Department of Child and Family Development
CFD 370 / Research Methods
Fall 2015 / Section 20615
M 7-940 / NE271
Instructor:
Office Location:
Email:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:
Jacki Booth, Ph.D.
EBA 400B
jbooth@mail.sdsu.edu
619 594-3711
MW 2-4; by appointment
Course Prerequisites (CFD majors):
All lower division preparation for the major with a grade of C or better. CFD135, 270, 270L, 275,
BIO100, PSY101, SOC101, and either SOC 201 or PSY270 or 271. Proof of prerequisites required
(via transcripts, DARS audit or grade reports).
Text and Resources
• Cozby, P. C., & Bates, S. C. (2015). Methods in behavioral research (12th ed.). New York,
NY: McGraw Hill Publishers.
•
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Course Objectives
• To increase the skills required to critically evaluate research
• To understand the use of scientific methods in studying children and families
• To understand independent variables and dependent variables and their relation in scientific
studies of children and families
• To understand methods for measuring human behavior and development
• To understand a variety of research designs commonly employed in the developmental and
social sciences
• To understand the steps involved in interpreting and generating results obtained from raw data
• To understand the ethical issues involved in research involving human subjects
• To understand the basic use of descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and measures of
statistical significance
Student Computer Help (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~students/stylesheet.cgi?main.htm)
***You are responsible for your own computing needs.
Instructional technology problems that you experience do not
constitute an acceptable excuse for non-completion of work.
Expectations
• Attendance and class participation are required for successful completion of the course
• Lab hours will be arranged to help integrate descriptive and inferential statistical analyses
• All assignments must be turned in on the day they are due. Make-up exams and late assignments
will NOT be accepted, except in the event of extraordinary circumstances (written documentation
must be provided)
• Students are responsible for their own computing needs. When problems occur on your end, YOU
must fix them. Instructional Technology problems that you encounter do not constitute an
acceptable excuse for non-completion of course work.
• Plagiarism will result in an F in the course and/or further disciplinary action. Please familiarize
yourself with the university’s policy on academic (dis)honesty. This can be found on the SDSU
webpage for Student Rights and Responsibilities (www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/index.html)
• All cell phones must be turned off during class time (NO texting in class)
Grading
Course Evaluation:
There are 300 points possible in this course. Point accumulation is based upon the following:
3 midterms (50 points each)
6 research reports (20 points each)
Reference pool
Literature review
Naturalistic observation
Survey/questionnaire
Research Proposal
PowerPoint Presentation
10 class activities & practicum (3 points each)
150 points
120 points
30 points
Grading Scale:
278-300
269-277
260-268
248-259
239-247
230-238
218-229
209-217
200-208
188-199
179-187
Below 179
(93% - 100%)
(90% - 92%)
(87% - 89%)
(83% - 86%)
(80% - 82%)
(77% - 79%)
(73% - 76%)
(70% - 72%)
(67% - 69%)
(63% - 66%)
(60% - 62%)
(below 60%)
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Learning Objectives:
Alignment of Student Learning Objectives with State and National Standards:
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the
National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), and the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) have implemented professional
preparation core standards for Professional Teaching Standards for PreK-3
teachers. This course utilizes these standards in identifying course
goals/objectives, course instructional activities, assigning course
requirements, and creating assignments. The following table identifies how
these standards are aligned with Student Learning Objectives for the course,
as well as with each course assessment. Visit the following Web sites for
detailed listings of standards:
NAEYC Advanced Program Standards:
http://www.naeyc.org/faculty/college.asp
NCFR Content Areas:
www.ncfr.org/pdf/cfle_cert/FLE_Substance_Areas.pdf
NCATE Unit Standards:
http://www.ncate.org/public/standards.asp
Student Learning
Objectives
To integrate and organize
current research on
conflict and conflict
resolution across the
lifespan
To demonstrate an
awareness of the
cognitive, social, and
emotional factors that
influence aggression
To identify individual
crisis from a
developmental,
sociological, and cultural
perspective
To analyze and integrate
theories on
communication, conflict,
and conflict resolution
To demonstrate
proficiency in research,
writing, and digital
technology
Assessment
Standards
Exams
NAEYC
Research
NCFR
Activities
Exams
NCATE
NAEYC
Research
NCFR
Activities
Research
NCATE
NAEYC
Activities
NCFR
Exams
NCATE
NAEYC
Research
NCFR
Activities
Research
NCATE
NAEYC
Activities
NCFR
NCATE
Technological Support
Blackboard Help:
Student Help Desk Phone: (619) 594-3189
Student Help Desk Email: scc@rohan.sdsu.edu
This site will help you use your Blackboard course sites and help answer some of your
questions. Answers to common questions, such as how to access Blackboard and your
courses, can be found by visiting our support pages: Logging In to Blackboard and
Frequently Asked Questions.
Respondus Lockdown:
Respondus LockDown Browser is a secure browser for taking tests in Blackboard. It
prevents you from printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other
applications during a test. You will not be able to take the exams with a standard web
browser. Respondus LockDown Browser should only be used for taking Blackboard
tests. It should not be used in other areas of Blackboard.
TaskStream:
CFD majors enrolled in this course will need to have a TaskStream electronic
portfolio subscription, and be enrolled in the appropriate TaskStream “Program”
which contains your program portfolio. More information about purchasing a
TaskStream subscription and enrolling into a TaskStream Program is available in
the “CFD Portfolio” section of the Child and Family Development website:
http://coe.sdsu.edu/cfd/portfolio/index.php
Student Disability Services:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this
class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473.
To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student
Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not
retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have
received an accommodation letter (hard copy for my file) from Student Disability
Services.
Grademark:
To view a marked paper, the student user will need to click on the blue "View" button
next to the assignment. The student GradeMark paper view will open in a separate
window in which the student may view or print the grade and comment information. Not
all browsers will be able to display the complete features of the GradeMark product. If a
browser that is not fully supported is being used, a notification will inform the user.
Student Assistance:
SDSU Library: http://infodome.sdsu.edu/
A service of the CSU Libraries that provides live help on your research questions from a
professional librarian 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Student Computing Center: http://scc.sdsu.edu/
The Student Computing Center is comprised of an open Lab and Help Desk. The Love
Library Student Computing Center is located on the 2nd floor of the Malcolm A. Love
Library building. The entry door (LL-200) is on the south side of the building facing the
Open Air Theatre.
WebPortal: http://www.sdsu.edu/webportal
Some of the services offered through the SDSU WebPortal include: My Registration, My
Class Schedule, My Grades, Enrollment Verification, Degree Evaluation, Transcripts
(Official and Unofficial), and Change E-mail/Address.
Academic Honor
The work you submit must be written by you alone. Any copying (electronic or otherwise) of another
person's solutions, in whole or in part, is a violation of the Honor Code. If you have any questions as to
whether some action would be acceptable under the Academic Honor Code, please speak to me.
Academic Misconduct:
Section 41301 of Title V of the California Code of Regulations defines academic
misconduct as "cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program at a
campus." Examples of cheating include copying others' work during an exam, falsifying
data or records for an exercise, etc. More information is available from the SDSU Center
for Student Rights and Responsibilities ( www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/index.html).