Weekly Schedule (Outline Mode)

Fall 2008: class starts the week of Sep.8. 9/22: Last day to add or drop.
Online:Live AdobeConnect/Breeze Sessions: http://edbreeze.sdsu.edu/r21296354/

Dates and Time (final) : Mondays (5-6:30pm PST)

November 27 - 29 (Thanksgiving); Dec. 12 (last day of class); Dec. 13-20 (finals week)

Note:All links in the "Week" column open in a new window. Download slides & other files before class from these Weekly pages. One week at a time!

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Week	Topics/Agenda
*Phase 1: Defining inquiry; exploring research designs* Week 1 Sep. 8 (Meet in Breeze) .	Introductions Setting ED 690 in context; course basics Website review; details about assignments, class structure, etc. Ancillary websites with which you need to be familiar: Blackboard (only used for submitting assignments, posting grades, and setting up teamwork)
Week 2 Sep. 15 Library orientation	We'll take a tour of Love Library Recording of a virtual tour & handouts Determining what to investigate Research designs: an initial overview of common theoretical frameworks and approaches Perfecting search skills ... while avoiding copyright and plagiarism issues Conducting thoughtful reviews of the literature; Using sources effectively
Week 3 Sep. 22	Research designs in depth: Descriptive Correlational Experimental and quasi-experimental Sampling Developing the research plan; Learn ReferenceWorks, download the guide from the Tools page
Week 4 Sep. 29	Research designs in depth (continued): Causal-comparative Historical Qualitative (interpretive, ethnographic) Action research Case study overview; working successfully in teams Read the lit review examples (posted on the requirements page) [Back to Top]
Phase 2: Constructing the study; operationalizing the design Week 5 Oct. 6	Instrumentation: so may choices, so many considerations Strategy 1: Conducting a content or document analysis (let's compare songs!) Using rubrics and checklists effectively Applying principles of sampling to the analysis of documents Deam Analysis: \| dreamresearch.net \| Coding Rules
Week 6 Oct. 13	Instrumentation: the details All about survey design, roll-out, and data-analysis Surveys (online, print-based)-a review
Week 7 (see links on the right) Oct. 20 (breather, no online meeting)	Instrumentation: All other ones Strategy 3: Tests & Strategy 4: Interviews/focus groups are discussed Here. Strategy 5: Observation & Strategy 6: Action plans are discussed Here .
Phase 3: Analyzing and interpreting data Week 8 Oct. 27	Analyzing numbers (please create an account on Statcrunch before class) An overview of basic descriptive methods: Please watch the following video clips before class: http://learner.org/resources/series65.html (From Against All Odds: Statistics): What is statistics? Picturing Distribution; Describing Distribution (Watch the beginning and then Watch the end about Standard deviation); and Normal Distribution Tools of the trade (Excel, SPSS)Graphical displays of data (tables, charts, graphs, figures) The art and science of interpretation [Back to Top]
Week 9 Nov. 3	Analyzing numbers (continued) An overview of basic inferential tests:Please watch the following video clips before class: What is Probability? (minutes 0-1; then from minute 16:20, about level of significance;finally the rules of probability from minutes 23 to the end) Normality--and its impact on the parametric or nonparametric tests to performTools of the trade (Excel, SPSS) The art and science of interpretation Discuss parameters of data collection and analysis (need to complete by Week 14 and send it to the instructor for a no-grade review, by Friday midnight.)
Week 10 Nov. 10	An overview of writing styles Writing with audience in mind; knowing your purpose/intent Analyzing language An overview of common qualitative techniques Tools of the trade: HyperResearch, Access (via Atomic Learning or our own BATS) Begin drafting your case study report; download boilerplate text that illustrates the format and structure of technical writing (samples are for survey reports) If you are doing content analysis, you should definitely review: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/ed690sp05/week6.htm (There are several sample reports there).
Phase 4: Writing a report of findings Week 11 Nov. 17	Statistics: continue with t test and Correlational Analysis Instructor Demo: Soda Data Analysis (so you can compare with your results) Statistics: correlational analysis Discuss parameters of final study report
Week 12 Nov. 24	Statistics catch-up (t test and correlation); Introduction to Chi-Square
Week 13 Dec.1	Writing: the peripherals The ethical writer Proving vs. inferring, suggesting, and indicating Drawing conclusions, making recommendations: the researcher's post-study "obligations" Distributing study results: sharing with stakeholders and audiences
Week 14 Dec.8	Project Hours: writing and consulting.
Week 15 Dec.15	You made it! Final presentations. Submit your presentation on Blackboard (a PPT, a URL, or any other media) by 4pm Sunday, May 6. [Back to Top]