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.