Sociology Touch stone 1

 

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you must pass your Milestone before you submit it. Once you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted toward your final course score.

This Touchstone provides an opportunity for you to practice developing a research plan for a real-world topic that interests you. Throughout this course you will read about the results and conclusions of many different sociological studies; this Touchstone is where you can practice the skills of conducting such a study. You will use the materials you develop for this Touchstone for a later Touchstone.

This Touchstone will further strengthen your problem-solving skill, while reinforcing the content from the lesson. You will analyze your research topic of choice, while applying the problem-solving skills from the unit. By considering the dynamics of community groups, you will also strengthen your relationship building and self and social awareness skills.

Touchstone 1: Developing a Research Plan

SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.

ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned, sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.

Use the following Touchstone template to fill in your research plan as you develop it. When you have finished, submit this template to move on to the next unit.

Touchstone 1 Template

Touchstone 1 Sample

A. Directions

Step 1: Pick a Topic

Select a community group to study. Some examples of community groups you might explore include:

  • An activity-based group like a book club, a soccer team, or a community choir
  • A religious or ideological community such as a church congregation or a local political party
  • A community organization like a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a neighborhood association, or the volunteer committee at a local soup kitchen
  • An identity-based organization such as a social club for veterans or a fraternal type organization

It should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational. Avoid:

  • Families
  • Workplaces
  • Ethnic or racial categories
  • Friend groups

You might wish to choose a group that you are a part of, or you might not. You can use your personal experience with the group to form the basis of your research question. Or you can ask members of the group about their experiences, which will help you develop your research question.

In the template, write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have chosen. In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:

  • What is the community group?
  • What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)
  • What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?

Step 2: Ask a Question

Next, you will formulate a question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or collaboration. You might think about diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, socioeconomic status, or along multiple intersecting identities. Be sure to use what you learned in Unit 1 about the ways sociologists ask questions.

Examples:

  • What are the challenges of a mom’s community organization in appealing to moms with children of different ages?
  • How does a group of car enthusiasts reach out to the surrounding community to get support for their events?
  • How has the Boy Scouts accepting girls impacted their mission and programs?
  • Do gender segregated sports teams for kids help maintain traditional gender roles?

In the template, write the question you have formulated for your study. Be sure to identify the Independent and Dependent variables and identify them correctly. (HINT: Refer back to

Lesson 1.3.3: Asking Questions

and

Lesson 1.3.5: Formulating a Hypothesis

for help.)

Step 3: Prepare a Bibliography

Finally, you will begin developing a bibliography for a review of the existing literature that relates to your question. Before conducting a full literature review, a sociologist will build a bibliography, or a list of potential sources that they will read and study in greater depth in the review.

Collect 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question and list them in your template. You don’t have to look into these materials in depth right now! You’ll review this literature more closely in a later Touchstone, and you will also be exposed to additional relevant research and frameworks in Unit 3. You’ll also be able to add to or amend your bibliography before your Touchstone in Unit 3.

Attributes of good readings for your literature review:

  • They are academic, scholarly works about research findings, or they are reliable journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
  • They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
  • They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
  • They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but they should be academic and not popular works.

Where to find readings: More than likely you will use a major search engine like

Google Scholar

. Start your search by identifying key search terms related to your research question, to generate relevant results. Google Scholar specifically searches scholarly literature. However, keep in mind that much of this literature may have limited or paid access. Another good place to search is in a public library or university library catalog or database. You might also want to try regular Google, but you will have to be careful to screen your results and make sure you only select academic sources. Whichever way you choose to search, make sure that you are selecting credible sources.

What makes a source credible? Credible sources are written by authors who are well known in their field. They are based on scientific data—not opinions or with biased observations. Sources should be from reliable outlets, like major publishers, universities, think tanks, and credentialed current practitioners. (HINT: Refer back to

Lesson 1.3.4: Researching Existing Sources

for more guidance.)

How to format sources in your bibliography: Sociologists use American Psychological Association (APA) format for their research. However, you will use a more simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. You will include five key elements for each source, with each element separated by a period:

  • Author’s name(s)
  • Publisher and publication date
  • Title of the source, in quotation marks
  • Page numbers (if applicable)
  • Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)

EXAMPLE

Alireza Behtoui. Journal of Sociology, 2015. “Beyond social ties: The impact of social capital on labour market outcomes for young Swedish people.” p. 711-724.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1440783315581217

B. Rubric

Advanced (100%)Proficient (85%)Acceptable (75%)Needs Improvement (50%)Non-Performance (0%)

Research Question (15 points)

Research question is well crafted. Research question is sufficiently specific to be researchable while tying into broader themes in sociology. Independent and dependent variables are clearly identified and are in the correct relationship. Research question is sufficiently specific for research but does not tie into broader themes in sociology. Independent and dependent variables are clearly identified but are not in the correct relationship. Research question is too specific or too broad for research purposes but can be revised. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables is unclear. Research question demonstrates little understanding of the general principles of developing a research question. Did not submit a research question or submitted so little work that no credit can be given.

