Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you must pass your Milestone before you submit it. Once you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted toward your final course score.
This Touchstone provides an opportunity for you to practice developing a research plan for a real-world topic that interests you. Throughout this course you will read about the results and conclusions of many different sociological studies; this Touchstone is where you can practice the skills of conducting such a study. You will use the materials you develop for this Touchstone for a later Touchstone.
This Touchstone will further strengthen your problem-solving skill, while reinforcing the content from the lesson. You will analyze your research topic of choice, while applying the problem-solving skills from the unit. By considering the dynamics of community groups, you will also strengthen your relationship building and self and social awareness skills.
Touchstone 1: Developing a Research Plan
SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned, sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.
Use the following Touchstone template to fill in your research plan as you develop it. When you have finished, submit this template to move on to the next unit.
Touchstone 1 Template
Touchstone 1 Sample
A. Directions
Step 1: Pick a Topic
Select a community group to study. Some examples of community groups you might explore include:
- An activity-based group like a book club, a soccer team, or a community choir
- A religious or ideological community such as a church congregation or a local political party
- A community organization like a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a neighborhood association, or the volunteer committee at a local soup kitchen
- An identity-based organization such as a social club for veterans or a fraternal type organization
It should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational. Avoid:
- Families
- Workplaces
- Ethnic or racial categories
- Friend groups
You might wish to choose a group that you are a part of, or you might not. You can use your personal experience with the group to form the basis of your research question. Or you can ask members of the group about their experiences, which will help you develop your research question.
In the template, write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have chosen. In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:
- What is the community group?
- What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)
- What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?
Step 2: Ask a Question
Next, you will formulate a question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or collaboration. You might think about diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, socioeconomic status, or along multiple intersecting identities. Be sure to use what you learned in Unit 1 about the ways sociologists ask questions.
Examples:
- What are the challenges of a mom’s community organization in appealing to moms with children of different ages?
- How does a group of car enthusiasts reach out to the surrounding community to get support for their events?
- How has the Boy Scouts accepting girls impacted their mission and programs?
- Do gender segregated sports teams for kids help maintain traditional gender roles?
In the template, write the question you have formulated for your study. Be sure to identify the Independent and Dependent variables and identify them correctly. (HINT: Refer back to
Lesson 1.3.3: Asking Questions
and
Lesson 1.3.5: Formulating a Hypothesis
for help.)
Step 3: Prepare a Bibliography
Finally, you will begin developing a bibliography for a review of the existing literature that relates to your question. Before conducting a full literature review, a sociologist will build a bibliography, or a list of potential sources that they will read and study in greater depth in the review.
Collect 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question and list them in your template. You don’t have to look into these materials in depth right now! You’ll review this literature more closely in a later Touchstone, and you will also be exposed to additional relevant research and frameworks in Unit 3. You’ll also be able to add to or amend your bibliography before your Touchstone in Unit 3.
Attributes of good readings for your literature review:
- They are academic, scholarly works about research findings, or they are reliable journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
- They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
- They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
- They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but they should be academic and not popular works.
Where to find readings: More than likely you will use a major search engine like
Google Scholar
. Start your search by identifying key search terms related to your research question, to generate relevant results. Google Scholar specifically searches scholarly literature. However, keep in mind that much of this literature may have limited or paid access. Another good place to search is in a public library or university library catalog or database. You might also want to try regular Google, but you will have to be careful to screen your results and make sure you only select academic sources. Whichever way you choose to search, make sure that you are selecting credible sources.
What makes a source credible? Credible sources are written by authors who are well known in their field. They are based on scientific data—not opinions or with biased observations. Sources should be from reliable outlets, like major publishers, universities, think tanks, and credentialed current practitioners. (HINT: Refer back to
Lesson 1.3.4: Researching Existing Sources
for more guidance.)
How to format sources in your bibliography: Sociologists use American Psychological Association (APA) format for their research. However, you will use a more simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. You will include five key elements for each source, with each element separated by a period:
- Author’s name(s)
- Publisher and publication date
- Title of the source, in quotation marks
- Page numbers (if applicable)
- Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)
EXAMPLE
Alireza Behtoui. Journal of Sociology, 2015. “Beyond social ties: The impact of social capital on labour market outcomes for young Swedish people.” p. 711-724.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1440783315581217
B. Rubric
Advanced (100%)Proficient (85%)Acceptable (75%)Needs Improvement (50%)Non-Performance (0%)
Research Question (15 points)
Research question is well crafted. Research question is sufficiently specific to be researchable while tying into broader themes in sociology. Independent and dependent variables are clearly identified and are in the correct relationship. Research question is sufficiently specific for research but does not tie into broader themes in sociology. Independent and dependent variables are clearly identified but are not in the correct relationship. Research question is too specific or too broad for research purposes but can be revised. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables is unclear. Research question demonstrates little understanding of the general principles of developing a research question. Did not submit a research question or submitted so little work that no credit can be given.
Identify Community Group (15 points)
Paragraph is well developed and answers all parts of the question. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described thoroughly. Group attributes/characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group is provided. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described, with some gaps remaining. Group attributes/characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group is provided. A voluntary, recreational community group is identified and described insufficiently. Student discusses group attributes/characteristics or their experience with or access to this group, but not both. An inappropriate community group is identified, or community group is described insufficiently. Group attributes/ characteristics and discussion of the student’s experience with or access to this group may not be provided. Did not submit a response or submitted so little work that no credit can be given.
