Sociology
Spring 2005
Undergraduate Majors
Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report
Graduate Learning Outcomes
Assessment Report
Academic
Year: Spring 2005
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III. Changes to Procedures or Curriculum Based on Assessment |
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Soci 3010, Soci
3020, Soci 3030, Soci 3201
Students attending all
sections of the four courses in Fall 2004 and Spring
2005 were sampled.
C.
Methods
and instruments of assessment
The Department of Sociology identified 13 skills across the five categories (analytic skills, critical thinking, communication, acquisition of knowledge, and contemporary problems). Instructors in each of the four courses required for sociology majors were asked to evaluate relevant skills. In Soci 3010, performance on the final exam was the basis for assessment, and for the other three courses instructors assessed student term papers or final written projects. On each skill item faculty used a four point scale (poor, good, very good, and excellent).
D.
Data
collection and Analysis
Soci 3010 (Social Statistics) 4 classes
Analytic skills
Students are able to read and understand sociological
research reports/articles-- N/A
Critical
thinking
Students are able to analyze and interpret data
(hypothesis testing, drawing inferences, formulating conclusions)--92% of
students scored as good-excellent.
Soci 3020--( Social
Research Methods) 6 classes
Analytic Skills
Students acquire the skills to collect data--95%-100%
of students scored in the good-excellent range.
Students are able to read and understand sociological
research reports/articles--79%-100% scored in the good-excellent range.
Critical
Thinking
Students formulate research questions and formulate
testable hypotheses--79%-100% scored in the good-excellent range.
Students demonstrate how to use results of analysis to
formulate new research questions--74%-96% scored in the good-excellent
range.
Communication
Students develop effective written communication and
editing skills--76%-100% scored in the good-excellent range.
Students show appropriate writing conventions and
formats--80%-100% scored in the good-excellent range.
Acquisition
of Knowledge
Students utilize key data sources that provide
sociological information and research findings--80%-100%
scored in the good-excellent range.
Soci 3030 (Sociological Theory) 4 classes
Acquisition
of Knowledge
Students articulate key sociological concepts and
theories--79%-91% scored in the good-excellent range.
Soci 3201 (Wealth, Power, and Inequality) four classes
Acquisition of
Knowledge
Students apply the most up-to-date facts and
information about social conditions and problems--93%-100%
scored in the good-excellent range.
Contemporary
Problems
Students
develop the ability to identify, analyze, and suggest solutions to pressing
social problems--93%-100%
scored in the good-excellent range.
Students analyze contemporary multicultural, global, or
international questions--95%-100% scored in the good-excellent range.
II.
Assessment Results-Level of Student Achievement of Outcome
Reviewing the results of assessments in
all four upper division courses required for sociology majors, students appear
to have achieved the desired outcomes across all five categories. The exception was the demonstration of
appropriate computer skills.
III. Suggested Changes to
Procedures or Curriculum Based on Assessment
The data analysis revealed the undergraduate sociology majors were not being systematically taught computer skills in Soci 3010. As a result of the assessment process, a new unit where students will be introduced to social science data analysis computer programs (SPSS) will be added to Soci 3010 beginning in fall 2005.
Matrix for Undergraduate in Sociology (9/17/04)
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3010 Exam |
3020 paper |
3030 paper |
3201 paper |
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Analytic Skills |
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Students
acquire the skills to collect data |
|
X
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Students
demonstrate appropriate computer skills |
X
|
|
|
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|
Students
are able to read and understand sociological research reports/articles |
|
X |
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Critical Thinking
|
|
|
|
|
|
Students
formulate research questions and formulate testable hypotheses |
|
X |
|
|
|
Students
are able to analyze and interpret data (hypothesis testing, drawing
inferences, formulating conclusions) |
X |
|
|
|
|
Students
demonstrate how to use results of analysis to formulate new research
questions |
|
X
|
|
|
Communication
|
|
|
|
|
|
Students
develop effective written communication and editing skills |
|
X |
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Students
show appropriate writing conventions and formats |
|
X |
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|
Acquisition of Knowledge
|
|
|
|
|
|
Students
articulate key sociological concepts and theories |
|
|
X |
|
|
Students
apply the most up-to-date facts and information about social conditions and
problems |
|
|
|
X |
|
Students
utilize key data sources that provide sociological information and research
findings |
|
X |
|
|
Contemporary Problems
|
|
|
|
|
|
Students
develop the ability to identify, analyze, and suggest solutions to pressing
social problems |
|
|
|
X |
|
Students
analyze contemporary multicultural, global, or international questions |
|
|
|
X |