Identify Community Group (15 points)

Paragraph is well developed and answers all parts of the question. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described thoroughly. Group attributes/characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group is provided. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described, with some gaps remaining. Group attributes/characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group is provided. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described insufficiently. Student discusses group attributes/characteristics or their experience with or access to this group, but not both. An inappropriate community group is identified, or community group is described insufficiently. Group attributes/ characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group may not be provided. Did not submit a response or submitted so little work that no credit can be given.

Bibliography (15 points)

Sources appropriate for a sociological literature review are identified.4-6 credible, relevant, recent, and properly cited sources are provided.4-6 relevant and properly cited sources are provided, but may be less credible or recent.3 relevant and properly cited sources are provided.1-2 relevant and properly cited sources are provided. Did not submit any credible, relevant, recent, and properly cited sources.

Writing Mechanics (5 points)

Writing follows conventions for standard written English. There are 0-2 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 3-4 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 5-6 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 7-10 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are more than 10 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.

C. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission:

  • Use a readable 11- or 12-point font.
  • All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
  • Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
  • Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
  • Submission must include your name and the date.
  • Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
  • Acceptable file formats include and x.

    Name:
    Date:

    SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing
    diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological
    study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your
    choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.

    ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a
    community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method
    to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned,
    sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and
    useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from
    completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.

    SOCI1010 Unit 1 Touchstone Template

    Complete the following template, including all parts, using complete sentences.

    STEP 1: Pick a Topic

    Write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have
    chosen. Remember, it should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational.

    In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:

    ● What is the community group?
    ● What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities

    does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities
    brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)

    ● What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?

    I would like to study the Teen Reading Club at the Springfield Public Library.

    Teen Reading Club is a monthly book club led by an SPL librarian. The group meets once per
    month to discuss a book that everyone has read. It’s an open group, so the teens who
    participate can vary from month to month.

    My son occasionally participates in this book club, as do some of his friends.

    STEP 2: Ask a Question

    Formulate a research question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or
    collaboration. Write the question you have formulated for your study, and identify the
    independent and dependent variables.

    Remember, an independent variable is a variable that causes or drives a change in outcome.
    A dependent variable is an effect, or a variable that is influenced by an independent variable.

    Research question: Are the readings selected for the SPL book club more diverse when they
    are picked by the teens rather than by the librarian?

    Independent variable: How the readings are selected

    Dependent variable: The diversity of the readings

    STEP 3: Prepare a Bibliography

    List 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question for your literature
    review.

    Remember, attributes of good readings for your literature review include:
    ● They are academic, scholarly works about research findings or they are reliable

    journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
    ● They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark

    work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
    ● They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
    ● They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but

    they should be academic and not popular works.

    Use the simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. Include five key elements
    for each source, with each element separated by a period:

    ● Author’s name(s)
    ● Publisher and Publication date
    ● Title of the source
    ● Page numbers (if applicable)
    ● Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)

    1.
    Sofya Aptekar. 2019. The Public Library as Resistive Space in the Neoliberal City.
    https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cico.12417

    2.
    Ailing Kong and Ellen Finch. The Reading Teacher, 2003. “Using Book Club To Engage
    Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners in Reading, Writing, and Talking About Books.”
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/20205209

    3.
    Jil’lana Heard. Knowledge Quest, 2015. “Engaging Teens in Recreational Reading Through
    Book Clubs.” https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1064149

    4.
    Linda Terran Strommen and Barbara Fowles Mates. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy,
    2011. “Learning To Love Reading: Interviews With Older Children and Teens.”
    https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1598/JAAL.48.3.1

    5.
    Myrna Morales, Em Claire Knowles, and Chris Bourg. Libraries and the Academy, 2014. “Diversity,
    Social Justice, and the Future of Libraries.” https://muse.jhu.edu/article/549202

    https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cico.12417

    https://www.jstor.org/stable/20205209

    Name:
    Date:

    SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing
    diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological
    study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your
    choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.

    ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a
    community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method
    to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned,
    sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and
    useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from
    completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.

    SOCI1010 Unit 1 Touchstone Template

    Complete the following template, including all parts, using complete sentences.

    STEP 1: Pick a Topic

    Write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have
    chosen. Remember, it should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational.

    In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:

    ● What is the community group?
    ● What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities

    does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities
    brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)

    ● What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?

    STEP 2: Ask a Question

    Formulate a research question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or
    collaboration. Write the question you have formulated for your study, and identify the
    independent and dependent variables.

    Remember, an independent variable is a variable that causes or drives a change in outcome.
    A dependent variable is an effect, or a variable that is influenced by an independent variable.

    Research question:

    Independent variable:

    Dependent variable:

    STEP 3: Prepare a Bibliography

    List 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question for your literature
    review.

    Remember, attributes of good readings for your literature review include:
    ● They are academic, scholarly works about research findings or they are reliable

    journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
    ● They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark

    work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
    ● They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
    ● They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but

    they should be academic and not popular works.

