Research Methods

The following tools can help faculty incorporate SRM content into their modules:

1. Reading Lists
   Reading lists help instructors select supplementary material from book chapters, case studies and sample data sets to match their syllabus or textbook and create a list for their students to access. With the embed feature, you can place the hyperlink list directly into CANVAS so that students can access. The selected content cases are especially well suited for use in the classroom. Each case includes learning objectives and discussion questions that are good for in-class discussion. You can also assign case studies for pre-class reading and then have students isolate each step of the research process in a class discussion or in groups.
    
2. Datasets
   The data sets collection host teaching datasets accompanied by how-to guides that walk students through the method being demonstrated and show how to analyze the data provided. These can be assigned as homework or to use in stats labs. The data can also be used for exam questions.
   Quantitative data sets are available in a number of file formats for use in various software packages including SPSS or Excel.
   SAGE Research Methods also provides qualitative data sets for those who wish to give their students hands-on practice with qualitative data analysis techniques.
    
3. Videos
   Like the reading lists, video is also easy to embed in CANVAS. You can even create custom clips from longer videos. You can also assign videos to watch ahead of class for discussion or use one of expert interviews to show an alternative viewpoint in class or lectures. The documentary style videos show research in action, so students can watch a focus group being conducted while they're learning the principles of focus groups.
   Students can also re-watch videos outside of class. The statistics videos are particularly helpful to students to review their understanding.
    
4. Cases 
   SAGE Research Methods Cases are stories of how real research projects were conducted. The collection provides more than 1100 case studies, showing the challenges and successes of doing research, written by the researchers themselves. They explain why the researchers chose the methods they did, how they overcame problems in their research and what they might have done differently with hindsight: the realities of research that are missing from journal articles and textbooks. Cases are peer-reviewed and come with pedagogical tools including learning objectives and discussions questions. They can be used as a teaching tool to demonstrate a particular method and how it is applied in real research, or as inspiration to students who are preparing for their own research project.

SRM Experiments is a pilot site for you to learn about and run classic experiments in social science research. It currently includes three tests—Lexical Decision Task, Pre/Post Test, and Wildcat Wells—with customizable templates that allow you to run your own version of each test. It is free to use. Simply sign up with your university email address. 

As an instructor, you can:

1. Demonstrate experiments in class. SRM Experiments is available anywhere. You can perform experiments during class. It includes experiments that can be used in psychology, health, economics, management, and any other course with a behavioral component. Just create a study and send students to it or project the experiment to the class.
2. Assign students to create their own experiments. Students learn best through direct experience. Give them the chance to design and implement their own experiment in a safe and easy-to-use system.
3. Have students conduct novel research for midterm or final projects. Students can use SRM Experiments to conduct a study from start to finish. They can create their own study, recruit participants, collect data, and analyze the results. SRM Experiments is ideal for a final class project.