GRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS
PADM 5396-Dr. Barbara Hart
Fall 2015 - Syllabus
Office Bus. Adm. 219
Hours: 1:30-3:00 T Th,
Other times by appointment
Phone: 566-7426
e-mail: bhart@uttyler.edu
Goal of the Course:
This graduate seminar course in research methods will extend the introduction
of research methods from an undergraduate level to a broader understanding of
principles of research, types of methods, and research applications with maximum
utility for the working professional and the scholar. Research design, basic statistical
analysis, grant writing, research report writing, and research ethics are included as
components of this course.
Objectives for the Course:
 Students will learn to solve research questions through valid research
design and statistical analysis.
 Students will learn to critically evaluate other research findings
 Students will learn to use the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
for basic statistical analysis
 Students will learn to assess the validity of other research studies
 Students will be able to present research findings (written, orally and
graphically)
 Students will learn to incorporate ethical principles in research.
TEXT: BUNDLE: Schutt, R. (2015). Investigating the Social World 8E + SPSS Version 22.0
Sage, Publishing
ISBN: 9781483375915
Note this version of the text comes bundled with the SPSS statistical
program software so that you can work assignments at home. You may
buy the text without the software and use the campus computer lab for the
homework.
And other readings as assigned
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Student Evaluation:
45%
Three exams @15% each (portions of these exams may be online through Black
Board to save classroom time. Such exams will have a time limit imposed for
completion and will not be open book.
Exams will cover the Schutt text and class materials
20%
Statistical analysis report using SPSS:
Students will develop a brief research report analyzing the instructors’ hypotheses
and two hypotheses developed by each student. The analysis will be based on an
established data base (GSS data). The format will follow standard research
guidelines with an introduction, literature review (micro), methodology, results, and
conclusions. Tables, charts, figures will be correctly titled and displayed. APA
documentation will be required. .
15%
Journal Article evaluation
Students will select an article from a professional journal that illustrates an
experiment. This article will be carefully evaluated using the guidelines furnished by
the instructor. Students must remember this is not a journal article review but a
critique of the research methodology. Guidelines will be furnished.
20%
Comprehensive Final Exam
Note that learning research methods is a cumulative process. This class is like learning a foreign
language. What you learn today is necessary for understanding tomorrow’s material. . I have never
seen cramming to be successful in this class. Regular, even perfect class attendance is your best
opportunity for success. The vocabulary flash cards through the text web site are recommended.
Tentative Schedule
Tentative Schedule listed by week.
Before the first Class Read:
Text: Chapter One, Chapter Two and Chapter Four
Blackboard for Week One:
http://www.livescience.com/33507-origins-of-superstitions.html
Rise of the Evidence Based Practice Movement and New Opportunities for Criminal Justice
Research
“Reasons Managers and Business Decision Makers MUST Understand Basics of Research”
“MARKETING RESEARCH”
Promising Practices (Fels Institute)
Week One - August 26
Discussion of Chapter one and assigned readings.
Errors of Reasoning
Importance of research based decision making
Class assignments
Week Two - September 2
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Chapter Two – The Process and Problems of Social Research
Chapter Four Conceptualization and Measurement
Harvard’s Burglary Rates
Hypothesis Construction – Alternate and Null Forms
Measurement Validity and Reliability
Deductive v. Inductive
Levels of Measurement
Measurement validity and reliability
Read Hart Notes on Operationalization
Practice operationalization
Homework: TURN IN Black Board by September 6 : Operationalize two of
the following concepts: Best Vacation; Good Employee; Serious crime;
Serious illness; good employee morale; good working conditions. Then
choose one of those terms and create a hypothesis. You can choose any
other variable for the second variable.
Week Three - September 9
Operationalization – review homework – quick quiz
SMART – Writing Objectives
Homework: Find the goals and objectives of any program or current
Presidential campaign promise. Assess the degree of operationalization.
Bring to Class September 16.
Homework 2: Locate any peer reviewed research article and assess its
sampling method. Does the sampling method support the conclusions of
the article? Bring to class September 16.
Read: Campaign Promises. Can you operationalize the promises?
Read: Why the 1936 Literary Digest Poll Failed
Read: Hart Lecture Notes: Sampling
Chapter 5 - Sampling and Generalizability
In class discussion - Sampling
Probability v Non probability sampling
Representation for generalizability/external validity
Week Four - September 16
Sampling continued
Review of the homework assignments
Review for Exam #1
Online portion of exam #1 due by September 23.
Week Five - September 23
Exam one – Chapters 1, 2, 4 & 5 (First half of class)
Chapter 6 – Research Design and Causation
Cross-sectional v. Longitudinal
Quantitative v. Qualitative
Hart Lecture note: The Three Rules of Causality
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Week Six - September 30
Chapter 6 continued and Chapter 7
Hart Lecture note: Experimental Design
Hart Lecture note: Internal Validity
Read page 7 of “Establishing the Internal and External Validity of
Experimental Studies” - randomization process and establishing
generalizability.
In class: Discussion of Chapter 6 - Experimental Design
Threats to Internal Validity
For fun - https://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/404.htm
Have you seen examples in political discussions? How could sound research methodology
prevent these tactics?
Locate and bring to class an article from a professional journal (of interest
to you) which includes experimental research (a study with different
groups of people, testing different groups of people, testing the effect of
some independent variable, etc.). Avoid descriptive research or
philosophical/thought provoking articles etc. and look for explanatory
research. This article will be the basis for your evaluation of some other
author’s methodology. “How to critique research methodology” guidelines
will be furnished.
