Alyson Shapiro
Office: EBA 420A
Office hours: Mondays 2:30 – 3:40, Tuesdays 2:30 – 3:40, and Tuesdays 6:45 - 7:45 by appointment. Additional phone and in person meetings are also available by appointment.
Phone: (cell) 619-458-4415 (preferred), (office) 619-594-0934
Email: ashapiro@mail.sdsu.edu
*Note that email and calling the instructor’s cell phone are the best ways to contact Dr.
Shapiro
Class meeting: Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:40 p.m.
Class location: EBA 345
Schedule number: 20589
Pre-requisites: Completion of lower division courses in preparation for the CFD major
(must be passed with a C or higher)
This course focuses on research in child and family development. Specifically, the course focuses on methods for measuring child, caregiver, and family behavior. Material covered includes: conducting literature reviews, reading and interpreting research articles, reliability validity, research design, sampling techniques, data collection strategies, and values/ethics.
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The class will cover all stages of the development of a research study. This process includes: literature review, identification of a problem or research question, planning steps for the study, implementations, analysis, and dissemination of results.
In summary, the purpose of this class is to:
1.
Provide students with an understanding of research design components
2.
Expose students to a range of research tools
3.
Give students some hands on experience with research procedures
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1.
Critically read and evaluate research reports, and be able to describe key aspects of the research report (e.g. research questions, key findings, implications)
2.
Describe the logic behind the foundations, assumptions and goals of science
3.
Demonstrate an understanding of basic research methods associated with social and educational science
4.
Identify, describe and discuss each step of the research process
5.
Select the most appropriate research design for a given research problem and explain both the rationale for your choice and limitations of the design
6.
Identify ethical issues regarding research with human subjects Conduct statistical analyses, interpret the results, and write up a report of the results
7.
Create a poster describing the results of an individual research project and share the results of the research in a poster presentation format.
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.).
Bordens, K., & Abbott, B. B. (2014). Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach 9 th ed. (Etextbook and Connect registration) McGaw-Hill Education. ISBN-13: 978-
0078035456 ISBN-10: 0078035457.
Note that once you have purchased the Bordens and Abbott Etext with Connect package
($85.00), you can purchase a printed pages that correspond that can be inserted into a binder for an additional $15.00.
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There will be several online readings (required and supplemental). These readings will be organized within folders indicating the week each reading is scheduled.
The website for this course is the SDSU course blackboard page for this course. Students are required to check the blackboard site regularly for updated readings, announcements, and other materials. Exams, detailed assignment instructions, and some lectures will be available only online, so students must have computer and internet access for this course.
If you are a student with a disability and believe you would benefit from accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at 619-594-
6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite 3101). To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from the Student Disability Services.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the National
Council on Family Relations, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
Education has 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 assessments. Detailed listings of these standards are available on the following websites:
• 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
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Below is a grading overview. Detailed instructions and grading rubrics for each assignment will be available on the course blackboard page as the due date for each assignment approaches
Assignment or exam Points possible
Academic honesty quiz 5
LearnSmart Assignments (5 points each)
In class exercises (note that aspects of other major assignments will also be conducted in class
Article dissections and critiques (2 at 10 points each)
Human Subjects Training
30
20
20
10
2 Exams (50 points each)
Report of survey creation and data analysis
Research project development assignments
Research poster (60) and presentation (15)
100
50
10
75
TOTAL
Your grade will be based on the following criteria
• 93% - 100%=A • 80%-82%=B-
• 90%-92%=A- • 77%-79%=C+
• 87%-89%=B+ • 73%-76%=C
• 83%-86%=B • 70%-72%=C-
320
• 67%-69%=D+
• 63%-66%=D
• 60%-62%=D-
• Less than 60%=F
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• Blackboard submissions: all written assignments should be submitted through turn- it-in. If you have difficulty uploading your assignments, please email your written assignment to the instructor immediately as well as continuing to try to upload the document to insure that your assignment is counted as being turned in on time.
• Late policy: all work is expected on the assigned due date. Assignments will not be
accepted if turned in more than 1 week late, and 5% will be deducted for each
day that an assignment is late (up to one week). Exams must be taken at the scheduled times. Make-up exams will only be given if scheduled in advance or in the event of extraordinary circumstances with supporting documentation.
• Academic honesty: students will receive a zero for any assignment with indications of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism, cheating). If there is more than one instance of academic dishonesty, students will receive a failing grade for the course. All indications of academic dishonesty will be reported to the SDSU Center for Student
Rights and Responsibilities for disciplinary action that may result in dismissal from the University. Plagiarism is the use of others’ words and/or ideas without clearly acknowledging their source. Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is considered academic dishonesty.
• Extra Credit: students have the opportunity to earn up to 15 points of extra credit.
Options for obtaining extra credit will be posted on the course blackboard page.
Below is an overview of the major course requirements. Detailed information and grading rubrics for assignments/papers will be available on the course blackboard page.
You will receive points for doing 6 (out of 11 available) assignments through the McGraw-
Hill LearnSmart Connect platform associated with your course textbook (Bordens, & Abbott,
2014). Each is worth 5 points Note that you need to register for the Connect plus package for this book in order to have access to these assignments.
