Instructor: Dr. E. Michael Nussbaum Term: Fall 2004
Phone: 895-2665 Time: Th 4:00-6:45 pm
E-Mail: nussbaum@unlv.nevada.edu Room: CBC C223
Office Hours: To be announced (& by appointment) Office: CEB 248

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An early graduate-level survey of research methods with an emphasis on comprehension of the educational research literature. Course includes scientific method, locating and summarizing published research, sampling, measurement, statistics, research design, and critique of published research.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The major goal of the course is to enable students to read educational research articles and to critically evaluate the research.

KNOWLEDGE
To do so, students will require knowledge and understanding of the following concepts:
1. Theories and hypotheses;
2. Different types of research and research designs;
3. Difference between qualitative and quantitative research;
4. Legal and ethical implications of different designs;
5. Samples and populations;
6. Constructs and operational definitions;
7. Reliability and validity;
8. Basic statistical concepts;
9. Definition of, and threats to, internal and external validity.

SKILLS
Student will also develop the following reasoning and performance skills:

1. Identify the research question in an article and its theoretical rationale;
2. Locate and use sources for a literature review;
3. Identify the research hypothesis in an article and determine whether it is testable;
4. Evaluate the relevance of operational definitions to theoretical constructs;
5. Assess the representativeness of the sample and the adequacy of the sampling design;
6. Evaluate the adequacy of information regarding the validity and reliability/precision of the measures used;
7. Assess the internal and external validity of a design;
8. Determine whether the conclusions are consistent with the results, offer alternative interpretations, and discuss the implications of the study in view of the study's strengths and weaknesses.

DISPOSITIONS
Students will also develop a disposition to think critically about educational claims and educational research.

RESULTS:
Students will display mastery of these objectives through
1. writing critiques of research articles, and
2. performance on exams.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Gay, L. R., & Airasian, P. (2000). Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Course Reader: Research Methods EPY702.4 (available at the UNLV bookstore).

Software: For students that do not have access to Microsoft WORD or PowerPoint, they should obtain free "viewers" for these programs (which also allow printing) by going to
POWERPOINT: http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/Ppview97.aspx
WORD: http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/wd97vwr32.aspx

REQUIREMENTS:

Classes. Class sessions will consist of a combination of lecture, small-group activities, and discussions. Discussions will be centered on research articles included in the textbook or reader. Reading assignments are to be completed before each class meeting.

Performance Assessments (Major Article Critique/Roundtable). Students will individually locate a research article and prepare a paper summarizing and critiquing the article. A sample scoring rubrics for grading this project is shown on page 3. Students will also be required to participate in a roundtable, where they will present their papers to other students (in groups of 4) and respond to questions. It will be similar to a roundtable presentation at a professional conference (except that article critiques will be presented).

Performance Assessments (Mini-papers). In addition, students will be required to complete approximately 3 one or two page "mini-papers" relating to articles contained in the readings or located through a literature search. Specific directions for each mini-paper will be distributed the week before each one is due. The directions for each mini-paper will be different.

Technology. Students will be required to use WEB-CT (class code: EPY 702 004). Lesson outlines and PowerPoint slides will be distributed through WEB-CT. Students should also check WEB-CT twice per week for course announcement. Students are encouraged to post questions on the WEB-CT bulletin board regarding concepts they would like clarified and issues they would like to discuss.

Exams. Exams must be taken on the assigned date. (Exam dates may, however, change if the syllabus is revised.) Make-up exams will typically only be given in the case of severe illness, religious holidays, and participation in official UNLV extracurricular activities. Exams must be made-up within one week of the absence.

Exams will consist of a combination of multiple-choice questions and short essays, and are not generally cumulative (unless where noted on a study guide). Later lessons do, however, build on earlier ones, so some important concepts will resurface several times in the course.

GRADING POLICY: Course grades will be computed as follows:

Exams (17% each) 51%
Mini-papers (8% each) 24%
Paper 20%
Peer consultation/roundtable* 5%
Total 100%

*Graded credit/no-credit. Must fully participate in both the peer consultation and the roundtable (including asking questions) to receive credit.

Consistent attendance in this class is also important because some in-class activities and assignments cannot be made-up. Class participation is also valued and will be used to adjust borderline grades. The instructor also reserves the right to adjust grades for failure to complete any course requirements.

