Florida Gulf Coast University

College of Education

 

Course Title: Foundations of Research

Course Number: EDF 6481 (CRN # 80215)

Instructor: C. Hewitt Gervais, Ph.D.

Office: Academic Building 3, Office 245

Telephone: (941) 590-7799

E-Mail: chewitt@fgcu.edu

Office Hours: Thursdays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm; Other times by appointment

Required text: Mertens, D. M. (1998). Research methods in education and psychology. Thousand Oaks, A: Sage.

Course Purpose:

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts, methods, and applications of research in education (emphasis will be placed on practical issues related to the planning, conduct, and interpretation of research and its results). This course is also designed to develop students' personal interests in research related to their particular fields of specialty and/or to research in general. In addition, course content will address issues in ethics (ethical issues in research), and technology (use of computers to conduct literature searches and to collect and analyze data).

Course Objectives:

  1. Demonstrate an awareness of the philosophical origins of measurement and research
  2. Understand the role of research in classroom instruction
  3. Understand the concepts and methods of research
  4. Understand the process and advantages of an Internal Review Board in overseeing ethical behavior in research
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic types of research (phenomonological, survey, causal comparative, correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental)
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of validity (internal and external) as it relates to research studies
  7. Demonstrate knowledge of reliability and validity of instruments used to collect data
  8. Demonstrate ability to interpret and apply results of studies to classroom instruction
  9. Develop personal interests in research related to particular fields of specialty

Course Structure:

  1. Assignments are to be completed by midnight of the date due.
  2. Active participation is expected.
  3. Cooperative learning is encouraged.
  4. Three Face-To-Face Meetings are scheduled to answer any concerns shared by the class. These are optional.

 

Topical Course Outline:

Module

Topic

Dates Assignments Are Due

-

Face-To-Face Meeting to Answer Concerns

August 26

1

Introduction to course and to underlying educational philosophies

September 1

2

Literature Review and Research Problems

September 11

3

Sampling: Definition and Selection

September 18

4

Data Collection (and Ethical Issues)

September 25

5

Qualitative Methods: History and Narrative Study of Lives

October 2

6

Survey Research

October 9

-

Face-To-Face Meeting to Answer Concerns

October 14

7

Causal-Comparative and Correlational Research

October 16

8

Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research: Part I

October 23

9

Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research: Part II

November 6

10

Other Design Issues

November 13

-

First Article Critique

November 20

-

Second Article Critique

November 27
 

Prospectus / Proposal

December 4

-

Face-To-Face Meeting to Answer Concerns

December 9

 

Grading Criteria:

  1. Module Assignments = 30% of grade
  2. Two Critiques of Articles (@ 20% each) = 40% of grade
  3. Research Proposal = 30% of grade

Total 100%

Course Assessment:

The instructor will assess the course using the following:

  1. formative assessment - students will be asked to complete a survey midway through the course
  2. summative assessment - students will be asked to complete a survey at the end of the course

 

Additional Optional References:

Borg, W. R. & Gall, M. D. (1989) Educational research: An introduction, 5th edition. New York, NY: Longman.

Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Gay, L. R. & Airasian, P. (2000). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and application, 6th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Guba, E. G. & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In Handbook of Qualitative Research, N. K. Denzin & Yvonna Lincoln, editors. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Huberman, A. M. & Miles, M. B. (1994). Data management and analysis methods. In Handbook of Qualitative Research, N. K. Denzin & Yvonna Lincoln, editors. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Mertens, D. M. (1998). Research methods in education and psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Vockel, E. L. & Asher, J. W. (1995). Educational research, 2nd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill.

Yin, R. K. (1994). Case study research: Design and methods, 2nd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.