This course introduces students to the logic, tools, and ethical foundations of sociological research. Students learn how sociologists transform social questions into empirical research, select appropriate methodologies, collect and analyze data, and communicate findings in a rigorous and ethical manner. Emphasis is placed on understanding the strengths and limitations of different research designs, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches.

Through engagement with classic and contemporary sociological studies, students examine how research methods shape what we can know about social life, inequality, culture, religion, gender, race, and institutions. The course also develops students’ critical research literacy, enabling them to evaluate social science claims encountered in academic work, policy debates, and media. By the end of the course, students will have practical experience designing and executing a small-scale sociological research project while reflecting on the ethical and political dimensions of knowledge production.