Faculty Contact Information:
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
PUAD 502
Term 4, 2007: 2 April – 1 July 2007
Faculty Contact Information: Ken J. Kovach, EdD
kkovach@ faculty.ed.umuc.edu
KJKovach@aol.com
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Consultation:
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For this DE course, online communications, phone calls, or local contact can redaily be conducted.
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Required Texts and Readings:
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Supplementary Readings:
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Graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at www.ed.umuc.edu/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:
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Course Description:
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Prerequisite: None. This course focuses on the study and application of research methodology for organizations for use as a tool in decision-making. Emphasis is on applied research theories and designs for methodological approaches that apply non-experimental and quasi-experimental research designs as part of the research strategy.
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Course Goals:
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As one of two research methods courses in the MPA program, this course provides graduate students with the conceptual and practical tools to develop proposals for and conduct non-experimental research projects, policy analyses, and program evaluations, as well as to evaluate and incorporate the implications of published reports into their practice as professionals. M.P.A. students are actively encouraged to use this class to develop the proposal for the professional paper required in PUAD 604.
In this course we will investigate:
1. Claims of Validity and Reliability.
2. Data Collection Techniques.
3. Data Management and Presentation Techniques.
4. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Evaluation.
5. The Elements of Research Design.
6. The Fundamentals of Research Execution.
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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%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F is used to designate academic failure. F(n) 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. Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center.
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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:
Midterm Examination: 25 points
Participation: 21 points
Taskings: 54 points
Total 100 points
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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 face-to-face 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 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Description of Course Requirements:
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.
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 a due date identified below and indicated in the Assignments forum. Grading will be on content and presentation: total value 54 points.
Taskings
1: Topic and Title (2 pts) Due 22 April 2007 to Assignments
2. Introduction (10 pts) Due 6 May 2007 to Assignments
3. Review of the Literature (15 pts) Due 27 May 2007 to Assignments
4. Methodology (15 pts) Due 24 June to Assignments
5. Anticipated Results and Conclusions (7 pts) Due 1 July 2007 to Assignments
6. References and Appendices (5 pts) Due 1 July 2007 to Assignments
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. Students are to review each Conference and respond to any due dates early in each week's session (within 3-4 days) and then review and conduct any topical discussion for the remaining of the week. Respond to at least two others in each conference.
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. Any report may be presented to TURNITIN.com for review. Writing tutorial exercises will be highly encouraged.
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Course Schedule:
Course Schedule:
Session Topics Assigned readings/tasks
1 Introduction/Orientation
What is Research?
Research Proposal
APA
(2 – 8 April 2007) 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 in the Conference established. Consider a research topic for your report. Review the APA and course texts.
2 Problem formulation
APA
(9-15 April) Review all course materials and begin focusing on the topic for your research report. Read chapters 1-3 & 6 of Leedy & Ormrod and Babbie's Chs 1-3. 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. Complete Conference taskings.
3 Problem formulation
Review of the Literature
Research Approaches & Designs
Ethics
Question or Hypothesis
APA
(16-22 April) 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 chapters 1 - 5 of Leedy & Ormrod and review Babbie's chapters 3 & 4 (plus Part 3 of Babbie)and related material to research designs. Submit Topic/Title to Assignments nlt 22 April to Assignments.
4 Scales of Measurement
Population/ Sampling
Data Collection
Descriptive Statistics
(23-29 April) Read Chs 6, 7, & 10 of Babbie and Leedy & Ormrod's
Part III. 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
(30 April- 6 May) 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). Explain descriptive and inferential statistics used for research reporting. Submit Ch I-Introduction to Assignments nlt 6 May.
6 Methodology
APA
(7-13 May) Review course materials and complete any Conference tasks assigned. Research topical items relating to developing the Methodology chapter, including the APA.
7 Midterm Exam
(14-20 May) DE Exam week - May 14-18
Check your Private Study group forum. Review all course
materials and complete any Conference tasks assigned.
8 21-27 May Midterm Break! Enjoy your short Break!
9 Writing the Report
Qualitative designs
Inferential Stats
APA
(28 May- 3 June)
Visit the APA.org and owl.English.purdue.edu web sites to practice and learn more about APA writing style. Inferential Statistics. Complete work on your research taskings. Review Leedy & Ormrod’s and Babbie's text for info on inferential stats and research discussion. Submit Review of the Literature to Assignments nlt 3 June.
Inferential statistics. Review textual and related material on this topic.
10 Inferential Stats
Qualitative designs
APA
Methodology
(4-10 June) Inferential statistics and qualitative research designs. Review textual and related material on this topic. Submit Methodology tasking to Assignments by 10 June. Review textual and related material on Methodology
11 Data Intepretation
(11-17 June) Discuss Analysis of research findings. Read Chs 13, 14, & 16 of Babbie Review textual and related materials on this topic.
12 Anticipated Results & Conclusions
(18-24 June) Submit Ch IV-Anticipated Results and Conclusions to Assignments nlt 24 June.
13 Course Summary
(25 June-1 July) Review all course materials and discussions. Submit References and Appendices to Assignments nlt 1 July. Course ends. Complete all Conference taskings.
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Academic Policies:
The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism.
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:
: 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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