Development of a Quantitative Research Laboratory for Undergraduate Education in Sociology

这个项目资助了一个社会学的网络个人计算机实验室。这种教学方法的前提是社会学正在成为一门应用信息科学。新的社会学定量研究实验室有助于将社会学定义为一门基于信息的实验室科学。它作为系里的中心，容纳了大量的数据，整合了几个方法论和实质性的课程，并引导学生更科学的社会学研究方面。技术中心通过为所有方法课程提供一个通用平台来集成方法培训。若干实质性课程以及方法课程由社区地区研究进一步结合起来。将社会学作为一门应用信息科学，重视实验室培养，对社会学专业本科教育有以下几个方面的促进作用：(1)提高学生的统计分析能力；(2)它定义和描绘了一个更接近研究生学习的训练和方向以及专业社会学家所做的工作的本科课程；(3)培训本科生在工作中可能遇到的设备类型和软件应用；(4)它为社会学在后工业经济的本科专业创造了更强的地位。

This project funds a networked personal computer laboratory for sociology. This pedagogical approach premises that sociology is becoming an applied information science. The new Quantitative Research Laboratory for sociology helps to define sociology as an information-based laboratory science. It serves as the hub of the department, housing large quantities of data, integrating several methodological as well as substantive courses, and orienting students to the more scientific aspects of sociological inquiry. The technological hub integrates methodological training by providing a common platform for all methods courses. Several substantive courses, as well as the methods courses, are further integrated by a community area study. Treating sociology as an applied information science with an emphasis on laboratory-based training improves undergraduate education of sociology majors in several ways: (1) it improves the statistical analysis skills of students; (2) it defines and portrays an undergraduate curriculum that more closely resembles the training and orientation of graduate studies and the work performed by professional sociologists; (3) it trains undergraduate students on the types of equipment and software applications they are likely to encounter in the workplace; and (4) it creates a stronger position for sociology as an undergraduate major in the postindustrial economy.