7400.685-080 - Research Methods in FCS
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
http://www3.uakron.edu/witt/rmfcs/rmfcs.htm
Spring Semesters - Tuesday Evenings 5:20-7:55pm in 220 Schrank Hall South
Instructor: David D. Witt, Ph.D.
Office Hours: 30 minutes before class and by appointment. Phone: 972-6044 215f SHS
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Past Student Research Plans at http://www3.uakron.edu/witt/rmfcs/researchideas.htm

Spring 2007 Student Research Plans

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Note: The Provost's Office requires that all students taking this class must be registered by the 14th day of classes.
Be aware of clickable assignments scattered throughout the syllabus
Students  - Please Evaluate this class here http://www3.uakron.edu/witt/evalform.htm

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE: This course presents an introductory level of research methodology sufficient for the performance of supervised research required for graduate students at the master's level. Additionally, students are encouraged to be good consumers of research in their various specialty areas. Basic methods of research and analysis, experimental designs, secondary and content analysis, small group designs and historical perspectives are covered.  This is a skills class, and as such, one must practice to gain facility. Stay on top of your reading, assignments, lectures, and responsibilities in order to develop the skills necessary to begin your life as a researcher.  Students who have done poorly in this class have often failed their comprehensive examinations. I will endeavor to offer you reliable information that will benefit you at comps time. Your job is to take the course seriously and apply what we discuss to your own specific discipline.

OBJECTIVES:
By end of the semester, students should be capable of:
  • Viewing scientific research from the role of both the scientist and the consumer of science.
  • Formulating researchable questions for purposes of advancing their own knowledge and the knowledge of others in disciplines of "family and consumer science".
  • Explaining the importance of theory in the research process, and extrapolating from theory to researchable hypotheses.
  • Initiating research projects in their area of "family and consumer science" through the application of the principles of scientific research design.
  • Describing and applying the research process, from the principles of measurement, sampling, and data collection, through to the selection of appropriate statistical analysis, evaluation and writing final research reports.
HOW TO STUDY FOR THIS COURSE: Student responsibilities for this class are to:
  • Come to class every week without fail. We are on a tight schedule - attendance is expected - no exceptions.
  • Read assignments twice prior to class - once for general familiarity - once for understanding.
  • During class, listen to lecture, take notes, and ask questions.
  • Turn in all assignments on or before their due date. Missed quizzes will not be made up. Points will be deducted for late assignments.
  • See instructor outside of class as often as necessary.
  • Students may work together while preparing essays, homework, or other assignments to further understanding of the material. However, your final drafts must be in your own words and written according to your personal understanding of the methods discussed.
GRADING /ASSIGNMENTS: The total points possible for the class is 450, and account for three different activities:
  • 50 points each for three take home examinations as well . These are various exercises designed to allow the demonstration of the student's command of lecture/text concepts. (150 points total)
  • 5 points each for ten in-class quizzes given throughout the semester, designed to keep students reading and interested in the course. Quizzes will cover the week's reading assignments in broad terms (50 points total).
  • 20 points each for ten homework assignments based on statistical computation and various forms of methodology and other aspects of the class (200 points total)
  • 50 points for a Preliminary Draft of the methodology chapter of your thesis, internship, major project, or some other research project.
    Due May 1st - This assignment is due at the end of the semester, but should be considered during every part of the course. (50 points total).
TEXTBOOK:   The Research Methods Knowledge Base by William Trochim, Ph.D. and is available for online purchase at Atomic Dog Publishing at http://www.atomicdogpublishing.com
Instructions for textbook purchase and online enhancements  The best way to purchase through our site is to enter your instructor's course registration ID.
The course registration ID is 2211025405120 - Copy this number, go to http://www.atomicdog.com/student/studentsguide.asp and paste the number into the blank provided. The Atomic Dog Publishing site
will automatically fill your shopping cart with the required texts and register you in your professor's course.  Students have the option of purchasing the online version of the text (less expensive) or the hard copy with online privileges.  One you have your textbook, you may login to the website at http://www.atomicdogpublishing.com/ to access text chapters, online glossaries, study guides (very cool).
Additional material is included on the syllabus below.
COURSE OUTLINE
Students are responsible for reading everything below and performing assignments where they are listed.
The cut and paste method for processing online information

