2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences64:Social Survey Methods
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Reina Takamatsu
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Wed (I1-256(I121))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S454
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 3, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge and practical tools in social research methods, with a particular emphasis on survey research. Although survey research is relatively easy to implement compared to other methods, designing appropriate survey items to test hypotheses requires basic methodological knowledge and skills. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of survey research and how to effectively measure self-reported behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs.
Course description and aims
After completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Provide an overview of social research methods.
2. Describe the basic principles of survey research.
3. Present an example of social research and explain its significance.
Keywords
social research, survey research, questionnaire design
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course consists of lectures and group activities. Course materials will be uploaded to the LMS.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction to social research and its significance |
Understand the nature of social research and consider its role and significance in society |
| Class 2 | Types of social research methods |
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of social research methods |
| Class 3 | The structure of inquiry |
Formulate research objectives and hypotheses based on a social research topic. |
| Class 4 | Estimation of the population mean and sample bias |
Understand how population mean estimation works and apply this knowledge to explaining social research |
| Class 5 | Writing survey questions |
Learn to create survey items using basic principles |
| Class 6 | Scale evaluation |
Understand the process of scale development and evaluate scales |
| Class 7 | Online survey research |
Understand the key characteristics of online surveys |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to reference books and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
No textbook is required for this course. Reading materials will be provided.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Ohtani Nobusuke, Kinoshita Eiji, Goto Noriaki, Komatsu Hiroshi (2023). Contemporary Approaches to Social Research: Logics and Methods. Minerva Shobo. ISBN: 9784623095247
Evaluation methods and criteria
The final grade is based on class participation (50%) and assignments (50%).
Related courses
- LAH.T117 ： Social Survey Methods A
- LAH.T216 ： Social Survey Methods B
- LAH.T322 ： Social Survey Methods C
Prerequisites
None required.