Final Project Assignment and Presentation Assignment
SS 301 (Basic of Social Science Research)
Dear SS 301 Students,
Please write a full research paper by addressing one of the questions below. Please select one
question only and answer it in standard academic fashion. This means, your research must have an
introduction, a literature review, a methodology, findings, and conclusion. It also must have clearly
defined hypotheses. In answering the question, you are required to use examples in order
to illustrate your arguments.
You will also present this final project in front of class in a 10-minute presentation
during Week 14 of the semester. You must email the professor a PowerPoint summarizing your final
project by the deadline below. It should be at least 5 slides long and should include a title page with
your full name (including family/tribal name), AUE ID number, class number (SS 301 Basics of
Social Science Research), name of professor (Dr. David J. Meyer), and date. Both the Word paper
and the PowerPoint must also have citations and a bibliography, or else the entire
assignment will fail!
Note:
The length of your paper should be in Microsoft Word software (NOT pdf or Apple Pages),
be between 8-10 pages of double-spaced text, 12-point font, Times New Roman, normal 1-
inch margins. Please UPLOAD the paper in Word into the course portal, then send me the
PowerPoint by email.
You must use Chicago Manual of Style citation style for your citations and for the bibliography
of both your paper and your PowerPoint. When in doubt, cite! Cite every idea that is not yours, cite
every statistic, number, map, chart, photo, etc. Use the Microsoft Word program's reference maker
or use the free online Chicago guide from this
link: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html.
This assignment is worth 40 points out of the 100 points for your total course grade. Please check
your portal to see the grading rubric and assign your efforts accordingly. See below for the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOS) on which your project will be graded, with 10 points for each of the
CLOS below.
CLO 1: Evaluate the key concepts of research in security and global studies. This means
that your paper & PowerPoint must discuss research concepts covered in the lectures and notes.
CLO 2: Apply research methods using qualitative data collection and analysis
techniques. This means that your paper & PowerPoint must apply research methods.
CLO3: Design testable hypotheses on strategic topics. This means that your paper &
PowerPoint must have a clear hypothesis that you are testing.
CLO 4: Assess the research techniques within a project and/or a research study. This
means that your paper & PowerPoint must assess the research techniques discussed by your
topic.
Possible topics:
1. Select a security-related topic and analyze whether the deductive or inductive method would be
best used for researching this topic.
1. Analyze a famous theory of international relations. Clearly state what are the work's dependent
and independent variables, what are the hypotheses, and how these hypotheses inter-relate.
1. Analyze the research process by using a concrete example from the security field.
1. Describe and analyze the qualities of research in relation to a security topic.
1. Analyze the different goals of research in exploratory, descriptive, and causal research.
1. Explain the difference and the uses of qualitative and quantitative research in relation to
security.
1. Analyze and evaluate the different types of research applied to a security topic.
1. How is research relevant in the real world? How does it contribute to policymaking and the
betterment of society through increasing security?
1. Analyze the data collection process.
1. Analyze and evaluate the case study method.
1. Analyze and evaluate the comparative case study method.
1. Analyze and evaluate the use of experimental research in the social sciences. 1. Analyze the differences between research in the social sciences and natural sciences.
1. Why is a literature review important in the social sciences?
1. Analyze the concepts of sampling and generalizability.
