Faculty Contact Information:
Ken J. Kovach, EdD
kkovach@ faculty.ed.umuc.edu
KJKovach@aol.com
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Consultation:
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Consultation: Available on-line, by call, or by class appointment
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Required Texts and Readings:
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American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Babbie, E. (2007). The Practice of Social Research (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth Inc.
Leedy, P.D. & Ormrod, J.E. (2005). Practical Research: Planning & Design (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. [This text is also used for GUCO/PSYC 861 Seminar Paper.]
Citing Electronic Resources: APA Style. Retrieved July 14, 2003 from http://www.umuc.edu/library/guides/apa.html
Online Guide to Writing and Research. Retrieved July 14, 2003 from
http://www.umuc.edu/prog/ugp/ewp_writingcenter/writinggde/welcome.shtml
Procedures for Completing the Research Project Notification and Human Subjects Protection Form. Retrieved June 16, 2003 from http://www.ed.umuc.edu/staff/faculty/detech/pedagogy/proceduresform.html
University Of Maryland University College Policy Manual Policy 130.25: Conducting Research Involving Human Subjects. Retrieved June 16, 2003 from http://www.ed.umuc.edu/staff/faculty/detech/pedagogy/policy%20manual.html
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Supplementary Readings:
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Graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills.
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Recommended Journals:
A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed on the Counseling WebBoard at http://webboard.ed.umuc.edu/couns/. and the PA WebBoard at http://webboard.ed.umuc.edu/~pa.
The Qualitative Report, a peer-reviewed, on-line journal devoted to writing and discussion of and about qualitative, critical, action, and collaborative inquiry and research, is especially useful for this course.
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Course Description:
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This course is designed to provide the graduate student with an understanding of the various kinds of behavioral research and to develop an understanding of various research designs appropriate to behavioral sciences. Use of basic statistical techniques appropriate to these designs is included. As this course replaces EDUC 506, students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: EDUC 706, EDUC 506 or EDMS 645.
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Course Goals:
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This course provides graduate students with the conceptual and practical skills to develop proposals for and to conduct research projects, policy analyses, and program evaluations, as well as to evaluate and incorporate the implications of published reports into their practice as counseling professionals. Students should use these skills in developing the proposal for the professional paper required in GUCO/PSYC 861.
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Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method by distinguishing between applied, basic, quantitative and qualitative research, and descriptive and inferential statistics.
- Demonstrate an understanding of program evaluation as a research methodology.
- Analyze professional situations for research/evaluation purposes.
- Generate research problem statements.
- Develop research proposals appropriate to problems statements in specific professional settings.
- Execute literature reviews.
- Formulate hypotheses.
- Develop data collection and data analyses strategies.
- Establish the internal and external validity and the reliability of measurements.
- Analyze, interpret, and apply published research findings to professional settings.
- Present research findings in written and graphic or oral formats.
- Define ethical and legal constraints on research.
- Analyze the application of information technology in research.
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Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 points + C 70 – 79 pts
B 80 – 89 pts F Below 70 pts F(a) or regular non-attendance F(n)
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs.
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Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to complete:
Midterm Examination: 25 points
Participation: 21 "
Taskings 54 "
Total 100 points
Class Policies: Each student is expected to have thoroughly read all assignments, participate in class discussions, work with any assigned teams, and meet all assignments on time. University of Maryland standards of integrity and conduct will be met. Students who miss class due to job or emergency reasons must complete all work for full credit before the end of the course and must communicate with the instructor for any missed student tasking. Each case is reviewed on its merit. Personal reasons involving leave, vacations, and other non-emergency or duty reasons are not grounds for approved makeup work. Assignments may be changed at the instructor's discretion, but sufficient time will be allowed for any necessary changes. Session periods are identified for class work. Incompletes will only be considered when adequate justification has been received by the instructor before the end of the course. The instructor will assign a date for completion of the any work required and will base it upon a reasonable time for completion. Lastly, communication is absolutely vital to the successful completion of this course. Let your instructor know of any reason for missed work or other item that will affect your course performance. Material from any personal work may be used in the course assignments as long as such is properly cited and referenced. Please use the course texts to relate to the topical discussions outlined and noted during class sessions. Various topical items are incorporated within different chapters of the two texts.
