EDS 261A
Fall 2008
Syllabus

October 1st: Introduction to advanced research and evaluation methods
Overview of the EDS 261A, B, & C
Overview of Ed.D. norms and Ed.D timeline
Introduction to Google Docs: collaborative writing environment
Introduction to other Ed.D. resources
    Previous cohort proposals
    Previous cohort IRB forms and responses
   

Readings for next week:
* Mertens Appendix "Writing the research proposal" (pp. 443-447)
* Maxwell, Chapters 1 "A model for qualitative research design" and Chapter 2 "Goals: Why are you doing this study?"
* Kilbourn, "The Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation Proposal"

Post: a timeline of your goals for the quarter on Google Docs; invite us to collaborate.

 


October 8th: Research proposals and their construction
A discussion of the multiple goals served by research proposals and the structures that help accomplish those goals


Readings for next week:
* Mertens Chapter 1 "An introduction to research" (pp. 1-42)

* Mertens Chapter 3 "Literature Review and Research Problems"
* Boote & Beile "Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation"
Post an outline of your literature review on Google Docs; invite us to collaborate.



October 15th: Literature Reviews
Analysis of the multiple functions of literature reviews

6pm: visit with Cohort 2


Reading for next week::
* Mertens chapter 4 "Experimental Design"

Post a description of an experiment that might shed light on some issue related to your dissertation research on Google Docs.
Start scanning through the proposals (online) from previous cohorts, and select a good model for your proposal.



October 22th: Experimental Design

Discussion of experimental and quasi-experimental designs

Readings for next week:
Articles from the January/February 2003 Education Researcher:
* Anthony E. Kelly: Theme Issue: The Role of Design in Educational Research
* The Design-Based Research Collective: Design-Based Research: An Emerging Paradigm for Educational Inquiry
* Paul Cobb, Jere Confrey, Andrea diSessa, Richard Lehrer, and Leona Schauble: Design Experiments in Educational Research

Also read for next time:
* Siegler & Opfer "The development of numerical estimation: Evidence for multiple representations of numerical quantity"
* Opfer's tutorial on analyzing the number-line estimation task

Post on Google Docs: a proposed design experiment you might do; bring to class the design of the Siegler & Opfer experiment


October 29th: Design Experiments

7pm-8pm: T&L Beginning of the Year Reception / Joint Snack @ 348/350 PCH


Readings for next week:
* Mertens chapter 10 "Mixed-Methods and mixed-model designs"
* Read the methods chapters of two of the proposals of the previous cohorts, including Cheryl Forbes' and another of your choice
* Post in Google Docs an initial version of your research question(s)

 


November 5th: Mixed-methods & mixed-models
A review of the methods sections of cohorts 1 & 2

 

Readings for next week:
* Mertens chapter 11 "Sampling" and Mertens chapter 12 "Data Collection"
* How to Use Excel for Data Entry

Post on Google Spreadsheets: an Excel spreadsheet you might use for your data collection or entry, that includes data validation and dual entry data entry checking (described in the online reading)

 


November 12th: Sampling & data collection
Preparing data entry spreadsheets in Excel and SPSS


For next week:
* Mertens chapter 13 "Data analysis, interpretation, and reporting"

* Share the current state of your proposal by Nov 17th and provide feedback to all the others by Nov 19th: post on Google Docs a detailed outline/draft of parts of your proposal by Monday and provide feedback on the postings of others by Wednesday


November 19th: Data analysis, Interpreting & Reporting

 

Hands-on analysis with sample data
Charts & graphs


7:15pm: Visit from the Fourth Year folks


For next week:
* look through the UCSD IRB web site

* Review two IRB forms from any of the previous cohorts


November 26th: Research Ethics and the IRB process

 

IRB & human subjects approval process


For next week:
Prepare a presentation of the current state of your dissertation proposal

Post on Google Docs more parts of your proposal and provide feedback to others on their proposal parts

 


December 3rd: Final Project Presentations
Course evaluations

Presentation by each seminar member of the current state of his/her proposal



December 10th: Final Project Paper due (11:59pm PST)
no class meeting



 

 

Description:
In this course we will:
  1. Introduce you to the process of writing a dissertation proposal,
  2. Survey a variety of research methods (including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods),
  3. Garner hands-on experience analyzing and managing data sets,
  4. Prepare for the IRB approval process,
  5. Create a detailed outline for your dissertation proposal and a draft of the introduction and literature review.
This course addresses advanced topics in research design and methodology. You will hone the requisite research skills to conduct dissertation research and to be a critical user of research both in your professional work as well as in the design and implementation of your dissertation. You will gain varied hands-on experiences in collecting and analyzing data relevant to schooling, as well as learn how to develop, manage and analyze large data files. You will create a research agenda and develop skills needed in proposal writing: development, organization and coherence, conceptualization of research design, and attention to audience and writing style.
In your graduate education as well as in your professional life and day-to-day living, you will be faced with making decisions and judgments about evidence that is presented to you in the form of numbers. For your dissertation you will gather data (quantitative and/or qualitative), process it, and make sense of these numbers. Beyond this, you will need to be "critical users" of research to know how to make accurate assessments of findings that are presented to you on a daily basis.

The main course objective is to encourage you to gain knowledge of which research methods are suitable to both the type of data that will be collected in your dissertations and the nature of the research questions the data must address. You will be expected to lead a presentation dedicated to your own data analysis and research design as well as present a final project poster presentation outlining the research design methodology and analysis plan to be used in your dissertation. Finally, you will be expected to write every week and to bring your writing to class for peer review.


Required text books:

In addition, you will need access to the APA Style manual: Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, fifth edition (2002). American Psychological Association: Washington, DC.


Recommended references:

 

Final products:
Detailed outline of your dissertation proposal
Draft of the introduction and literature review sections of your proposal.
Draft of your research question(s)

Foci:
Each week a seminar member can request "focus time" to bring before the seminar something of their choice.

Weekly assignments:

  1. Post message including questions, responses, or critiques of class process and material presented.
  2. Bring writing to class for peer review.
  3. Find articles relating to individual research topics that utilize methods presented in class/reading.