Syllabus

EDP 623: Research Design
Joint PhD Program, URI/RIC Fall 2017


 * DOWNLOAD FULL SYLLABUS FALL 2017**
 * (includes course schedule, grading criteria, guidelines and rubric for research critique, and guidelines and rubric for final proposal)**

CLASS TOPICS Overview

Practice || Practice || Practice || Practice ||
 * Course Objectives:** Upon completion of the course, it is expected students will have increased their skills to:
 * Course Learning Objectives || Advanced Competencies ||
 * 1. Explain the fundamental concepts (e.g., hypothesis, sampling, replication, external validity) of educational research || Knowledge ||
 * 2. Explain the specific procedures (e.g., formulating a research problem, selecting a sample, designing a research instrument, making a scatterplot) involved in the conduct of educational research || Knowledge
 * 3, Develop research questions and effective strategies for answering such questions with data || Knowledge
 * 4. Access and critically review research in regard to soundness of methodology, design, and ethical issues || Knowledge; Practice ||
 * 5. Create a research proposal including: development of a research question, choice of design, identification of participants and measures, and production of a written proposal in American Psychological Association (APA) format || Knowledge
 * 6. Utilize technology to access and share information with colleagues and gain access to a wide range of resources || Knowledge
 * 7. Work cooperatively with colleagues in sharing research ideas and learning about applied research concepts || Professionalism ||
 * 8. Anticipate ethical issues related to research. || Professionalism; Diversity ||

1. What do I want to know about a: population? program? product? method? etc.? 2. What are the best ways to find out what I want to know? 3. How can I convince others to support my research?
 * Essential Questions:**

The class will be conducted as a graduate seminar blending individual, small group and large group activities using multiple avenues of information gathering and communication. The development of the course is based on the notion that learning is something people do and knowledge is gained by doing -- not something passively received. The perspective of this course is that adults learn best when they can:
 * Methodology:**
 * direct their own learning.
 * influence/participate in meaningful decision making.
 * focus on problems relevant to practice.
 * use their own, rich experiential backgrounds.
 * build strong relationships with peers.
 * exercise some control over both the content and the processes of learning.
 * influence activities and topic/format of discussions.

Assessment:
 * Assignments || % of Final Grade ||
 * Class Participation || 15 ||
 * Completion of Human Subjects Research Training || 10 ||
 * Writing Assignments/Reflections/Quizzes || 20 ||
 * Article Critique || 20 ||
 * Research Proposal || 30 ||
 * Major Project Presentation || 5 ||