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Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most fourteen-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroomParticipate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of coursework from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable in this course only with proper citing and referencing. APA style is mandatory for all graduate counseling course work. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level work.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In an onsite course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In an online class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary for successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used in this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
Examination: The midterm exam will consist of multiple choice, exercises, and essays to assess understanding of topical issues related to the research process and basic terminology. Value 25 points
Taskings: Each student will develop various components of a research proposal in an appropriate design to use in further course work or real world applications. The proposal developed will include:
(a) Title page, (b) Abstract, (c) Table of Contents, (d) List of Tables, if used, (e) List of Figures, if used, (f) Chapter I – Introduction, (g) Chapter II- Review of the Literature, (h) Chapter III-Methodology, (i) Chapter IV-Anticipated Results and Conclusions, (j) References, and (k) Appendices, if used. Details of each component will be discussed in class and examples provided. The APA Manual will be the required writing guide. Taskings are to be submitted by the last class session. Grading will be on content and presentation: total value 54 points.
Taskings
1: Topic and Title (2 pts)
2. Introduction (10 pts)
3. Review of the Literature (15 pts)
4. Methodology (15 pts)
5. Anticipated Results and Conclusions (7 pts)
6. References and Appendices (5 pts)
Participation: Active effort in class discussions and any other activity requiring student responses will be considered participation. Your communications are essential to learning. (Value = 21 points) A rubric will be provided for student assessment.
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Course Schedule:
Course Schedule:
Session Topics Assigned readings/tasks
1 Introduction/Orientation
What is Research?
Research Proposal
APA
(29 Oct 2006)
Read chapters 1-3 & 6 of Leedy & Ormrod and Babbie's Chs 1-3. Complete the plagiarism certificate for UMUC courses by
visiting the following website and taking the brief assessment: http://www.umuc.edu/prog/ugp/ewp_writingcenter/modules/plagiarism/start.html. Provide your certificate date and number in class. Consider a research topic for your report. Review the APA and course texts.
2 Problem formulation
Review of the Literature
Research Approaches & Designs
Ethics
APA
(11 Nov 2006)
Review all course materials and begin focusing on the topic for your
research report. Read chapters 1 - 5 of Leedy & Ormrod and review
Babbie's chapters 3 & 4 and related material to research designs. Practice APA activities by visiting http://owl.english.purdue.edu and go to research documentation, then APA sites. Visit the Handouts site under APA and practice the tasks.
3 Research Approaches & Designs
Question or Hypothesis
APA
(12 Nov)
Review the textual materials on research designs useful material pertaining to these topics) to define what research is and what is meant by the research process. Read Ch 10 of Babbie and Leedy & Ormrod's Part III.
4 Scales of Measurement
Population/ Sampling
Data Collection
Descriptive Statistics
(2 Dec)
Midterm Examination for material covered to date. Specifically read chapters 1-9 of Leedy & Ormrod and Part 2 of Babbie. Complete any tasks assigned.
5 Writing the Introduction &
Literature Review
Descriptive & Inferential Statistics
APA
(3 Dec)
Review all course materials relative to developing the Introduction and Review of the Literature chapters, as well as reviewing info on descriptive and inferential statistics (esp Ch 16 of Babbie).
6 APA
Writing the Report
(16 Dec)
Visit the APA.org and owl.English.purdue.edu web sites to practice
and learn more about APA writing style. Formulate your research
question, research hypothesis, or null/alternate hypotheses. Review any course materials relative to these and writing the report proposal.
7 Open Review
(17 Dec)
Review all course materials and complete tasks as assigned.
Complete work on your research taskings. Review Leedy & Ormrod’s and Babbie's text for research discussion. Explain descriptive and inferential statistics used for research reporting.
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Academic Policies:
Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.
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Faculty Bio:
About Your Instructor: Dr. Ken J. Kovach has been with UMUC since 1993, teaching a variety of subjects to include research & statistics, management, business statistics, managerial leadership, and others, as well as with several other colleges and universities in a variety of subjects (over 500 course completions). Ken previously served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, first enlisted, then commissioned. Major duties involved airborne command post, aerial delivery, command staff, logistics management, operations, plans, and transportation.
Within distance education, he has continuously taught over the Internet since 1995 after developing graduate and undergraduate courses for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a business management program for the National Business Aviation Association. He has developed research guidelines for several universities and has served as Research Advisor and Committee Chair for graduate research projects. Additionally he acts as Referee for The Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research and is an active member of Phi Gamma Sigma, as well the American Statistical Association, the American Counseling Association, and the Institute of Transport Administration. His recent publication was Corporate Aviation Management.
Ken’s bachelor’s of science was from the University of Tennessee in business, master of arts in guidance and counseling from Wayne State University, and doctorate of education in higher education from Nova University (Now Nova Southeastern). He has a British wife and two educated daughters.
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