Introduction to Research Methods and Design
Turning sociological questions into research projects, evaluating evidence, and choosing appropriate methods.
Learning through
sociological inquiry.
My teaching connects sociological questions with research methods and everyday experience. I encourage students to investigate how institutions, identities, and social contexts shape the world around them.
Selected courses.
Courses I have taught at Santa Clara University include:
Survey Research and Statistical Analysis
Designing research questions, working with survey data, and interpreting quantitative evidence.
Religion, Science, and Technology
Examining how religious life, scientific institutions, and technological change intersect.
Spirituality in Diversified Societies
Studying spiritual life within diverse social and cultural settings.
Race and Inequality
Investigating racial and ethnic inequalities and the institutions that shape them.
Diversity in Organizations and Societies
Analyzing how diversity and inequality operate in organizational and social contexts.
Immigrant Businesses in the US
Exploring entrepreneurship, immigrant communities, and the social organization of economic life.
Making research
part of learning.
Research as practice
Students take on the role of researchers, develop explanations of social problems, and present their findings. I use collaborative projects to connect methodological choices with the questions students want to answer.
Learning from everyday life
Assignments draw on interviews, observations of religious events, and analysis of online communities. These activities help students connect sociological concepts with the lives and experiences of people around them.
Mentoring student researchers
I have mentored undergraduate researchers in research ethics, data collection, analysis, and presentation. I work with students to connect classroom learning with empirical questions and the practical steps of a research project.
Sample course materials.
Archived examples of course design, rather than current teaching schedules.
Religion in a Global Context Sample syllabus · 2016 · PDF ↗
Sociology of Gender Course proposal · 2017 · PDF ↗
Exploring Modern China Course proposal · 2017 · PDF ↗
For current course information or student research inquiries, contact ddi@scu.edu.