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Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

School of Allied Health Professions
SPTHAUD 6100
Research in Communication Disorders
Instructor:

Laura Brackin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies
Phone: (225) 673-3947 (home), or (225) 402-7304 (cell)
E-mail: laura.brackin@cox.net

Date/Time:

August 13 December 5, 2014

Friday mornings: 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

Location:

LSUHSC
Nursing and Allied Health Building, 9th floor, LCR
New Orleans, Louisiana

Course Materials
Required Text:
Meline, T. (2010). A Research Primer for Communication Sciences and
Disorders. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Other materials: The instructor will provide students with outlines of class notes and/or
power point slides, prior to class sessions. These will be handed to the students on the
day of class or posted on Moodle the evening before class (Thursday evening). The
purpose of the class notes is to guide the discussion and not to substitute for the required
readings assigned for that class. Students are required to print these out and have them
available during class or if they choose to, they can follow along on their laptops and
write additional notes.

Course Overview
Course Description: (3 credits) The course will cover ethical and methodological
considerations in speech language pathology and audiology research, critical evaluation
of research, and application of research to clinical practice.
Outcomes Intended for the Course: Upon completion of the course, as measured by
performance on class assignments, discussion, and development of a research proposal,
the student will be able to:

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1. Review historical bases for current IRB/Informed Consent requirements; and
discuss ethical principles and guidelines for research with human participants and
reference federal, state and institutional requirements for conducting research with
human participants and application of guidelines for special populations in
research.
2. Discuss importance of research to clinical practice.
3. Describe factors to consider when selecting a research question and explain the
basic steps used to plan and conduct scientific research.
4. Define and illustrate the following: research, data, data set, variable, independent
and dependent variable, concept, population, sample, parameter, statistic,
hypothesis, alternate hypothesis, null hypothesis, and categories of measurement.
5. Relate statistical concepts to research design (including probability, type 1, type II
errors, statistical significance, effect size, practical and clinical significance,
confidence intervals).
6. Describe and identify the different types of research designs.
7. Define and describe the various types of reliability and validity of data and be
able to critique research in terms of reliability and validity reported in the studies.
8. Define and describe different types of research design including one and multigroup, experimental vs. quasi experimental, non-experimental, and single subject
design.
9. Differentiate and describe qualitative vs. quantitative research designs and
identify the steps in both types of research designs.
10. Describe basic procedures of data collection and analysis.
KASA Standards: This course addresses the following KASA Standards:
Standard B15 Principles and practices of research, including experimental
design, statistical methods, and application to clinical populations.
Standard E16 Maintain records in a manner consistent with legal and
professional standards.
Standard E18 Use instrumentation according to manufacturers specifications
and recommendations.
Standard E19 Determine whether instrumentation is in calibration according to
accepted standards.
Course Organization: The course will consist of standard lecture, class discussion, class
review of research presentations, and assignments through which students will
demonstrate acquisition of basic concepts of research methods. Acquisition of basic
concepts will be demonstrated by student performance on class exercises and projects.
Students will apply selected research skills by developing a research question proposal,
which will ideally contribute to the students research portfolio. Four exercises (Human
Participant Protections Education for Research Teams Tutorial and 3 Evidenced-Based
Practice Worksheets) will set foundation for students to participate in research projects
and integrate research into clinical practice.

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Course Schedule, Reading Assignments, Class

Activities, and Location
Day
August 15
August 22
August 29
September 5

September 12

September 19

September 26
October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7

Topic
Introduction to course; Overview of Research
Paper; Scholarly Writing; Explore Areas of Interest
Scholarly writing; APA checklist (handout);
selecting a research topic; identification of search
terms for topics
Guest Lecture Library resources and basic
concepts of research (CLASS HELD IN
LIBRARY); CITI Assignment
Searching for Literature; peer reviewed journals;
speech & hearing journals; sections of a research
article; tools to evaluate research; in class search
for articles; how to read a journal articles
Scientific Inquiry in CD Research; Ethics in CD
Research; selecting a research topic; EvidenceBased Practice in CD; discussion of articles, how to
summarize an article, in class search for articles;
review article in class using critique tool
Scientific Inquiry, Qualitative Research; FINER;
critique article; literature review

