RES 6000: ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS and DESIGN APPLICATIONS
Appalachian State University
Fall Semester 2008
Professor:
Office:
Dr. Les Bolt
Email:
boltll@appstate.edu
322-A Duncan Hall
Telephone: 828-262-7045 (office)
Office Hours: Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, by appointment
Fridays, off-campus before class and Saturday after class
Course Description (From the Graduate Bulletin)
“This course provides advanced guided study in the foundations for and practices of research methods in
the social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis will be on students becoming both critical consumers of
educational and human services research literature and practitioners capable of conducting research.
The course will assist in developing and strengthening students' capacity for and professional
application of research in assessment, accountability and data-informed decision-making. The course
also prepares students to design research that may be required for advanced graduate degrees.”
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student will:











demonstrate an understanding of the role of inquiry in developing and renewing bodies
of knowledge,
demonstrate an understanding of the underlying philosophical and historical
paradigms for inquiry,
demonstrate an understanding of the environmental influences on inquiry,
develop skill in formalizing problems and questions for inquiry,
develop skill in accessing and evaluating prior knowledge,
demonstrate an understanding of the differences and connection between different
types of inquiry,
demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate usage of different types of inquiry,
demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of quantitative inquiry,
demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of qualitative inquiry,
understand and develop skill in the basic principles of measurement and statistical
analysis, and
understand the need to be a critical consumer of inquiry.
RES 5000
2
Course Expectations & Requirements
This graduate course has specific expectations for participation and preparation. Please be
prepared to engage critically and rigorously with the subject matter and to interact respectfully
with others in the class. Please arrive to class on time, fully prepared, and actively and
appropriately participate in all class activities.
Assignments
All assignments are due by the specified date on AsULearn. I do not accept late work unless
under extenuating circumstances and generally with prior approval.
All written assignments should be prepared in advance and saved prior to submission to
AsULearn. Be sure to make backup copies in all submitted work.
NOTE: All assignments that involve citations should follow APA style (5th edition).
Preparation & Participation: For each class meeting, you will have read the material and
completed all assignments indicated in the AsULearn course site. The assignments will
serve as a starting point for our discussion and evaluation of your grasp of the reading
material. The assignments will be posted at least a week before they are due.
Literature Review: You should choose a research topic from your professional field that
you would like to know more about. You will locate 8-10 current research articles
(qualitative and quantitative) in peer-reviewed research journals that are related to the
topic, analyze them, and represent them in two forms: 1) a synopsis chart (format to be
provided in class) and 2) a narrative report (format to be provided in class). At the
session that the literature review chart is due, you will share your findings with the
class.
Case Studies and Article Critique: These two case studies will be critiques of two research
articles provided to you – one utilizing qualitative methodology, and one utilizing
quantitative methodology. You will apply the knowledge and skills from the course
and the critiques from the article to an actual contemporary issue.
Research Prospectus: Using the information from the literature review and your original
topic; as a final project, you will develop a research prospectus (format to be provided,
approx 8-10 pages) that could serve as the basis for a research proposal. The prospectus
will be due at the last class session and will include a brief (15-20 minute) class
presentation.
Required Readings
All required readings will be available online via AsULearn.
RES 5000
3
Required Text
Creswell, J.W. (2008). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
(3rd edition). Sage Publications
Recommended Texts
Online Statistics: A Multimedia Course of Study . (Free). http://onlinestatbook.com/
APA Manual of Style (5th edition). (2005). American Psychological Association.
Evaluation and Grading
Assignment
Preparation & Participation:
Literature Review Chart:
Literature Review Narrative:
Case Studies:
Research Prospectus:
Total:
Points
25 points
10 points
10 points
30 points
25 points
100 points
Scale
93 – 100:
90 – 92:
84 – 89:
80 – 83:
70 – 79:
Below 70:
A
AB
BC
F
Course Policies
Class Schedule Changes. I will notify students via ASU email for any change in class schedule.
(NOTE: I only use ASU email; please forward your ASU email to any outside account that you
check more frequently). You remain responsible for all assignments on AsULearn if class does
not meet. Specific directions regarding postponed assignments will be provided via ASU email
and posted on AsULearn. In the event that classes are delayed or cancelled due to inclement
weather, a message will be posted on ASU’s website and via ASU email.
Attendance. Because this is a graduate course, I do not have a set attendance policy as I expect
you to be here. Due to the nature of the course, much will be learned during the class sessions
from your classmates and general discussions.
Communication. The best way to reach me is via email. I will most likely respond within 12
hours via email. You may also call my office during office hours.
RES 5000
4
Course Outline (Tentative and subject to change with ample notice. Readings and assignments will
be provided on AsULearn. Students are expected to be flexible regarding the syllabus! Topics
may be added or deleted as the needs of the class dictate.)
I. Introduction to Inquiry
% Time
A. Why do you think as you do?
5%
1. Epistemology - How do you view the world?
a. Based on Culture
b. Based on History
2. Personal Experience
a. Based on Personal History
b. Based on Professional History
B. What are the philosophical and historical paradigms for research?
5%
1. Positivist Epistemology
a. Basic Research
b. Applied Research
c. Collaborative Research (Basic/Applied)
2. Postpositivist (Constructivist) Epistemology
a. Multiple Realities
b. Construction of Reality
II. Framing the Question/Problem
A. What is the nature of research questions/problems?
1. Origins of Questions/Problems
2. Relevance of Questions/Problems
B. What is the construct being examined?
1. Major Concepts
2. Concept Mapping
C. What are the variables of interest?
1. Definition of variables
2. Chronology and causation
D. What is the environment of research?
1. Ethical Issues
2. Legal Issues
3. Political Issues
10%
RES 5000
5
III. Identification of Precedents and Current Body of Knowledge
10%
A. What are the sources of prior knowledge?
1. Primary Sources
2. Secondary Sources
B. How do we access prior knowledge?
1. Selection Processes
2. Retrieval Strategies
C. How do we evaluate sources?
1. Purpose/Agenda
2. Appropriate Expertise
3. Methodology
IV. Framing the Inquiry
A. What is quantitative inquiry?
1. Research Designs
a. Pre-Experimental
b. Experimental
c. Quasi-Experimental
2. Statistical Analysis
a. Descriptive
b. Inferential
1. Parametric
2. Non-Parametric
3. Measurement
a. Types of Instruments
b. Sampling
c. Data Collection
d. Reliability and Validity
4. Reporting Results
25%
B. What is qualitative inquiry?
1. Designs
a. Case Study
b. Phenomenological and Heuristic Studies
c. Ethnography
d. Emerging Designs
2. Data Collection Methods
a. Observations
b. Interviews and Survey
c. Documents and Artifacts
25%
RES 5000
6
3. Documentation and Data Analysis
a. Authentication
b. Emerging Patterns/Clusters
4. Reporting Findings
V. Evaluation Research and Program Review
10%
A. Evaluation Research
1. Goals and Objectives
2. Data Sources
B. Program Review
1. Scope of Review
2. Data Sources
3. Political Realities
VI. Evaluating Inquiry
10%
A. Is the research construct valid?
B. Is the methodology appropriate?
C. Are the conclusions supported by the findings?
This course is offered subject to the Code of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Code of
ASU. That code may be found at http://studentconduct.appstate.edu/ .
Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable accommodations for
individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Those seeking
accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and register with
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at http://www.ods.appstate.edu/ or 828-262-3056.