"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose."--Zorah Neal Hurston

Research is an important element in the Sociology and Criminology curriculum. All students are required to take SOC 374 Social Research Principles. This course explores the logic of scientific inquiry from a social science perspective. In a student's senior year, she will take SOC 496, where she will complete a major research project that involves an internship or significant involvment in the community combined with research in Sociology and/or Criminiology.

One resource students have in their course work and for their Applied Research is the Dedmon Sociology Student Research Lab in Joyner 205B. Access to computers and a network printer, this endowed room is a place for students to relax, meet with others, and eat lunch or a snack between classes.

Student research has focused on a variety of topics over the years. Students often present their research from the SOC 496 Applied Research course at the annual Celebration of Student Achievement at Meredith College and at the Southern Sociological Society meeting. In the past students worked on topics including food inequality, gender and police work, body image and disability, race and police work and websites and presentation of self. Students may also develop and carry out an independent research project of their own design under the supervision of a Sociology Faculty member. Previous SOC 499 projects have included content analysis of news coverage of female politicians, exploration of blacks' and whites' perception of the term 'oreo', and media depictions of black women in television advertisements. This is a significant undertaking and only well-developed projects will be approved.

In March 2012, Dr. Hess, Dr. Brown and 5 Meredith College students attended and presented at the Southern Sociology Society annual meeting in New Orleans, LA in the French Quarter at the beautiful Montelone Hotel.

Ashley Hancock and Mada Brown take a breath          Kris York and Shelly Brigman prepare                   Heather Losee and Karie Hudgins

before presenting at the conference                                 for Shelly to present                                            prepare to present