EDUR 8434 - Field-Based Educational Research FALL 2009 MONDAYS 5:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson, Assistant Professor Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading COE OFFICE # 3131 PO Box 8144 College of Education, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460 (912) 478-5252 (Campus Office Phone) Mon Thurs 10:00 12:00 pm (Office Hours) and by appointment First Day of Class - August 17, 2008 -- Last Day of Class December 4, 2009 Syllabus is subject to change to better accommodate circumstances that may arise; advance notice will be given to all students. Students should expect to do substantial reading and writing each week. All assignments have strict due dates - late work not be accepted. Course Description This course is designed primarily to assist Ed.S. level students in developing a sound research proposal for the conduct of an independent research project required as part of their Ed.S. program. Prerequisite: EDUR 8131 (Ed. Stat. I) or equivalent. Students must have experience with Web browsing (Netscape or Explorer) and word-processing. Access to the Internet and an email account are required. This course has one mandatory face to face meeting schedule August 17, 2009 (room 3152) the remaining class meeting are online. Our class times are scheduled on Mondays 5:00-7:45 pm This course is designed to synthesize the knowledge and skills developed in previous research courses and apply them to the specialist research project. Students learn about all aspects of the process of developing and executing research, and they gain an understanding of standards and expectations that students need to meet to be successful in completing the requirements for their degree. Throughout the course, students are suggested to work closely with major advisors concerning the progress of their research. To make substantial strides in research project, it is essential that students set and meet Aggressive goals and meet regularly with their major advisor to ensure their project is progressing in a focused and high quality manner.

Williams - EDUR 8434

Course Objectives Students will specifically be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Fully describe, define and present questions for investigation. Analyze and select appropriate research designs to address the given research question. Develop relevant sampling procedures. Clearly specify appropriate data collection instruments used for research Determine relevant data analysis techniques Relationship to Colleges Conceptual Framework This course will provide support to students evaluating and designing research in their respective fields of study. This involvement and application of the research process will assist educators in understanding the importance of empirical research in making educational decisions. Attendance Policy Attendance at class meetings and chats is required. No automatic absences are authorized. Participation in these activities is weighted in the final grade. Attendance for chats will be recorded. Attendance at class meetings may be taken at any time during the class and may be taken more than once per session. If you know you will be absent prior to class chat, please contact the instructor for further information concerning the material for the class date. Excessive absences will be reported to the appropriate department chair. You are expected to submit any work before or on the due date of the assignment. Late work will not be accepted. Standard University Policy Academic Conduct Students are expected to abide by the GSU Student Conduct Code and Regulations regarding academic integrity. Academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism will be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs and appropriate penalties imposed that could affect course grade. See Student Conduct Code, Section III. Incompletes A grade of I is not automatically assigned, but rather must be requested by the student for extenuating documented health or family related matters. Missing deadlines or work that is not completed is not appropriate for receiving an I. An I can never be used in lieu of an F nor can an I be assigned because of excessive absences or poor grades on submitted work.

Williams - EDUR 8434

Disability Accommodations If a student has a documented and declared disability, reasonable accommodations will be provided if requested by the student according to the recommendations of the GSU Disabled Student Services office. Required Texts (available from the GSU bookstore) Creswell, J. (2009) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd Ed). SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks. American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual (6th ed.) Washington D.C. Various articles are located on our GA View course website listed under journal articles Policy and Procedures Email The class will be conducted on-line. Any form of academic dishonesty will result in an F for the course (including plagiarism). All students are required to use their electronic mail account through GA View. Questions posted concerning readings and discussion will be listed as stated on the syllabus course map. Please allow me 24 - 48 hours to contact you with a reply of receipt to your emails, if you have an emergency and need to talk me feel free to call my office at 912-681-5252. Free and open exchange of ideas: Listserv Decorum As a graduate student at Georgia Southern University, the free discourse of ideas should be expected. I believe the open exchange of ideas is necessary for learning. You may find that some of the class readings and discussions challenge your views and theoretical frameworks. I expect openness to difference and a willingness to interpret issues from frameworks that may not be quite so comfortable for you. Please be sensitive in your class participation by not unfairly dominating the listserv. My goal is to create a psychologically safe space in which everyone feels that they can participate in the discussion. This does not mean people can not disagree. But it does suggest that we all need to be sensitive, appreciative, and respectful, no matter how strong we might disagree.

