ERIC Number: EJ1192304
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Oct
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0092-055X
EISSN: N/A
Lost Letters: Using the Lost-Letter Technique to Teach Social Research Methods
Reid, Matt
Teaching Sociology, v46 n4 p356-363 Oct 2018
Over 50 years ago, Stanley Milgram and colleagues published a short article detailing an unobtrusive experimental design they called the lost-letter technique. The technique involves placing stamped, unmailed letters in a community and using the relative rate of return to infer local attitudes toward political issues and social groups. Furthermore, the technique is simple and inexpensive enough to replicate in an introductory-level social science course as a means to familiarize students with social research methodology. This activity utilizes active learning with student-centered pedagogy, and this paper details the procedure, best practices, and student feedback. Students enjoy having a personal stake in the project and find they better understand social research through this active learning project. Instructors are encouraged to consider adopting the technique in their courses.
Descriptors: Social Science Research, Research Methodology, Sociology, Undergraduate Students, Introductory Courses, Active Learning, Learner Engagement, Letters (Correspondence), Student Centered Learning, Best Practices, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A