Module 1

 Module One

 

Welcome to fall and to your Research Methods class. A couple of general tips and guidelines for success in this online class:

 

* Please be sure to check your NDNU email frequently so you don’t miss important communications.

 

* All assignments and course activities will be contained in weekly Modules, beginning with this one, and these will be sent to you via email and also posted on the class website, located at:

 

https://ndnuRM.blogspot.com

 

* We will not be using Moodle. 

 

* Unless otherwise stated, all Modules will be posted on or before Mondays, and assignments will be due on the following Sunday at 11pm. For this first week, for example, Module 1 is being posted on or by Monday, August 31, and Module 1 assignments are due by 11pm on Sunday, September 6. Please plan your study time accordingly so you don’t get behind.

 

1) Your first assignment for this week is to create your own blog, which is where you will post your assignments and where we will all have opportunities to interact together. Instructions for creating your own blog site are below. Yes, you must create a new blog for this class even if you already have one from a different class. 

 

 

How to Set Up Your Online Reading Journal – aka Your Blog!

 

 

1) Go to www.blogger.com.

 

2) If you already have a Google account, use it to log in. If you do not, follow the on-screen instructions to create one. Make sure you write down your Google account name and password for later use.

 

3) Once you’ve logged in to blogger.com, follow the on-screen instructions to create a “new blog.”

 

            The title of your blog can be anything you want

            The unique part of your address should be something simple like gregsworldhistoryblog

            Your full blog address will be:

                        http://__________.blogspot.com

                        example: http://gregsworldhistoryblog.blogspot.com

 

            If you are asked whether you want to register or monetize your blog, etc., just say no.

 

4) Now that your blog exists, open up your email account and email the blog’s address to me. Remember, your address begins with http:// and ends with .blogspot.com, just like the blog address of the class website. My email address is pandrews@ndnu.edu.

 

5) Log out of your blog and log back in again to make sure it all works OK. Then click on the icon to make your first post as described later in this Module.

 

6) You’re done!

 

 

2) Your second assignment for this week is to introduce yourself to each other and to me. This introduction will be your first post in your new blog. Share a little about yourself… your academic interests, personal interests, background, what you’re looking forward to in this class, what you’re not looking forward to about this class… whatever you want to share about yourself. Say something also about your interest in our subject – Research Methods… how will the knowledge you gain this semester help you succeed in your post-undergrad life?

 

I’ll go first. I’ve been teaching in the History and Political Science department at NDNU for 20 years. Like so many in the NDNU community, I’ve been saddened to see the university lose its vigor and make plans to shut down. I’m honored to continue to serve in this final year of undergraduate studies, but you might find me getting a little emotional about it once in a while. I took Methods and Methodology from Dr. Abbas Milani when he was teaching the class way back when we were known as College of Notre Dame. I loved that class! My survey research focused on how respondents perceived the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche… positively or negatively. Was there a correlation between their level of exposure to his work and their perception of his ideas? It turned out there was – the more people had actually read Nietzsche’s work, the more positively they felt about his ideas. Those who had not actually read his work, but had heard of him, were more likely to have a negative perception of his ideas. I enjoyed working on that project, and I hope each of you finds a topic for your research that you find as engaging. 

 

3) Finally, this first week, we’ll start diving right in to our first skill area, writing a literature review. Please read the first 3 chapters of Galvan,Writing Literature Reviews. If you don't’ have a copy of this text yet, you’ll find a suitable copy online at 

https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/8/8_2019_03_09!10_09_36_AM.pdf

Choose one set of Activities… you can do the Activities for Chapter 1, Chapter 2 or Chapter 3. Complete these and post your written responses in a new blog entry.

I’m looking forward to working with you all in this online class. We will get into a rhythm over the first few weeks, and I think you’ll find the online blog format both flexible and straightforward. Please don’t hesitate to email me, though, if you have questions about what to do.

Syllabus

PSC 2500-01 Research Methods & Methodology (4 units)                 

Fall 2020 -- Online                                                               

Class Website: http://NDNUrm.blogspot.com                                      

Instructor: Patti Andrews

Email: pandrews@ndnu.edu

Office hours by Zoom by arrangement

Course Summary

This course is designed to pursue the foundations, processes, and methods of empirical and qualitative research to achieve knowledge about social, economic, political, and cultural phenomena.  It covers methodological issues and procedures from the generation of a research topic to the writing and presentation of the results.  The course is designed to provide the student with the necessary skills to conduct research, of a quantitative or qualitative type, and an understanding of the epistemological foundations of empirical knowledge.  