SAMPLE SCORING RUBRIC FOR PAPER
Level Evaluation Criteria
Excellent(Exceeds Target) Selects a research-based article from a major research journal.Summarizes the article in about one page.Points out strengths of study.Presents 3-4 major criticisms of the article (in 2-3 pages)Criticisms are valid; touches on the most important ones.Paper is well organized (one point to a paragraph, paper flows well).
Satisfactory(on Target) Selects a research-based article.Summarizes the article and presents 2 criticisms of the article, but does not observe recommended page lengths (for example, article is heavy on summary on short on critique).Criticisms are valid, but may not touch on the most important ones.
Unsatisfactory Article is not an original research study.Summary is unclear; reader can't really tell what was done.No criticisms, or only 1 minor criticism.Disorganized.

STATEMENTS
Additional Statements of Rules and Regulations - Academic integrity statement. UNLV and its College of Education demand a level of scholarly behavior and academic honesty on the part of students. Violations by students exhibiting honesty while carrying out academic assignments and procedural steps for dealing with academic integrity are delineated within the Regulations Governing Probation and Suspension Within the College of Education. This publication may be found in the Office of the Dean of the College of Education (301). In addition to successful academic performance in prescribed coursework, you are to enroll in a professional course of studies, which is governed by a student code of ethics and programmatic expectations. The Handbook of the Committee to Review Initial Licensure Students outlines the UNLV Student Code of Conduct, NEA Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession, and ICS Student Expectations. The handbook is available in the ICS office.
Disability. If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to contact Disability Services (DS) for coordination in your academic accommodations. Disability Services is located within Learning Enhancement Services (LES), in the Reynolds Student Services complex (SSC), Room 137. The telephone number is 895-0866/ TDD 895-0652.
Convictions. Misdemeanor or felonious conviction(s) may bar teacher licensure in Nevada or other states. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Director of Teacher Education, CEB 301, 895-4851.
Religious Holidays. Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. To be assured of this opportunity, students must notify me of the anticipated absence by Sept. 9th.
Extracurricular Activities. Students who represent UNLV at any official extracurricular activity shall have the opportunity to make up assignments, but the student must provide official written notification to the professor no less than one week prior to the missed class(es).
Collection of Student Assignments for Accreditation Purposes. Assignments completed for this course may be used as evidence of candidate learning in national, regional and state accreditation reports of COE programs. Names and other identifying elements of all assignments will be removed before being included in any report. Students who do not wish their work to be used for accreditation purposes must inform the instructor in writing by the end of late registration. Your participation and cooperation in the review of COE programs is appreciated. Thank you.
Beepers and Cellular Phones. All kinds of beepers and cellular phones should be turned off during class sessions. The socialization unrelated to the topics and issues of group and class discussion need to be reduced to minimum level. Such disruptions are also considered in grading participation. Students are encouraged to secure a WEB-CT or other e-mail account with UNLV and to use this to communicate with the professor and other students in the class during the semester.
Copyright. The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations and fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability as well as disciplinary action under University policies. To help familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright web page at: http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
Week of Topic Reading
Sept. 2 Types of Research Ch 1 (pp. 3-34).

Sept. 9 Parts of an article AND Brown article (pp. 23-26) &
Topics, Lit. Reviews, Hypotheses Ch 2

Sept. 16 Simple random sampling/randomization Ch 4
Mini-paper due

Sept. 23 Sampling & subject selection (cont.)
Ethics Ch 3
Measurement Ch 5 (pp. 123-128, 135-142)

Sept. 30 Exam 1

Oct. 7 Qualitative Chs. 6, 7 (p. 212-22), Ch 8 (all)
"Process of becoming a participant…" Reader article #1
Mini-paper due

Oct. 14 Survey research (Ch 10, pp. 277-309) Read pages indicated.
Descriptive statistics (pp. 412-22)

Oct. 21 Correlational research Ch 11 &
"Instructional discourse..." (Nystand) Reader article #2

Oct. 28 Exam 2

Nov. 4 Causal-comparative Ch 12 &
Statistics for experiments/causal-comp. Ch 15 (pp. 445-454)
Nov. 11 Veterans Day Recess

Nov. 18 Experimental research I Ch 13 (pp. 355-380)
"Enhancing on-line discussions" Reader, article #3
Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Recess

Dec. 2 Experimental, single-subject research Ch 13 (pp. 380-407)
"Effects of word processing…" --pp. 393-98
Mini-paper due

Dec. 9 The "discussion section" Ch 16, Ch 9
Action research
Roundtable simulation
Major papers due

Dec. 16 Final Exam (Th 6 - 8 p.m.)