Social science research, Babbie Research Center to be celebrated at campus conference

A host of international scholars will be part of a social science research conference scheduled in conjunction with the dedication of the Earl Babbie Research Center at Chapman University Wednesday, March 21. “The Future of Social Science Research Methods Conference and Babbie Center Dedication” opens at 10 a.m. The day’s programming closes with Professor Emeritus Babbie, Ph.D., presenting a faculty workshop titled “The Future of Social Science Research Methods” at 4 p.m. in Argyros Forum 209.

Professor Babbie said he was humbled by the news that the center, located in Smith Hall, was named in his honor.

“I am honored beyond my ability to express it in words to have the new research center named for me. I am excited about the possibilities contained in our mission statement: where research and compassion come together make a difference in the world,” he said. He further noted that Ann Gordon, associate dean and associate professor, had been the driving force behind the center’s creation.

“She was the first to tell me of the plan to name the center in my honor, and she has kept the dream alive for the past three years. There is a real sense in which this is also the Ann Gordon Research Center,” Dr. Babbie said.

The new center is dedicated to empowering students and faculty to apply a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative social research methods to conduct studies that address critical social, behavioral, economic, and environmental problems.

Dr. Babbie is an internationally recognized leader in the field of social science and is best known for his book The Practice of Social Research (first published in 1975), currently in its 12th English edition, with numerous non-English editions. The text has been widely adopted in colleges throughout the United States and throughout other parts of the world. He is also an author of research articles and monographs. Throughout his career he has been active in the American Sociological Association and served on the ASA’s executive committee. He is also past president of the Pacific Sociological Association and California Sociological Association.

Conference attendance is free, but registration is requested and may completed online.