Hart Notes - Evaluation Questions to ask
Week Seven - October 7
Chapter 7 Experiments
“14 False Advertising Scandals That Cost Brands Millions”
“Deceptive Advertising”
“Fox News”
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2013/05/09/an-example-ofmisleading-headlines-in-medical-research/
Week Eight - October 14
Chapter 8 - Survey Research
Read supplement power point on questionnaire construction
Read: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/02/opinion/gingrich-public-confidenceamerica/index.html
Discussion of Survey Research
Online portion of exam #2 by October 21
Week Nine - October 21
Exam #2 – Chapters 6, 7 & 8
(first half of class)
Read Chapter 9 – Quantitative Data Analysis
Review of Research Report Components
Discussion of Chapter 9
Introduction to Statistics
Read: Handout – Introduction to Statistics
GSS data base and code book
Review of Research Report outline and requirements
Read: SPSS Tutor
Read: SPSS Procedures for Report
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Read: Hart notes on Statistics
Homework: Develop two original hypotheses to test from the GSSs survey data
Submit through Black Board copies of your two hypotheses in both alternative and
null forms for instructor approval
Crime Analysis description and career:
http://www.iaca.net/dc_about_ca.asp
http://www.iaca.net/dc_analyst_role.asp
Compare 2012 Crime Data for Tyler and for Longview. What might the two
Chiefs be considering?
Texas UCR
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/pages/ucr.ht
m
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/crimereports/12/citCh2.pdf
Week Ten - October 28 Chapter 16 Summarizing and Reporting Research
Discussion and assistance with research report.
Continue with SPSS
If you have a laptop with SPSS, bring it to class. We can work in class.
Or we may move to a computer lab for this class session.
Week Eleven - November 4
Chapter 10 Qualitative Methods
Review: Power Point shared from web.
http://www.slideshare.net/tilahunigatu/qualitative-data-analysis-11895136#
Read: Hart Lecture note: Qualitative Field Research.
Highlights of Chapter 14
Week Twelve - November 11 Chapter 12 – Evaluation and Policy Research
Highlights of Chapter 15
Readings: Program Evaluation lecture
Program Evaluation Power Point
Online portion of Exam #3 by November 18
Week Thirteen - November 18 Exam #3 – Chapters 9, 10 & 12 (parts of 14 & 15)
Week of November 23 – Thanksgiving Holiday
Week Fourteen - December 2 Chapter 3 Ethics
Class discussion on Ethics
Review for Final
Research Report on GSS data Due
Week Fifteen - December 9
Comprehensive Final plus Chapter 3
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POLICIES THAT MUST APPEAR IN EACH COURSE SYLLABUS
Statement Regarding Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is a violation of University policy and professional standards. If
compared to a violation of the criminal law, it would be classed as a felony. Academic
dishonesty is defined as cheating, plagiarism, or otherwise obtaining grades under false
pretenses. The penalty for academic dishonesty in this class will be no less than immediate
failure of the course and a permanent student record of the reason therefore. In most cases, a
written record of academic dishonesty or an instructor’s report of same to an agency
investigator during a background check will bar an individual from employment by a criminal
justice agency as it is considered indicative of subsequent corrupt acts.
Many students have an inadequate understanding of plagiarism. Any idea or verbiage from
another source must be documented. Anytime the exact words from another author are used
they must be enclosed with quotation marks and followed by a citation. However quotations
should only be used on rare occasions. Student papers should be written in the student’s own
words; therefore excessive quotations will result in a failing grade.
Make-up Tests: The University Catalog does not establish make-ups as a student right. Major tests
are forecasted; therefore, no make-up opportunities are contemplated. Opportunities to make-up
missed examinations will be provided only for exceptional reasons and must be documented (e.g.,
hospital records, obituaries). Make-up examinations may be in forms completely different from original
examinations and will be scheduled at the convenience of the instructor.
The following University policies must appear on each course syllabus or be provided as an
informational sheet (web-links to these policies may be used in the print or electronic syllabus)
http://www.uttyler.edu/academicaffairs/syllabuspolicies.pdf
Students Rights and Responsibilities
To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT
Tyler, please follow this link: http://www2.uttyler.edu/wellness/rightsresponsibilities.php
Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies
Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade
Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date
of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in
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during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details
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Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory
information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.
Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date)
Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a “W” grade)
Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment
Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid
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State-Mandated Course Drop Policy
Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from
dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses
dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a
dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the
specific date). Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions
must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of
the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any
questions.
Disability Services
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) the University offers accommodations to students with learning,
physical and/or psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability, including non-visible disabilities such as
chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, PTSD or ADHD, or you have a history of
modifications or accommodations in a previous educational environment you are encouraged to
contact the Student Accessibility and Resources office and schedule an interview with the Accessibility
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applies to you, but have questions or concerns please contact the SAR office. For more information or
to set up an appointment please visit the SAR office located in the University Center, Room 3150 or
call 903.566.7079. You may also send an email to cstaples@uttyler.edu
Student Absence due to Religious Observance
Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to
inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.
Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities
If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must
notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the
instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
Social Security and FERPA Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security
numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an
identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.
Emergency Exits and Evacuation:
Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions
regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in
the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire
department, or Fire Prevention Services.
Rev. 06/2012
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