Foundations: Intro to Research Methods (A)

About EDFS 3090 A

Seminars and research projects. Methods of historical, descriptive, experimental, quasi-experimental, field studies, and survey research.

Notes

Open to degree and PACE students

Section Description

Unravel the mysteries behind what we know and how we know it. Explore the intriguing question: What truly constitutes knowledge in our complex world? In this course, you will engage foundational knowledge of the research process, including the purpose of formulating questions, designing studies, analyzing data, and establishing conclusions and presenting on them. You will explore the basics of different research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods) with an emphasis on qualitative design, and when each approach is most appropriate. In addition, you will develop skills to critically examine published research, explore ethical considerations in research, and work toward becoming informed consumers of research.

Section Expectation

This class will mostly be in-person, and we will adopt a routine schedule. I will expect you to prepare assigned readings before you come to class so we can engage well with the topic, and the class will consist of brief lectures, small group and individual activities, reflection activities, speakers, use of different multimedia tools, reading discussions, and a final presentation.

Evaluation

Grading Criteria and Assessments (Graded Work):
Ownership of Learning (15%)
• Participation
• Attendance

Vantage Textbook & Reading Assignment (20%)
In addition to the peer-reviewed articles that you will be required to select for your inquiry question, you will be expected to read 13 chapters from Pajo’s Introduction to Research Methods and complete the pre-reading, check for understanding, and video reflection activities, as well as complete the quiz at the end of each chapter for a grade to be included in your gradebook.

Tutorial on how to navigate student content: https://youtu.be/aReHk4p_hd4?si=VsPCA73_OeA9NxVE

IRB Assignment (5%)
• Completion of Human Subject Review Tutorial & Modified Research Protocol

Peer-Reviewed Articles and Citation Organizer (15%)
• 10 peer-reviewed articles (quant/qual/a combination)
You will be expected to identify and select a total of 10 peer-reviewed articles, with the following breakdown: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. Below is a list of general high-quality journals in the field of education. You will submit abstracts for each peer-reviewed article on BrightSpace.

o American Educational Research Journal
o Educational Researcher
o International Journal of Quantitative Research in Education (IJQRE)
o International Journal of Educational Qualitative Quantitative Research (IJE-QQR)
o International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
o Qualitative Inquiry
o International Journal of Qualitative Methods
o The Qualitative Report
o Journal of Mixed Methods Research (JMMR)
o International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches (IJMRA)

• Citation organizer
You will be expected to maintain an Excel Sheet with research citations following the format (APA guidelines): citation authors according to APA, research inquiry, theory/theoretical framework, research design, what they learn/findings, favorite quotation/paraphrase of an excerpt)

• Upload your research articles in our Microsoft TEAMS and create your citation abstract for each article in Brightspace. Instructions forthcoming.

Practice Research Activities (10%)
• Field Observation (5%) – Week 8
You will conduct an observation in a setting (e.g., residence hall, library, dining hall, restaurant in Burlington, shop) of your choosing. Using your observation guide, you will jot down field notes. Later, you will reflect on those field notes and be prepared to summarize your observation in the following week.

• Data Analysis (5%) – Week 10
You will learn how to approach coding an interview transcription. Through the activity of viewing a videorecording of a focus group interview and following the transcription, you will develop emerging skills in data analysis, such as coding of the data and beginning to assign themes to what you observe in the data.

Final Assignments (Choose A or B) (35%)
A. Comprehensive Literature Review (8-10 pages using APA guidelines)
• Purpose/Introduction
• Body
• Organization (e.g., Thematic, Chronological, Methodological)
• Synthesis & Summary
• Final Mini-Presentation (3 slides)

B. Creative Inquiry/Research Proposal (10-12 pages using APA guidelines)
• Research Inquiry Statement
• Positionality Statement
• Research Inquiry Statement
• Literature review (annotated bibliography)
• Methods Rationale Statement
• Final Mini-Presentation (3 slides)

Grading Scale
95-100 A+ 70-74 C
90-94 A 65-69 D+
85-89 B+ 60-64 D
80-84 B 59 and below F
75-79 C+

Important Dates

Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.

Resources

• Parking
• PACE Course Pricing
• Textbooks