Journal Groups
Journal Groups
Group Designs; Non-experimental Designs;
research question based on FINER
Journal Groups
Hypothesis Testing; problem statement
Journal Groups
Hypothesis Testing in CD Research; Quantitative
Analysis in CD Research; methodology

Assignments
Order Book
Topic idea and search terms
due at end of class period (in
class assignment)

Due: CITI Assignment

Due: Research Topic
Read: Chapter 1 (pp. 3 6),
and Chapters 2, 3
Due: List of 10 articles
Read: p. 6 to end of Chapter
1, Chapter 6
Due: List of ten (10) articles
Due: Critical Review of one
(1) article
Due: Worksheet
Due: Worksheet
Read: Chapters 5, 8
Due: Literature Review Draft
Due: Worksheet
Read: Chapter 7
Due: Research Question
Due: Problem Statement
Due: Worksheet
Read: Chapters 9, 10, sample
size and power, p. 99 101.

November 14 Evidence Based Practice

Handouts
November 21 Presenting Research
Handouts
November 28 Thanksgiving Holiday No Class
December 5
Exam Week Presentation Day
Final Paper and Presentation
Note: Reading assignments are to be completed by the date under which they are
listed on the class scheduled.

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Grading and Assignments

A. Point Basis for Grading - Course grades will be based upon the total accumulated
points each student earns by completion of assignments and participation in class.
B. Sources of Points - Categories of student performance, guidelines for instructor
evaluation of each category of performance, and the maximum points that may be earned
by each student for course activities are as follows:

Out of Class Assignments (CITI & Library)

Class Participation

50 points
50 points

Critical Review of Articles and Worksheets

Presentation
Research Proposal
TOTAL

150 points
50 points
100 points
400 points

Total Percent Grade

100 90
A
89 80
B
79 70
C
69 60
D
Under 60
F

Course Policies
Academic Misconduct: All policies relating to academic misconduct as published in the
LSUHSC 2014-2015 Catalog/Bulletin shall apply. Use of cell phones, text messaging,
study for another class or doing work other than what is being done in class is strictly
prohibited in class as it is felt that this is extremely distracting and disrespectful of
fellow classmates and the instructor. Points will be taken off for any of these disruptions
in class.
E-mail: Students are required to check their e-mail at least once per day to receive
information such as class cancellations, classroom changes, due dates, etc. The course
will be conducted through Moodle and face-to-face lectures. Course syllabus,
information about assignments, lecture materials and grades will be posted to Moodle or
handed out in class. Computers are available in the COMD student computer lab as well
as in the library.
Class Attendance Policy: In accordance with the policy on attendance stated in the
LSUHSC Catalog/Bulletin, Students are expected to attend all scheduled appointments
in each course. Excessive absence, regardless of the cause thereof, may be construed as
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sufficient reason for considering a student as academically efficient. Determination of
the number of absences which may be interpreted as excessive rests with the
department. However, if you must miss class because of an illness, injury, or emergency
situation it is necessary to let the instructor know as soon as you know you will not be in
class. It is then the students responsibility to find out information that was covered that
day in class. A second absence (for a three hour class), will result in points being taken
off from the professional conduct category (see grading information below). A letter will
also be sent to the department director, informing her of the absences. An absence will be
defined as missing more than 30 minutes of any particular class session.
Policy for submitting assignments: Assignments can be sent via email or printed out
and submitted to the instructor but do not wait until the last minute to submit them. No
excuses will be accepted for late assignments. Two points will be deducted for each day
the assignment is late. Feedback will be given to students who would like assistance on
their assignments or for me look over their assignments before submitting the final copy.
However, feedback will not be given if assignments are submitted for feedback on the
day before or on the day they are due.
Research Proposal: The research proposal will be completed in stages. After
coursework on section (e.g., Literature review) is covered in class, students will be asked
to complete and turn in that section of their research proposal. Feedback will be provided
on each section and returned. Final presentations on the proposal will be conducted on
the last day of the class when students will also be required to turn in their final research
proposal.
Academic Accommodations: If you have a disability and need academic
accommodations, please complete a Request for Academic Accommodations form and
submit it to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.