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
Content Learning Check-in (10%)
• Two co-constructed activities that will demonstrate what you’ve learned during the first and second half of the semester. We will develop two or three scenarios for exemplifying your work.
Check-in #1 (5%) - October 7
Check-in #2 – (5%) - November 18
IRB Assignment (10%)
• Completion of Human Subject Review Tutorial & Modified Research Protocol
Peer-Reviewed Articles and Citation Organizer (15%)
• 9 peer-reviewed articles
• 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 did they learn/findings, favorite quotation/paraphrase of an excerpt)
• Link citation organizer to weekly “entrance/exit cards”
Store your citation organizer in our MS TEAMs folder and as you build it, link your organizer to the entrance card on Brightspace before each class for my review. (Apologies for the added work of storing your organizer in TEAMS but reporting your progress in Brightspace, because I use Brightspace primarily for submitting grades for your student work. I have yet to discover a way to sync Brightspace and Microsoft TEAMS for this type of assignment.)
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)
A. Comprehensive Literature Review (40%) (10-12 pages using APA guidelines)
B. Creative Inquiry/Research Proposal (40%) (poster presentation)
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
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Resources
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