Syllabus

Academic Research

Virtual and Real World

Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Research Methods and the Disciplines

Winter Quarter 2008

Faculty: Randolph Stilson

               E-mail: stilsonr@evergreen.edu

               Office Telephone : 867-6126 (voice mail 6126)

Texts:

Booth, Wayne C.,                                       Willis, Connie. Bellwether               Creswell, John W..
Colomb, Gregory G.                                                                                        Research Design: Qualitative...              
and Williams, Joseph M.
The Craft of Research.                                      

Expectations:

Attendance : No absences unless cleared by faculty previously (call if you are sick). Only one absence during the quarter without loss of credit.

Assignments : All work submitted when due unless other arrangements have been made. You may work in groups on any assignments and you may use projects in other academic programs for your final projects.

Portfolio : Save all work

Readings: We will be primarily interested in the readings from Craft of Research and these have been assigned as shown below. The readings in Research Design:... where assigned should be adhered to according to the schedule below also. All other chapters from Research Design:... should be completed by the end of the course - the intent is to provide you with an introduction to the three research modes and how they apply to the subject disciplines.

Research Project or Paper annotated notes and bibliography: Due by end of Week 9.  You will present your research methods, sources and results individually or as groups in week ten’s class. Annotated notes will indicate what authorities you intend to use as evidence to support your reasons and arguments. You will also need to directly express whatever warrants on which your research is dependent.

Week 1 : What is Research and Who Cares

Presentation :

• Information history and evolution: Archives, Libraries, Records and Documentation

 Tours: Meet in Library Classroom 0406 / Computer Lab 2410 / Writing and Quantitative Reasoning Centers

Assignments :

• Read for next week: The Craft of Research Introduction and Part I and Research Design Preface and Part 1 Chapter 1
  •  If unfamiliar with the internet and computer access to the World Wide Web read Chapters 1 & 2 in Internet Effectively (On reserve)                                 

In Class Activity :   Library Scavenger Hunt
                                 Research and Philosophy

Due Next Week:   

• Essay on your perception of the difference between on-line and traditional (paper, audiovisual, etc.) information sources. (2 to 3 pages double spaced).
• Come prepared with a preliminary research question for next class

Week 2 : Realizing your Audience : Knowledge Creators : Disciplines and Their Practitioners

Presentation : *Information Institutions, Physical Locations and Information Storage Methods (Research Methodologies Outline)
Real World and Virtual Resources : Knowledge Organization and Access.

Assignments :

• Read for next week : The Craft of Research Part II & III
• Research Design Part 1 Chapter 2, and Part 4 Chapter 10

In Class Activity :  *Lavender Exercise

Due Next Week:

• Answer these questions briefly:
  •  Re-visit your essay from last week - have your perceptions changed after being introduced to library and on-line sources.
  • As in the Lavender Exercise, research your own research question.  See if there are approaches to it from other than the discipline with which it is normally associated (keep notes as we will be discussing your results)

Week 3 : Knowledge Building : Classification and Interpretation

Presentation : Archive, Library, and Museum Classification Schemes and Systems

Assignments :

• Read for next week : The Craft of Research. Part IV & V and Research Design Part II Chapter 4                                          

In Class Activity : Formats Exercise (We will start this as an in class activity and you will complete it on your own for next week) 

Due Next Week : Final Research Topic Statement                    

Week 4 :

Presentations : On-line Resources

Research Websites: Explore at least one in each category

Science

• Design Your Research
• The Scientific Method Today
• Dispelling Some Common Myths about Science

  The Other Disciplines

Assignments :

• Read for next week :Willis, Connie. Bellweather
•  Internet Effectively Part 3 Chapter 6 if you are unfamiliar with HTML coding (on reserve)                                   

Due Next Week: Based on your reading of Bellweather, write a two (or more) page essay analyzing the methods the main character used to do her research or commenting on research oriented observations in the book.

Week 5 : Research from another perspective

Seminar : Bellweather

Assignments :

• Read for next week : Research Design:... continue your reading of Part II Chapters 5-8 (should finish prior to end of the quarter.

 Due Next Week : 2 - 3 page paper on what effects you perceive have taken place in traditional resources based on the introduction of digitization.

Week 6 : Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods of Research

Presentation : Qualitative, and Quantitative Methods of Research

Assignments :

• Read for next week : From Creswell, John W. Research Design Chapter 9-11
• Complete : Digital Resources Workshop
• Review these websites:
  • http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods/qual.htm
  • http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods/protect.html
  • http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/

Due Next Week: Based on today's presentation, describe your research as either a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods research project. (One to two paragraphs - be prepared to present your opinion in class)

Week 7 : Preparing a manuscript

Assignments :

• Read for Next Week: Craft of Research Chapter 12.4
• Research Design: ... Part I Chapter 3
• Bazerman, Charles, Shaping Written Knowledge Chapter 2 What Written Knowledge Does: Three Examples of
  Academic Discourse - note: This is difficult reading to some extent and is meant to give you practice in reading difficult texts as well as to obtain information from the content. Click on the title above to read.

Due Next Week:

Week 8 : Independent Research - We will meet together for the first hour so that participants can share research problems and resources

Assignments :

• Read for Next Week: Craft of Research Part V "Ethics of Research"

Due Next Week: Annotated Bibliography of sources. (See http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm  for how to do it (by permission of Cornell University Library))

Week 9 :   Ethics/Legalities

Assignments : First Draft revisions

Seminar: Ethics/Legalities

Activity : Research and Preparation Time

Week 10 : Presentations to Colleagues

Assignments :

                        Due : Final Draft of paper or project, and presentation