Guide to the Senior Project Requirement in Sociology

Background

In 1986, CLA implemented the senior project requirement for all its majors. The sociology faculty defined its senior project as an individually written, original research paper, that incorporates a literature review relevant to the student's research question. In addition, our faculty determined that for the sociology senior project, primary data should be collected and analyzed (or secondary data analyzed), followed by a conclusion based on the findings. Both Bachelor of Arts (General and LCD Options) and Bachelor of Science majors complete the senior project in one of the two ways described below. These projects differ slightly from the Honors thesis. See the Honors page for further elaboration of the Honors thesis.

The major project is your chance to answer questions and explore sociological topics that interest you. It is an opportunity to focus on a research question that really interests you and to synthesize it into a polished thesis. Many students finish the senior project requirement feeling it was one of the best experiences of their undergraduate careers.

Prerequisites

From years of trial and error, we have determined that the best preparation for the Advanced Project Seminar (SOC 4966) is the completion of the nine required sociology courses and an upper-division writing intensive class. The completion of these courses constitutes the prerequisite for enrolling in the Senior Project Seminar. The only exception to this policy is that students may be permitted to do the senior project if their only remaining requirement is a sociology elective. However, students are discouraged from doing so, since elective courses often provide the subject matter for the senior project.

Sociology majors are urged to calculate when all sociology courses will be completed and to inform the sociology advisor of that expected date. The advisor keeps a list of students by the semester when you anticipate you will be ready to write the senior paper. This "planning list" helps the department arrange for enough spaces to be available for all students who wish to do the project in a given semester. Since there is so much demand for this requirement, you are strongly encouraged to put your name on the waiting list well in advance.

Goals of the Sociology Senior Project

This requirement is intended to be an important part of your sociology major. Some of our goals for your experience in doing the senior project include the abilities to:

Pose a researchable question;
Integrate ideas and theories; use research skills and apply them to a specific theoretical problem;
Utilize data and empirical evidence to answer sociological questions;
Gain practice in the critical evaluation of research findings/data;
See a research project through from its inception to the final written analysis and experience the sense of accomplishment this brings;
Understand the sociological perspective and how to use it in developing sociological research;
Develop a paper which could become part of your application for graduate school or the basis for a presentation at a professional meeting.

Preparation

In addition to prerequisite coursework, there are other steps you can take to prepare for the senior project. Some suggestions include

Keep a list of authors and interesting articles you've read.
Be alert to the applicability of sociology in your everyday life. Make note of situations that motivate you to think about the reasons for their occurrence.
Write down the research questions that occur to you that you'd like to explore. What data do you need to answer these questions? What methods would you use?
When you write papers or conduct research projects, think about ways you could extend those papers/projects for your senior project.
Keep your notes and books from statistics and research methods courses. You will most likely refer to them for your major project.
When you decide on an idea for our senior project, go to the library and search for sources related to this topic. Develop a short bibliography to use as a basis for the research you will do when you begin your project.

When you choose a research question for your senior project, it's important to select one that really interests you. The senior project is extremely labor-intensive. You will spend the semester working intensively on your project. If you are like most people, you'll feel especially motivated if you focus on a research question and subject that deeply interest you.

At the same time, try to choose both a narrow question and a question that can be answered with data to which you have access.

The Paper Itself

Although individual faculty approach the senior project in different ways, for the most part the senior project paper differs from most term papers in at least one significant way - the collection and analysis of data are included in the paper, in addition to a literature review. The paper is evaluated by the faculty member who is teaching the course.

Whichever route you choose to write your paper, there are similar components to all the senior projects. The senior project paper includes:

A statement of your research question;
A review of relevant literature (from professional journals, books, and other sources);
An analysis of data related to the research questions; and, finally,
A summary in which you relate the data analysis to the review of literature and draw conclusions.

Student typically write papers that are 20-30 pages long, though the length of the paper is not the primary consideration in evaluating your completion of the requirement.