Jan. 16th - Week 1 and  Jan. 23th Week 2   -  Textbook Chapter 1 - Foundations
    Online Notes:

       Science & Research
       Human Ecology Theory
       Research Planning - the Review of Literature
       Find a Research/Thesis Topic
       Assignment: In broad strokes, think of a research topic that might become a thesis
       Ethical Considerations in Research
           Homework #1 - Library assignment
           Homework #2
Key Terms  not due until week 5, but start NOW.
      Quiz #1 first night - tonight

Jan. 30th Week 3 and Feb. 6th Week 4 -  Textbook Chapter 2 - Sampling
    Online Notes:

       Research Planning - Operationalization of Variables.
       Research Planning - Types of Research in FCS and Sampling Techniques
            Homework #2 - Key Terms
           Statistics 1 - Elementary Statistics
            Homework #3 (in .pdf format) due next week
       Quiz #2 tonight

Feb. 13th Week 5 - Take Home Exam #1 due tonight    -  Textbook Chapter 3 - Measurement
    Online Notes:

       Research Planning - Operationalization of Variables.
       Data Collection Instruments and Techniques
       Major Data Collection Procedures
       Discussion of Elementary Statistics
           Homework #4 - Key Terms
           Statistics 2 - Means & Standard Deviations and Homework #5 due next week
       Quiz #3 tonight

Feb. 20th Week 6  -  Textbook Chapter 4 - Survey Research
    Online Notes:

     
Homework #6 -  Key Terms
        Statistics 3 - Crosstabs and Chi-square statistic and
         Homework #7 due next week
      Survey Research
    Quiz #4 tonight

Feb 27th Week 7 - Review to this point and Catch up

Mar. 6th Week 8  - `Textbook Chapter 5 - Scales and Indexes
    Online Notes:

       Secondary Analysis (Existing Data)
       Statstics 4 - Correlational Analysis   Homework Here
           Homework #8
    Quiz #5 tonight

Mar. 13th Week 9  -  Textbook Chapter 6 - Qualitative and Unobstrusive Designs
     Online Notes:

            Textbook Chapter 7 - Designs (for reference only)
    Quiz #6 tonight

Mar. 20-23rd - SPRING BREAK

Mar. 27th Week 10 - Take Home Exam #2 Due Tonight
    Textbook Chapter 8 - Experimental Designs and Chapter 9 - Quasiexperimental Designs
     Online Notes:

       Experimental Designs in Research
       Discussion of Means & Standard Deviations
          Statistics  - T-test  statistic
          Homework here #9
          Homework #10 -  Key Terms
      Reminder to turn in your preliminary draft of the methods section of your research idea soon
       Review of Concepts to date          Discussion of T-Tests
    Quiz #7

Apr. 3rd Week 11 - Textbook Chapter 10 - Designing Designs for reference only) and 11 - Analysis
    Online Notes:  12 Evaluation Research
    Quiz #8

Apr. 10th Week 12 - Review and Catchup    Analysis of Variance Statistic - no homework

Apr. 17th Week 13
- Textbook Chapter 12 - Analysis for Research Designs (for reference only)
    Statisics  - Multiple Regression Analysis No Homework this time
    Quiz #9 tonight

Apr. 24th Week 14 - Textbook Chapter 13 - The Write Up
     Online Notes for:

      Guidelines for Masters Project/Thesis
    Quiz #10 tonight

May 1st Week 15 - Discussion of Your Research Interests - Preliminary Draft due tonight

May 8th -  Finals Week Take Home Exam #3 and all final assignments due Tonight