Spring 2027

Methods of Sociological Inquiry

Methods of Sociological Inquiry covers scientific methods for studying society, including testing theory, hypothesis construction, data evaluation, and practical small research projects.

offering recorded3–4 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Martin Eiermann3.7/5

Summary

1 / 6

Past student reviews · Max Besbris, Jane Piliavin

The workload typically included weekly quizzes on lectures and readings, along with two larger group research projects. Some sections moved fast with many assignments, though others were manageable.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Define and distinguish among different sociological research methods, articulating the strengths and limitations of various sociological research methods.

  • Evaluate the appropriateness of various methods for different types of research questions.

  • Analyze data using appropriate statistical or other software.

  • Articulate appropriate conclusions from data and relate findings back to theory.

  • Identify sources of bias in research and data.

  • Articulate and apply principles of ethical research.

  • Design, execute and analyze the findings of an original research project.

  • Articulate research findings clearly orally and in writing.

Source: UW Guide 1 UW Guide 2

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

Sophomore standing or (SOC 181,SOC/​C&E SOC 140, 210, or 211)

C&ESOC/SOC 357 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Spring 2027
Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 5.00/5 from 1 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2026: 3.55 GPA, 75.5% A/AB (n=53 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

KAELYN STILES is recorded teaching in Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2008. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MARTIN EIERMANN is recorded teaching in Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MAX BESBRIS is recorded teaching in Fall 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MONICA GRANT is recorded teaching in Fall 2013, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2020, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

PAMELA OLIVER is recorded teaching in Spring 2018, Fall 2018. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

RAHUL MAHAJAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

SHAMUS RAHMAN KHAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Spring 2007. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

TREVOR YOUNG-HYMAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2011. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

ZACHARY BAUMGART is recorded teaching in Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 590
DIS 302Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 305Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 301Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 304Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 303Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 306Classroom Instruction0 / 150
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 900
DIS 302Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 305Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 301Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 304Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 303Classroom Instruction0 / 150
DIS 306Classroom Instruction0 / 150

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Past student reviews · Max Besbris, Kerem Morgul

Past students found the course engaging, with instructors like Max Besbris and Kerem Morgul making lectures interesting and fostering a positive learning environment.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.47 GPA, 70.2% A/AB (n=57 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.58 GPA, 79.5% A/AB (n=73 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.55 GPA, 75.5% A/AB (n=53 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Past student reviews · Max Besbris, Jane Piliavin

The workload typically included weekly quizzes on lectures and readings, along with two larger group research projects. Some sections moved fast with many assignments, though others were manageable.

Past student reviews · Monica Grant

In Monica Grant's section, attendance was mandatory and lecture items appeared on quizzes. Students found discussion sections interesting but struggled to stay engaged during lectures, noting that reviewing slides was not very helpful.

Topics

  • Scientific methods in sociology
  • Testing sociological theory
  • Sociological research methods and their limitations
  • Bias in research and data
  • Ethical research principles

Skills

  • Problem definition, hypothesis construction, and data collection/evaluation
  • Data analysis using statistical or other software
  • Identifying sources of bias in research and data
  • Applying principles of ethical research
  • Designing, executing, and analyzing original research projects
  • Oral and written articulation of research findings

Grades

Historical instructor

Spring 2027 · Projected

Before grades are released

– average GPA

Approximate 80% prediction interval

About this estimate

The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.

The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.

8 earlier forecasts · 0.16 GPA average error.

Grades over time

Through Spring 2027

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1280 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
C&ESOC/SOC 357 · Spring 2027

Methods of Sociological Inquiry

Recorded 2026-10-14
C&ESOC/SOC 357 · Spring 2027

Methods of Sociological Inquiry

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
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    "source_course_id": "017569",
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    "title": "Methods of Sociological Inquiry",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 4,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring, Summer"
  },
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    "course_uid": "course_8c0f7542356f64346bde176d",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "source_course_id": "017569",
    "source_subject_id": "900",
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    "credits_min": 3,
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Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Download part 1
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

View the dataset on Hugging Face
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1Download part 2Download part 3
Model & dataset provenance 
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  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "758024056ead2f5e4af8ee37ebb3b60f220da2859b6dc704eb2f39c5742a7c37",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}