Senior Project Data

Students often ask what kind of data are used for the senior project. Many faculty ask students to collect a small body of data to use for the data analysis. Or you may get secondary data from faculty who, in some cases, will share data they have collected. Some students also find data to use via data consortiums, such as ICPSR. You may wish to do a quantitative statistical analysis of survey data. Or you may prefer to do a qualitative study (involving, for example, participant observation or interviewing), or an analysis of historical documents (using newspapers or other archival materials).

Human Subjects Approval May Be Needed - Plan Ahead!

Students MUST consult with their faculty advisor BEFORE beginning ANY research involving human subjects. Students do not need to seek additional approval from the Institutional Review Board/Human Subjects Committee if their research falls within the guidelines of the class protocol. Data involving children, prison inmates, or other vulnerable populations, or research involving sensitive issues (sexuality, criminal behavior, etc.) can only be collected if the project has gone through a full review (a process that typically takes months) and has been approved by the committee. You must start the review before the semester begins if you want to talk to, or observe, children, inmates, or other vulnerable populations. Application forms for the Human Subjects Committee are available from the department administrator in 909 Social Sciences. You are strongly encouraged to consult with a faculty member before beginning this approval process.

Alternatives to the Advanced Project Seminar

In the regular academic year, we offer at least two advanced project seminars, courses through which the senior paper may be written. The paper may or may not be part of that course's requirements. The student enrolling in the course must be prepared to complete all the requirements for the course, including exams and other assignments, and, in addition, must choose a research question on a topic related to the subject matter of the course. This is done after consultation with the professor. Students pursuing this option must register for the course plus one additional credit for writing the paper.

Sometimes students ask whether they may write their senior paper about an internship or work experience. Students can use the experience of an internship as a starting point - an idea source, the internship agency as a data source, or as a motivating factor for learning about something related to the practical experience gained through the internship. The senior project paper, however, is more than a report about an internship. The senior project paper is based on a research question that will require you to gather or look at data in order to answer it.

Seminar Faculty

The Advance Project Seminar is taught by members of the faculty, and occasionally by advanced graduate students. Each seminar is small (limited to 25 students). Usually two sections are offered each semester. Each student in the seminar has his/her own research question on which s/he focuses.

Our faculty represent many research areas. It is possible that the faculty member who leads your seminar is not totally familiar with the substantive material about which you have chosen to write. To supplement your experience in the Advanced Project Seminar, you may wish to talk with other faculty about the research question you have chosen. During their office hours, visit a faculty member whose research interests are similar to yours. (You can find information about the faculty's research interests by consulting the Department's annual Faculty Research Activities brochure, available from the main office.) Office hours for all sociology are available in the main office, 909 Social Sciences.

Honors Theses

The Department's requirements for Honors' students senior project is somewhat different. Honors students complete their senior theses in the department by completing a two-semester sequence: SOC 4977V in fall of their senior year, and SOC 4978V in spring of their senior year. Students complete their senior project in this sequence of courses.

One Final Reminder: Scholastic Dishonesty

Scholastic dishonesty is a serious matter. We assume all students know what constitutes academically honest behavior; this is just a reminder.

Students are to write an original paper for the senior project or honors thesis. Students do not use a paper written for a previous course. If you wish to write a paper on a research question similar to one you have already used for another class, be sure you clear both the idea and the previous paper with your Advanced Project Seminar professor first and receive permission to do this.

The faculty member who discovers academic dishonesty is obligated to report the incident to CLA's Scholastic Committee. Consequences range from failure for the assignment/paper/exam in question to expulsion.

Summary

The senior project in sociology is meant to be a capstone in your major. Each student's senior project will be unique. The faculty member who leads your Advanced Project Seminar will give you specific information, guidelines, and guidance, which you should follow as you develop your own paper.

We hope you enjoy the experience of working closely with your classmates and a faculty member in this way, and that in the process of sharing the experience with other students in sociology you will learn even more about this exciting discipline you have chosen as your major.

Further Information

For further information you may wish to talk with the Sociology Department advisor (call 612/ 624-4300 to schedule an appointment). And, please remember, we need your help in planning enough sections to accommodate you for the semester in which you want to write your major project paper. You must contact the main office to sign up for the senior project at least two semesters before you want to register.