 

Texts

• Jose L. Galvan. Writing Literature Reviews: A Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. New York NY, Routledge, 2014, ISBN 978-1-936523-37-5 (Any edition will suffice, including this PDF available online.)

https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/8/8_2019_03_09!10_09_36_AM.pdf

• Mildred L. Patten. Questionnaire Research: A Practical Guide. New York NY, Routledge, 2014, ISBN 978-1-936523-31-3 (Any edition will suffice.)
• Philip H. Pollock III. The Essentials of Political Analysis. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2009

 

Learning Outcomes. Students will…

(HST PLO #4, PSC PLO # 6)

Students who successfully pass this course 

vwill be able to conduct quantitative and qualitative research

Ø  conduct review of literature and historiography

Ø  develop hypotheses

Ø  learn about sampling techniques

Ø  develop an appropriate research design and conduct fieldwork or primary research in primary sources

Ø  use statistical techniques to analyze data

Ø  or, employ historical techniques using primary and secondary sources to discuss a significant episode/issue in History

vdevelop the skills required to write papers in a scholarly format.

vand critically evaluate the procedures and results of such research performed by others.

 

Requirements

This is a hands-on class. Students will choose research topics and conduct original research, including literature review, questionnaire design, data collection, data input, data analysis, formal written results and presentation. Weekly readings and exercises will concurrently develop students’ abilities in these important aspects of research. 

 

Evaluation

               Weekly Modules & Exercises                                              400           40%

               Online Presence & Participation                                          200           20%

               Term Paper & Presentation                                                   400           40%

 

Student Success Center  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Success Center (SSC) remains dedicated to supporting students’ academic success at NDNU and has transitioned its services online. The SSC continues to provide online writing and subject tutoring.  Please contact Laura Mizuha, Assistant Director of Writing at lmizuha@ndnu.edu for additional information in both areas.

 

The goal of the Student Success Center is to promote student learning and academic innovation. Professional staff members, academic advisors, and faculty members work together to promote a supportive educational environment, which now includes professional online subject and writing tutoring support.

 

Disability Resource Center

Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.   Students who are experiencing conditions that are temporarily disabling (i.e. scheduled surgeries, hospitalizations, injuries, etc.) are strongly encouraged to contact the DRC.  Our desire is to assist you with managing the impact of these circumstances.    

 

Please meet with the DRC staff through a virtual meeting in order to: verify your eligibility for any classroom accommodations; and, for academic assistance related to your disability.   Accommodations are not provided retroactively.  The DRC can be reached by email at DRC@ndnu.edu.  

 

Counseling Services  Counselingservices@ndnu.edu       

The mission of Counseling Services is to promote and enhance the overall wellbeing of students so that they may reach their potential for personal growth and academic success. If you are a currently enrolled student and would like to discuss your mental health needs, please feel free to email Counselingservices@ndnu.edu to schedule an appointment. We are currently offering telemental health services only with the following hours: Monday - Wednesday 10am-6pm and Thursday from 10am-4pm.

 

Academic Honesty

NDNU’s core values include learning, integrity, and honesty, values we live out in all areas of our learning community. Academic honesty means you are able to demonstrate your own knowledge and skills and receive feedback on your learning that can help you improve. By taking responsibility for your own work and avoiding actions that could give you an unfair advantage over others, you are contributing to the NDNU learning community and developing professional skills and values that will serve you well into the future. Academic honesty is one of the most important values of a university community, and breaches of this trust have serious consequences. Please see the Student Handbook for a detailed discussion of Academic Conduct expectations.

 

Course Evaluations/Teaching Effectiveness Surveys: Term 2 and Full-Semester Courses

Teaching Effectiveness Surveys (course evaluations) will be available online through Campus Portal from December 7 - 23, 2020.   Your feedback regarding courses and faculty is very important to Notre Dame de Namur University, to your faculty, and to me as the instructor for this course.  Your feedback helps us review and improve their teaching, helps departments/programs review and improve program content, and is used by the university in making decisions about tenure, promotion, and hiring decisions for part-time faculty.

 

Directions: To access, please enable pop-ups in your browser (uncheck pop-up blocker), then in Campus Portal look for the "You have an active survey" link in the left sidebar. Click that link to open the Course Evaluation Surveys page, which has a link to a survey for each course in which you're enrolled.  Your feedback is very important!  Please complete your evaluations for all your courses promptly.  Remember: Your responses are anonymous.