Eric Swank
Associate Professor of Social Work
Some descriptions of the classes that Swank teaches most often.
Research Methods: The class explores issues of research design, data collection, and data analysis. On top of class lectures and discussions, students write three mini-critiques on different parts of actual research articles (theory construction, measurement and sampling) and a final synthesis paper that compares the research strengths of three empirical articles.
Data Analysis: A course on the logic of data preparation and computer assisted analysis (SPSS). Appropriate methods of statistical techniques are discussed and students use this knowledge to complete an original research project. That is, students devise a theorerical model, create a survey, distribute this survey and write a report based on their findings. Several of these papers have been been strong enough for a later publication in academic journals (see my vita).
Social Change: This seminar concentrates on collective efforts by relatively powerless groups to inspire social change. Readings and lectures highlight the conditions under which people make such efforts, the motivations people bring to their participation, their strategies used to achieve goals, and the techniques of targets to resist their demands. Students are asked to write papers on a variable in a single movement and participate in a local political mobilization.