Williams - EDUR 8434

Course Requirements Students are required to develop a research proposal for an independent research project to be conducted as part of Ed.S, degree requirements. (Students will develop the study in EDUR 8434 and actual research will be conducted during a follow-up course.) Students must enter EDUR 8434 with a defined research topic and specific questions. Topics selection should be discussed with faculty advisor. All students must have submitted the Ed.S. Research Topic Approval Form, these can be obtained from your advisor or instructors in your program area. Several drafts of your research proposal will be evaluated and feedback will be provided. Following revisions, the entire document will be reviewed and graded. This proposal grade will constitute 50% of the course grade. All required drafts must be submitted by their corresponding due date; LATE work will not be accepted. All parts of the research proposal must be typed and all work must be in APA format, 12 pt font and Time New Roman. Various assignments will be posted on the discussion posts and students are required to reply. These assignments will not be graded; however if the work does not meet the specified requirements, student will not receive credit. Grading Scale and Point Allocation A = 90 100 B = 80 89 C = 70 79 D = 60 69 F = Below 60 Attendance / Discussion Posts / Participation - 9 total points Introduction / Purpose of the study 12 points Literature Review 15 points Methods 12 points Final paper 42 points

It is likely that not all students will earn a grade of A in this course. Per the Georgia Southern University definition of an A grade, a student must possess exceptional mastery of the course material before an instructor assigns a grade of A to the students work. This is a graduate level course, and graduate standards will be applied in assessing all course assignments. There will be no rounding of final grades and no extra credit opportunities available in this course.

Discussion Posts

Williams - EDUR 8434

Everyone is to submit a response to comment/questions I will pose concerning an assigned reading. Post your comments to GA View on the due date. Everyone will have a chance to chime in to the discussion. We will use this space to explore our ideas, concerns, and submit questions about research. Introduction, Literature Review, Methods Everyone will have an opportunity to compose their proposals for research. Throughout the semester portions of the proposal must be submitted. Each section will build on the previous section and students will revise sections and turn in with the new section expected. Final proposal document will have all revisions completed. During our chats I will post the details concerning each section and when students can expect comments on their work. All sections must be submitted as a Word document attachment.

Course Calendar
Topic
Class Introductions Sample Proposals Research Design Introduction to Research Introduction to research Literature Reviews Literature Reviews

Assignment
Face to Face class meeting Rm 3152 COE 5:00-7:45 Read two sample Proposals Framing Research Design Readings Creswell pages 1-20 Introduction, Purpose Statement and Research Questions Readings Creswell pages 97-142 Submit introduction and research questions Readings Creswell pages 23-46 Review articles on writing well developed literature reviews List all articles you intent to include in your literature review

Due Date
August 17 August 24 August 31 September 14

Format
Post introduction for attendance verification Post reflection to the proposals Class Chat 5:00 7:45 Post response to question to discussion board on GA View Attach WORD or RTF document of assignment to assignment inbox Class Chat 5:00 7:45 Attach WORD or RTF document of assignment to assignment inbox

September 21 September 28 October 5

Literature Review

Submit review of literature and revision of introduction Readings

October 12

Attach WORD or RTF document of assignment to assignment inbox

Williams - EDUR 8434

Methods Methods Methods

Creswell 145-225 Review related studies using similar methods Submit methods section With revised intro and literature review Readings Creswell pages 49-94 Review dissertation proposals / prepare final proposal

October 19 October 26 November 2nd

Class Chat 5:00 7:45

Attach WORD or RTF document of assignment to assignment inbox

Conclusions / Significance of the study

November 9

Submit Completed Research proposal

Final proposals

November 18th

Submit to GA View email

Williams - EDUR 8434