studied, and the research question. The information pro- vided is accurate and provides relevant details. There may be small errors or omissions.

Identifies the re- search topic, the people studied, and the research question. The information pro- vided is accurate, provides rele- vant details, and demonstrates understanding by using sociology terms. There are no errors or omissions.

1. Research

Identify the re- search methods and summarize the research process.

Weight: 18%

Does not identify the research method(s) used and does not summarize the process re- searchers used to collect data. The information provided is incor- rect.

Insufficient- ly identifies the research method(s) used and does not provide a com- plete summary of the process researchers used to collect data. The description of the research process is miss- ing key steps.

Correctly identi- fies the research method(s) used and summarizes the key steps of the process re- searchers used to collect data. Pro- vides a high-level description of the research process, but does not include sufficient details.

Correctly identi- fies the research method(s) used and generally summarizes the process researchers used to collect data. Provides a gen- eral description of the research process.

Correctly identi- fies the research method(s) used and summariz- es the process researchers used to collect data. Provides a de- tailed description of the complete research process.

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POINTS: 122 ASSIGNMENT 1: REVIEWING RESEARCH AND MAKING CONNECTIONS

Criteria Unacceptable

Below 60% – F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% – D

Fair

70-79% – C

Proficient

80-89% – B

Exemplary

90-100% – A

1. Learn

Describe the key findings of the researchers and the conclusion drawn from the research.

Weight: 18%

Does not de- scribe the key findings and/or conclusion and does not pro- vide supporting details.

Inaccurately describes key findings or con- clusion and sup- porting details are sparse.

Partially de- scribes key findings and conclusion but some of the sup- porting details are missing.

Accurately describes key findings and conclusion and includes sup- porting details.

Accurately describes key findings and conclusion and includes sup- porting details. Demonstrates strong under- standing by using sociolo- gy terms and providing logical, accurate, and concise informa- tion.

1. Do

Propose a fol- low-up question and an explana- tion.

Weight: 18%

Does not pro- pose a follow-up question or does not align with key research findings and does not provide details.

Proposes a fol- low-up question that isn’t fully aligned with the key findings of the research, or the explana- tion is missing details.

Proposes a fol- low-up question that isn’t fully aligned with the key findings of the research, or the explana- tion is missing details.

Proposes a fol- low-up question that is aligned with the key findings of the research, and provides a logi- cal explanation that includes some details.

Proposes a fol- low-up question that is aligned with the key findings of the research, and provides a logi- cal explanation that includes supporting details. Demon- strates strong understanding by using sociolo- gy terms.

1. Describe how the key research findings could be applied and propose two questions about society.

Weight: 18%

Does not describe how the key findings could be ap- plied, or does not propose two questions about society.

Supporting de- tails are sparse to describe how the key findings could be applied, or to support two proposed questions about society.

Supporting de- tails are used but some key details are missing to describe how the key findings could be applied, or to support two proposed questions about society.

Includes sup- porting details to describe how to apply key findings and proposes two questions about society based on the research.

Supporting details are provided to fully describe how the key findings could be applied and to support two proposed questions about society. Demon- strates strong understanding by using sociolo- gy terms.

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POINTS: 122 ASSIGNMENT 1: REVIEWING RESEARCH AND MAKING CONNECTIONS

Criteria Unacceptable

Below 60% – F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% – D

Fair

70-79% – C

Proficient

80-89% – B

Exemplary

90-100% – A

1. Write in a skillful manner using stated formatting and correct gram- mar and spell- ing.

Weight: 10%

Writing does not meet minimal standards. Tone is not appro- priate. Wholly lacking in logic, clarity, and/or stated format- ting. Contains many spelling and/or grammat- ical errors.

Writing meets minimal stan- dards. Tone is not appropri- ate. Lacking one or more of logic, clarity, and/or stated formatting. May contain many spelling and/ or grammatical errors.

Writing is satis- factory. Appro- priate and/or consistent tone is developing. Shows moder- ate logic, clarity, and/or stated formatting. May contain more than a few spelling and/ or grammatical errors.

Writing is profi- cient. Tone is ap- propriate. Shows logic, clarity, and stated formatting. May contain few or no spelling and/ or grammatical errors.

Writing is ex- cellent. Tone is appropriate and demonstrates excellent word choice. Shows exceptional logic, clarity, and stated format- ting. Contains no spelling or gram- matical errors.