There will be several in class exercises designed such that as long as you put effort into the exercises during class on the day of the exercises, you should receive full points for them.
There will be one more in class exercise than points available such that you can miss one class and still earn full points.
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There will be one quiz on academic honesty/correct citation on the course blackboard page in a folder with a material explaining academic honesty in addition to the quiz (5 points). Students will be able to repeat the quiz as many times as needed to receive full points for this quiz.
Class participation is a vital aspect of this course. I foster an environment of mutual respect in my classes, and I encourage students to ask questions and contribute freely to discussions. Participation includes: actively engaging in class discussions, commenting on and critiquing class readings, asking questions regarding material you don’t fully understand, and participation in small group discussions.
Report of results from the data analysis of questionnaire data (2-3 pages): The class will work together to develop a questionnaire that will be given to all students in the class.
The data will then be entered and analyzed during a two-day computer lab period. You will then need to interpret the results of your data analysis, and write a brief report of the statistical results and an interpretation of what the results mean.
Poster and poster presentation of individual research (poster format): You will conduct a mini research project by either conducting an observation or interviews. You will create your research question and plan for the observation and get approval before conducting the observation. You will then put together a poster that reports all aspects of the research project. Sections of the poster should include: introduction (background research, research question, theory and hypotheses), Methods (what was observed and how you observed it), Results (numeric results of what you found), Discussion/conclusions
(what you think the results mean). References should be reported in a supplementary handout. The last day of class will be a poster presentation session, in which all posers are displayed, and you will describe your poster to other students and class guests.
There will be two exams (midterm and final) covering course material. Each will consist of a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay format questions. The exams will be given through blackboard, so students will need a take these exams on a computer with good internet access. Exams will only be given on alternate dates in cases of extreme circumstances (e.g. hospitalization) when documentation of those extreme circumstances is submitted.
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• Blackboard: students will need to check the course blackboard page regularly for readings and updated instructions. Written assignments must be turned in using turnitin unless otherwise indicated (and will be checked electronically for plagiarism).
• Cell phones and other electronic devices (ipads, computers): cell phones should be turned off or turned to silent (or vibrate) during class. Computers and ipads may be used to take notes or refer to class readings, but should not be used for other purposes during class. Please do not email, text, or use facebook during class.
• Readings: students should come to each class prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day.
• Discussion etiquette: students are expected to discuss issues during class in a manner that is respectful of both their fellow students and of the populations examined. Please keep any personal information shared confidential, listen to others contributions, and make contributions about your opinions in a respectful manner.
• Computing needs. Students are responsible for their own computing needs and solving computer related problems. The SDSU library has computers students can access and can provide help regarding computer related problems. Instructional Technology problems that you encounter do not constitute an acceptable excuse for non-completion of course work.
• TaskStream. CFD Majors who are enrolled in this course are encouraged to have a
TaskStream electronic portfolio subscription, and be enrolled in the appropriate
TaskStream "Program" which contains your program portfolio. The code you will need to enroll in the Taskstream page for this course is CFD370-S16. 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 Work Samples. Your work may be selected by the instructor to keep on file.
The work that is selected with be used solely for the purposes of evaluation from higher education accreditation institutions (e.g., NCFR, NAEYC, NCATE).
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Please note that this course schedule is tentative and subject to change. The topics and readings in particular may vary based on the material covered in each class.
Please check the course blackboard class regularly for updates on course schedule and reading materials. Please also note that the first 5 minutes of class will be a question and answer period, and lecture will start promptly at 4:05.
Date
1/26
2/2
2/9
2/16
Topic Readings to be completed
prior to class
Assignments / Activities
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of Course
The Scientific Method
Theory & Research
Reviewing the Literature &
Developing Research Questions
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 1, 2
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 3
APA manual: pp. 9 – 11.
Review of article critique # 1
Research Design
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 4
TaskStream account creation recommended
Academic honesty quiz
due
Article summary and critique #1 due
3/1
3/8
3/15
3/22
2/23
3/29
4/5
Discussion of article critique # 2
Choosing variables to examine
Survey Research & Interviews
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 5
Article summary and critique #2 due
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 9 In class survey design assignment
Bordens & Abbott Ch. 8
Observational Research
Midterm Exam - no class
Developmental Designs
Experimental designs
Ch. 10 & 11
Spring Break - NO CLASS
Sampling, Research participants, and Ethics
Bordens & Abbott
Ch. 6 & 7
Midterm Exam
Research Question due
Survey Questions due
Plan for Research
project due
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Date
4/12
4/20
4/26
5/3
5/10
Topic
Data analysis
Applied data analysis of survey data (in class)
Academic writing in APA style
Reporting data analyses
Review/ catch-up
Peer feedback groups
Poster presentations
Final exam (online – no class)
Readings to be completed
prior to class
Assignments / Activities
Bordens & Abbott
Ch. 13 &14
APA manual
Human Subjects
training due
Survey analysis report
due
Poster presentations
Final posters due
Final exam
Extra credit due
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