Applied Research

Course Details

Course Number: EDUC 6753  Section Number: 270

Fall 2011

Location: Dillard College of Business Administration

Classroom Number: DB 124

Days & Times:

Monday 5:30 - 8:20 p.m.

Course Attachments

Syllabus  Researchfall2011.doc

Textbooks

Pulication Manual of the American Psycholoical Ass  ISBN: 1-4338-0561-8

Writing Up Qualitative Research  ISBN: 978-1-4129-7011-2
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Redmon   
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Course Objectives

Introduction

            This is a laboratory class organized as a facilitated workshop.  This class provides structure and support toward the completion of an original empirical research project and its resulting report. 

Course Objectives

  • Candidates apply research methods to a solve problem related to education. 
  • Candidates conduct a review of current literature related to a research problem selected to complement their degree plan and professional goals.
  • Candidates collaborate with their program advisor to select a problem (question) upon which to base a formal action research project.   
  • Candidates secure permission to conduct research using human subjects. 
  • Candidates design a valid, meaningful, and practical research project. 
  • Candidates conduct original empirical action research and write a report of the results.  

Dispositions

  • Candidates apply sound theory and methodology in research design. 
  • As reflective practitioners, candidates make professional decisions based on empirical data and sound scientific research.
  • Candidates understand and protect the rights of participants involved in research.

Candidates are critical and scholarly in their use of published research to define issues and resolve problems in education.


Course Expectations
  1. Candidates develop a research question or hypothesis and prepare a preliminary proposal that must be approved by the chair of their graduate committee.
  2.  Candidates complete an IRB proposal and submit it for approval.
  3.  Candidates prepare a formal review of professional literature informing their research question or hypothesis.
  4.  Candidates develop a methodology that will allow them to answer their research question or test their hypothesis and prepare the methodology section of their research report.
  5.  Candidates prepare an introduction to their research report.
  6.  Candidates conduct their research protocol, collecting and analyzing data that will allow them to answer their research question and/or resolve their hypothesis and then prepare the Results section of their report.
  7.  Candidates reflect upon their results and then prepare the Discussion section of their report.
  8.  Candidates prepare a title page, a Reference section, and Appendixes for their report and then merge all the sections into a formal Research Report.
  9. Candidates submit the Research Report to their graduate committees.

Grading Standards
  • Preliminary proposal                                                    10 points
  • IRB and Committee approval                                       5 points           
  • Methods                                                                           10 points
  • Introduction                                                                     10 points
  • Literature Review                                                           30 points
  • Results                                                                             10 points
  • Discussion                                                                      10 points
  • Front pages, abstract, and appendixes                     5 points
  • Completed (revised) paper                                          10 points

Grading Scale:90 – 100 = A, 80 – 89 = B, 70 – 79 = C, 60 – 69 = D, below 60 = F

Work that does not meet assignment criteria receives no credit.


Submission Format Policy

All assignments must conform to APA manuscript style and conventions and be submitted electronically in MSWord (*.doc or *.docx) format.

 Prior to submission, each manuscript section must be edited by the candidate's peer editor.



Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

Late work receives no credit.


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Graduate students are expected to attend class.


Other Policies

As the faculty of the West College of Education, we are dedicated to helping meet the needs of our students with disabilities and are eager to provide the accommodations to which such students are entitled.  If you have a documented disability and are registered with the Office of Disability, please let your instructor know to expect a letter from that office describing the accommodations to which you are entitled.  If you have a documented disability but are not registered with the Office of Disability, please contact that office immediately to register.

Plagiarism Statement

 "By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a 'limited right' in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. The 'limited right' shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student's work product in order to verify originality, authenticity, and educational purposes." (Student Handbook)

 Plagiarism is defined as claiming credit for the work of another or improper/inadequate citation and documentation of sources of information (ideas) or direct quotations.  Plagiarism is a serious form of academic dishonesty.  If you are found to have committed plagiarism in this class, you will be dropped from the class with an F.  


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.