    Use the simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. Include five key elements
    for each source, with each element separated by a period:

    ● Author’s name(s)
    ● Publisher and Publication date
    ● Title of the source, inside quotation marks
    ● Page numbers (if applicable)
    ● Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)

    Example:

    1. Alireza Behtoui. Journal of Sociology, 2015. “Beyond social ties: The impact of social
    capital on labour market outcomes for young Swedish people.” p. 711-724.
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1440783315581217

    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    6.

    Calculate the price of your order

    Select your paper details and see how much our professional writing services will cost.

    We`ll send you the first draft for approval by at
    Price: $36
    • Freebies
    • Format
    • Formatting (MLA, APA, Chicago, custom, etc.)
    • Title page & bibliography
    • 24/7 customer support
    • Amendments to your paper when they are needed
    • Chat with your writer
    • 275 word/double-spaced page
    • 12 point Arial/Times New Roman
    • Double, single, and custom spacing
    • We care about originality

      Our custom human-written papers from top essay writers are always free from plagiarism.

    • We protect your privacy

      Your data and payment info stay secured every time you get our help from an essay writer.

    • You control your money

      Your money is safe with us. If your plans change, you can get it sent back to your card.

    How it works

    1. 1
      You give us the details
      Complete a brief order form to tell us what kind of paper you need.
    2. 2
      We find you a top writer
      One of the best experts in your discipline starts working on your essay.
    3. 3
      You get the paper done
      Enjoy writing that meets your demands and high academic standards!

    Samples from our advanced writers

    Check out some essay pieces from our best essay writers before your place an order. They will help you better understand what our service can do for you.

    • Analysis (any type)
      Advantages and Disadvantages of Lowering the Voting Age to Thirteen
      Undergrad. (yrs 1-2)
      Political science
      APA
    • Coursework
      Leadership
      Undergrad. (yrs 1-2)
      Business Studies
      APA
    • Essay (any type)
      Is Pardoning Criminals Acceptable?
      Undergrad. (yrs 1-2)
      Criminal Justice
      MLA

    Get your own paper from top experts

    Order now

    Perks of our essay writing service

    We offer more than just hand-crafted papers customized for you. Here are more of our greatest perks.

    • Swift delivery
      Our writing service can deliver your short and urgent papers in just 4 hours!
    • Professional touch
      We find you a pro writer who knows all the ins and outs of your subject.
    • Easy order placing/tracking
      Create a new order and check on its progress at any time in your dashboard.
    • Help with any kind of paper
      Need a PhD thesis, research project, or a two-page essay? For you, we can do it all.
    • Experts in 80+ subjects
      Our pro writers can help you with anything, from nursing to business studies.
    • Calculations and code
      We also do math, write code, and solve problems in 30+ STEM disciplines.

    Frequently asked questions

    Get instant answers to the questions that students ask most often.

    See full FAQ
    • Is there a possibility of plagiarism in my completed order?

      We complete each paper from scratch, and in order to make you feel safe regarding its authenticity, we check our content for plagiarism before its delivery. To do that, we use our in-house software, which can find not only copy-pasted fragments, but even paraphrased pieces of text. Unlike popular plagiarism-detection systems, which are used by most universities (e.g. Turnitin.com), we do not report to any public databases—therefore, such checking is safe.

      We provide a plagiarism-free guarantee that ensures your paper is always checked for its uniqueness. Please note that it is possible for a writing company to guarantee an absence of plagiarism against open Internet sources and a number of certain databases, but there is no technology (except for turnitin.com itself) that could guarantee no plagiarism against all sources that are indexed by turnitin. If you want to be 100% sure of your paper’s originality, we suggest you check it using the WriteCheck service from turnitin.com and send us the report.

    • I received some comments from my teacher. Can you help me with them?

      Yes. You can have a free revision during 7 days after you’ve approved the paper. To apply for a free revision, please press the revision request button on your personal order page. You can also apply for another writer to make a revision of your paper, but in such a case, we can ask you for an additional 12 hours, as we might need some time to find another writer to work on your order.

      After the 7-day period, free revisions become unavailable, and we will be able to propose only the paid option of a minor or major revision of your paper. These options are mentioned on your personal order page.

    • How will I receive a completed paper?

      You will get the first version of your paper in a non-editable PDF format within the deadline. You are welcome to check it and inform us if any changes are needed. If everything is okay, and no amendments are necessary, you can approve the order and download the .doc file. If there are any issues you want to change, you can apply for a free revision and the writer will amend the paper according to your instructions. If there happen to be any problems with downloading your paper, please contact our support team.
    • Where do I upload files?

      When you submit your first order, you get a personal account where you can track all your orders, their statuses, your payments, and discounts. Among other options, you will have a possibility to communicate with your writer via a special messenger. You will be able to upload all information and additional materials on your paper using the “Files” tab on your personal page. Please consider uploading everything you find necessary for our writer to perform at the highest standard.
    See full FAQ

    Take your studies to the next level with our experienced specialists

    Live Chat+1 (857) 777-1210 EmailWhatsApp