University of West Florida
Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science
HLP6535 Research Procedures (3 credit hours)
5:30 – 8:25 Tuesday Bldg 72, Room 212Fall Term – 2007
Instructor:
Email:
D2L address:
Personal Web:
Office Information:
Online Office Hours:
Dr. Andy Holdnak
aholdnak@UWF.edu
http://elearning.uwf.edu/
http://uwf.edu/aholdnak/
Ft. Walton Beach
Pensacola
Combs Campus, Room 1306
Building 72, Room 256
Phone: 850-833-4041
Phone: 850-473-7381
FWB Office Hours
Pensacola Office Hours
Mon 10:00 – 11:00
Tues 10:00 – 11:00
Wed 10:00 – 11:00
Tues 4:30 – 5:30
Thurs 10:00 – 11:00
10:00 – 11:00 Mon - Thurs
Call for appointments at other times
REQUIRED TEXT:
Text (required): The Basics of Social Research, 4th Edition By: Earl R. Babbie
ISBN-10: 0495094684 ISBN-13: 9780495094685
Text (optional): How to use SPSS 4th edition By: Cronk, Brian
ISBN: 1-884585-68-X
EXPECTATION OF COMPUTER ACCESS:
In order to be successful in this class, all students are expected to have regular access to a
computer capable of word processing, spreadsheet calculations, statistics calculations and
Internet access. A course D2L web page will be used to communicate a great deal of information
in this class.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a graduate level course intended to teach Masters students the theory and application of
the research process as it is applied in the social sciences (in general) and in Health, Leisure and
Exercise Science (specifically). There will be two focii for this course: 1. Research as a
“scholarly pursuit”. 2. Applied research and evaluation.
The course will include lecture, homework and class projects. The culminating project will be
the development of literature review.
COURSE EVALUATION:
There will be a Midterm and a Comprehensive Final. Homework, class projects and attendance
will also count.
Items:
(%)
Midterm
25
Final Exam (comprehensive) 30
Project (Literature Review) 15
In class presentation
10
Homework
15
Attendance
05
100 %
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
In this course, we will seek to learn to be wise consumers of research (read, understand and
evaluate research writing) and and to use the knowledge gained to help us conduct our own
research and make better decsions using research findings.
As part of this course:
1. Students will be introduced to research tools used in the decision making process.
2. Students will be able to explain the differences between basic and applied research.
3. Students will be able to describe the difference between research and evaluation and will
understand the correct uses of each.
4. Students will become familiar with the research and evaluation processes most often used in
their specific fields.
5. Students will be exposed to the terminology and technical aspects involved with the design
and implementation of research and evaluation projects.
6. Students will be able to locate and critique research approprite for their field of endeavor.
7. Students will be able to develop their own literature review of a topic that interests them.
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT:
Students will be asked to develop an appropriate Literature Review. This review is usually the
heart of an academic research proposal suitable for use at the Masters level. Students will
present their Literature Reviews in class at the end of the semester.
HOMEWORK:
Students will be expected to write a number of reviews of qualitative and quantitative research
articles.
COURSE POLICIES:
ATTENDANCE:
Role will be taken in class, and your attendance will affect your grade. Your attendance
grade will be based upon the percentage of times you are present when we take attendance
(X) times the 5 % attendance grade.
SPECIAL NEEDS
If any student has a need for special test taking or note taking accommodations due to a
disability, please let me know as soon as you can. This is your responsibility.
CLASS READINGS
As with all classes, it is expected that students will keep up with the readings assigned in the
text. In addition, from time to time, readings will be provided for students to read. FAIR
WARNING...expect POP QUIZZES ON READINGS!
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the date scheduled. Papers turned
in after that time are considered LATE! Papers turned in late are penalized 10% per each 24hour day that they are late.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
There are various types of academic dishonesty ranging from plagiarism to cheating on exams.
None of these are acceptable at the University of West Florida! Be very aware of the
university's policies and punishments if you fail to heed this warning!
Note: Syllabus and Calendar are subject to change!
Date
Tentative Class Calendar HLP 6535 Fall 2007
Topic
An Introduction to Inquiry
28-Aug
Introduction, Human Inquiry and Science
4 - Sep
Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research
4 - Sep
The Idea of Causation in Social Research
11 - Sep Video - The First Measured Century
11- Sep
Evaluating research, parts of a research paper
The Structure of Inquiry
18- Sep
Research Design
18- Sep
Conceptualization, OperationaIization, and Measurement
25- Sep
Indexes, Scales, and Typologies
25- Sep
The Logic of Sampling
2-Oct
Exam 1
Modes of Observation
9-Oct
Experiments
9-Oct
Survey Research
16-Oct
Qualitative Field Research
16-Oct
Unobtrusive Measures
23-Oct
Evaluation Research
Analysis of Data
23-Oct
Qualitative Data Analysis
30-Oct
Quantifying Data
30-Oct
Elementary Quantitative Analysis
6-Nov
The Elaboration Model
The Social Context of Research
13-Nov
Social Statistics
13-Nov
The Ethics and Politics of Social Research
13-Nov
The Uses of Social Research
20-Nov
Class presentations
27-Nov
Class presentations
4-Dec
Class presentations
11-Dec
Final Exam
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19