We started with a brief overview of the chapter on quantitative methods in your Research Methods text - and then moved on to the Shaggy Dog exercise. We started with an intuitive ranking of the 5 shaggy dog stories, and then analyzed the features that made them funny. We next rated the SAME 5 stories using a numerical scale based on our 7 categories for what made the stories funny. This rating showed that our numerical scale worked on the stories we used to create it => the stories came out with ratings numerical scores that corresponded pretty well with the intuitive "funniness" ratings we gave the first time around.
We then applied the numerical funniness scale to 3 new stories - and found that it didn't work so well on the new stories. This means that our funniness scale needed some more work before we could apply it to measure "funniness" to a broader range of stories. For instance, we noticed that the Ghandi shaggy dog story was really much funnier than the funniness scale indicated.
Jen then gave her presentation on "Is Oral History Good For You?" a study which demonstrated political motivations for resorting to quantitative evidence (to receive funding or to prove the value of a method or theory to an audience that only values "hard" data).
Oral history continued. We then did a slightly different kind of quantitative study to assess the value of oral history. We rated our feelings about particular stories - told the stories to each other as a group - and then re-rated our feelings about the stories using the same scale. Jen is going to report the results for us next week.
Final exam. Your final exam is posted to the right under Course Documents. You can look it over this week (or get started if you choose). We will review and ask/answer questions next week. The completed final exam will be due May 10.
Research Drafts are due by Sunday night. I will give you feedback by Thursday you will workshop them in class May 3. The final draft will be due May 10 when you will share your findings with classmates (and celebrate the successful completion of the course!).
I think that wraps it up = what an awesome class tonight! Thanks for your good participation.
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