Draft Research Methods

for 1st year graduate students Class Day Topics Readings and assignments to be completed before class 1. The research process Literature Page(s) 2. Formulating the Research Problem. Literature Page(s) Class Discussions

Introduction. Research as a Process. Formulating the Research Problem.

Read and discuss an article on one of the following types of research: - Descriptive research - Correlational research - Causal research - Experimental research - Case study research - Ethnographic research - Historical research - Evaluation research - Developmental Research Discuss - The benefits of literature review - Possible sources for presented research problems

Literature Review. Secondary Data Analysis.

1.Existing literature review Literature Page(s) 2. Secondary data analysis Literature Page(s) Assignment: Write down a research problem to discuss in class

Types of Research Methods - 1 - Expert Interviews - Focus Groups

1. Expert interviews Literature Page(s) 2. Focus Groups Literature Page(s) Assignment: Team up to explore a research topic by formulating questions

Discuss - Similarities and differences of Expert Interviews and Focus Groups - Questions of teams for each research topic

Types of Research Methods - 2 - Surveys - Experiments - Formative Evaluations

1. Surveys Literature Page(s) 2. Experiments Literature Page(s) 3. Formative Evaluations Literature Page(s) Assignment: Conduct expert interview or a focus group on the team research topic

Discuss results of expert interviews and focus groups

Analyzing Primary Data 1 Qualitative Data Analysis

1. Qualitative Data Analysis Literature Page(s) Assignment: Present preliminary results of expert interview or focus group on team research topics

Discuss preliminary results of expert interview or focus group on team research topics

Mixed Research Methods. Formulating the research design

1. Mixed Research Methods. Literature Page(s) 2.Formulating the research design Literature Page(s) Assignment: Present final results of expert interview or focus group on team research topic

Complete a checklist for research topic Discuss research design justification based on the checklist

Conducting Surveys - 1 - Structure and Development of Questionnaires. - Reliability and Validity

1. Structure and Development of Questionnaires Literature Page(s) 2. Reliability and Validity Literature Page(s) Assignment: Develop and submit preliminary survey/formative evaluation questionnaire

Conducting Surveys - 2 Sampling.

1. Sampling Literature Page(s) Assignment: pre-test questionnaire. Sign-up at a free online survey system

Discuss questionnaire pretests

Intermediate exam

Fieldwork and Online Surveys - 1

1. Fieldwork and Online Surveys Literature Page(s) Assignment: Conduct the Survey

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Fieldwork and Online Surveys - 2

1. Fieldwork and Online Surveys - 2 Literature Page(s) Assignment: Conduct the Survey

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Analyzing Primary Data 2 - Data types - Data analysis (SPSS)

1. Data types and analysis Literature Page(s) Assignment: Outline research report

Discuss research report outline

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Analyzing Primary Data 3 - Data Analysis (SPSS) - Data Presentation

1. Data analysis and presentation (charts and diagrams) Literature Page(s) Assignment: Submit preliminary quantitative data analysis part

Discuss Analysis part

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Data Quality

1. Data Quality Literature Page(s) Assignment: Submit draft research report without conclusions

Discuss data quality issues

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Results and Conclusions

1. Results and Conclusions Literature Page(s) Assignment: Rewrite research report based on feedback, submit conclusions

Discuss validity of conclusions

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Research report Assignment: Submit final research report

Discuss research reports

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Teamwork presentations

Assignment: Prepare for team presentations of the research report

Team presentations