Bibliography (15 points)
Sources appropriate for a sociological literature review are identified.4-6 credible, relevant, recent, and properly cited sources are provided.4-6 relevant and properly cited sources are provided, but may be less credible or recent.3 relevant and properly cited sources are provided.1-2 relevant and properly cited sources are provided. Did not submit any credible, relevant, recent, and properly cited sources.
Writing Mechanics (5 points)
Writing follows conventions for standard written English. There are 0-2 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 3-4 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 5-6 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are 7-10 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. There are more than 10 errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission:
Acceptable file formats include and x.
Name:
Date:
SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing
diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological
study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your
choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a
community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method
to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned,
sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and
useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from
completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.
SOCI1010 Unit 1 Touchstone Template
Complete the following template, including all parts, using complete sentences.
STEP 1: Pick a Topic
Write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have
chosen. Remember, it should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational.
In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:
● What is the community group?
● What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities
does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities
brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)
● What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?
I would like to study the Teen Reading Club at the Springfield Public Library.
Teen Reading Club is a monthly book club led by an SPL librarian. The group meets once per
month to discuss a book that everyone has read. It’s an open group, so the teens who
participate can vary from month to month.
My son occasionally participates in this book club, as do some of his friends.
STEP 2: Ask a Question
Formulate a research question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or
collaboration. Write the question you have formulated for your study, and identify the
independent and dependent variables.
Remember, an independent variable is a variable that causes or drives a change in outcome.
A dependent variable is an effect, or a variable that is influenced by an independent variable.
Research question: Are the readings selected for the SPL book club more diverse when they
are picked by the teens rather than by the librarian?
Independent variable: How the readings are selected
Dependent variable: The diversity of the readings
STEP 3: Prepare a Bibliography
List 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question for your literature
review.
Remember, attributes of good readings for your literature review include:
● They are academic, scholarly works about research findings or they are reliable
journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
● They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark
work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
● They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
● They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but
they should be academic and not popular works.
Use the simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. Include five key elements
for each source, with each element separated by a period:
● Author’s name(s)
● Publisher and Publication date
● Title of the source
● Page numbers (if applicable)
● Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)
1.
Sofya Aptekar. 2019. The Public Library as Resistive Space in the Neoliberal City.
https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cico.12417
2.
Ailing Kong and Ellen Finch. The Reading Teacher, 2003. “Using Book Club To Engage
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners in Reading, Writing, and Talking About Books.”
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20205209
3.
Jil’lana Heard. Knowledge Quest, 2015. “Engaging Teens in Recreational Reading Through
Book Clubs.” https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1064149
4.
Linda Terran Strommen and Barbara Fowles Mates. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy,
2011. “Learning To Love Reading: Interviews With Older Children and Teens.”
https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1598/JAAL.48.3.1
5.
Myrna Morales, Em Claire Knowles, and Chris Bourg. Libraries and the Academy, 2014. “Diversity,
Social Justice, and the Future of Libraries.” https://muse.jhu.edu/article/549202
https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cico.12417
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20205209
Name:
Date:
SCENARIO: Imagine that you work for a nonprofit organization that is focused on increasing
diversity in community groups in your area. Your supervisor asks you to develop a sociological
study concerning topics of diversity and collaboration in a specific community group of your
choice. Eventually you will prepare to share your research with colleagues.
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will begin by formulating a question about diversity in a
community group that you have access to. Then you will use the steps of the scientific method
to prepare a research plan, including a bibliography for a literature review. As you learned,
sociologists follow the scientific method so that their results are both scientifically valid and
useful to the greater sociological community. A literature review allows researchers to learn from
completed studies and to build upon their conclusions.
SOCI1010 Unit 1 Touchstone Template
Complete the following template, including all parts, using complete sentences.
STEP 1: Pick a Topic
Write a paragraph (approximately 6-8 sentences) describing the community group you have
chosen. Remember, it should be a group in which membership is voluntary and recreational.
In particular, be sure to answer the following questions:
● What is the community group?
● What are the attributes or characteristics of this community group? (e.g. What activities
does this group do together? What element of the members’ interests or identities
brings them together? How is membership in the group defined, if at all?)
● What kind of experience with or access to this community group do you have?
STEP 2: Ask a Question
Formulate a research question related to this group, and to topics related to diversity and/or
collaboration. Write the question you have formulated for your study, and identify the
independent and dependent variables.
Remember, an independent variable is a variable that causes or drives a change in outcome.
A dependent variable is an effect, or a variable that is influenced by an independent variable.
Research question:
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
STEP 3: Prepare a Bibliography
List 4-6 articles, books, or other resources that relate to your question for your literature
review.
Remember, attributes of good readings for your literature review include:
● They are academic, scholarly works about research findings or they are reliable
journalistic reporting based on scientifically credible and reliable data.
● They should have been published in the last 20 years—unless they are a landmark
work on the topic and provide important background or as a comparison.
● They look at different sides of the argument and a variety of perspectives.
● They do not have to be written by sociologists or published in sociology journals, but
they should be academic and not popular works.
Use the simplified method to format sources for your bibliography. Include five key elements
for each source, with each element separated by a period:
● Author’s name(s)
● Publisher and Publication date
● Title of the source, inside quotation marks
● Page numbers (if applicable)
● Source’s location for web-based texts (URL)
Example:
1. Alireza Behtoui. Journal of Sociology, 2015. “Beyond social ties: The impact of social
capital on labour market outcomes for young Swedish people.” p. 711-724.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1440783315581217
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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