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SCHEDULEThis schedule may be adjusted as the class progresses. GRP indicates a group assignment, AS additional sources, and CD a source in Course Documents in BlackBoard. Babbie (2004), Spatz (2005), Trochim (2001), and the additional sources are only suggested. DATE TOPICS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND REQUIRED READINGS JUN 1 THU Introduction to the course -- Review of the syllabus The research process -- What it is and what it aims to do Introduction to variables and univariate descriptive statistics Frequency distributions (online tutorial) READ: Babbie, all prefatory material and Chapter 1 Hernon (1991b) CD Katzer et al., Preface and Chapters 1, 2, and 10 Spatz, Preface, Chapters 1 and 2 (pp. 24-29), and Appendix A (pp. 365) on estimating answers AS: Trochim (2001), Preface, 1 (pp. 3-13) JUN 6 TUE Science: (1) Traditional positivism and (2) more constructivist views Epistemology and the research process Descriptive statistics continued -- Three major measures of central tendency (mode, median, and arithmetic mean) READ: Babbie, 2 Dervin (1977) CD Harris (1986) CD Katzer et al., 3-5 Spatz, 3 (pp. 41-48) AS: Paulos (1992), "Mean, Median, and Mode," 141-143; "Gödel and His Theorem," 95-97; "Impossibilities -- Three Old, Three New," 118-120 Trochim (2001), 1 (pp. 14-24, 25-37), 10 (pp. 268-272) JUN 7 WED Error model of research Reliability and (construct) validity of measurements REVIEW Qualitative alternatives to reliability and validity of measurements Descriptive statistics continued -- Three major measures of dispersion or variability (range, variance, and standard deviation) and two minor ones (interquartile range [IQR] and coefficient of variation [CV]) Group meetings READ: Babbie, 5 (pp. 140-146) and 14 (pp. 396-406) Creswell, Preface and 1; skim 2 Katzer et al., 6, 7, and 9 Spatz, 3 (pp. 53-69) AS: Trochim (2001), 3 (pp. 88-98, 101-103) JUN 8 THU Problem identification and research design Conceptualization of a study and operationalization of variables Statistics as a rhetorical act Group meetings READ: Babbie, 4 and 5 (pp. 118-140) Bazerman (1987) CD Best (2001a) CD Mayer & Terrill (2005) online Creswell, 4 and 5 Cronin (1992) CD • In-class exercise -- Evaluation of Mayer & Terrill (2005) -- GRP JUN 13 TUE Descriptive statistics continued -- Graphic displays, symmetric and skewed distributions, resistant and non-resistant measures, stem-and- REVIEW leaf plots, the six-figure summary, and box-plots READ: Katzer et al., 8, 11, and 15-18 Spatz, 2 (pp. 34-40 and 48-53) and 4 (pp. 74-77) AS: Tufte (1983, 1990, and 1997), passim • ASSIGNMENT DUE: Evaluation of an empirical research article (5-7 pp.) (20%) -- IND JUN 14 WED Introduction to data collection techniques -- Unobtrusive measures: historical research, content analysis, and bibliometrics Descriptive statistics continued -- Measures of central tendency and variability – Percentiles, quartiles, and introduction to z-scores Group meetings READ: Babbie, 11 Bookstein (1985) online and CD Creswell, 6 and 8; skim 7 Roscoe (1975) CD AS: Trochim (2001), 5 (pp. 164-167) JUN 15 THU Data collection techniques continued -- Obtrusive methods: Surveys and sampling; 1936 Literary Digest poll; response bias, non-response bias; REVIEW evaluation apprehension, expectancy, and social desirability effects Descriptive statistics continued -- z-scores (online tutorial) READ: Babbie, 6 (pp. 167-170), 7, 8 (pp. 219-228 and 230-239), 9, 10, 12, and Appendix G (pp. A25-30) Spatz, 4 (pp. 70-74) and 7 (pp. 142-148) Review Bookstein (1985) on surveys online and CD AS: Trochim (2001), 2 (pp. 41-46, 50-59), 4 (pp. 107-136) • ASSIGNMENT DUE: Approved proposal topic and abstract – GRP JUN 20 TUE Data collection techniques continued -- Obtrusive methods continued: Focus groups and oral history READ: Babbie, 13 and 14 Krueger (1994a, b, c, and d) CD Spatz, 6 • In-class quiz (20%) JUN 21 WED Summer Solstice 8:26 AM REVIEW Descriptive statistics continued -- Introduction to the normal (online tutorial), area under the normal curve, distribution of sample means, and the Central Limit Theorem (online tutorial) READ: Babbie, 7 (pp. 191-197) Katzer et al., 14 (pp. 171-173) Spatz, 7 (pp. 142-144 and 148-153) AS: Paulos (1992), "Statistics -- Two Theorems," pp. 227-230 Trochim (2001), 2 (pp. 46-49) JUN 22 THU More on the normal curve and distribution Sampling error Introduction to inferential statistics (online tutorial) Inferential statistics -- Confidence intervals when sigma is known (online tutorial) Group meetings READ: Babbie, 7 (pp. 197-199) (review) Creswell, 9 Spatz, 7 (pp. 153-156 and 160-164) JUN 27 TUE Inferential statistics continued -- Confidence intervals when sigma is unknown (Student's t) (online tutorial) REVIEW Introduction to statistical significance and hypothesis testing Qualitative research in information-based organizations: More on recording and analyzing qualitative data Group meetings READ: Babbie, 10 (review) and 13 Creswell, 10 Spatz, 7 (pp. 156-160) and 8 (pp. 168-179) Rice-Lively (1997b) CD Rice-Lively (1997a) CD AS: Miles & Huberman (1994), passim Trochim (2001), 5 (pp. 151-164) JUN 28 WED Inferential statistics continued -- More on statistical significance, hypothesis testing Type I and Type II errors Effect size More on qualitative methods: Writing the qualitative report READ: Babbie, 17 (pp. 485-491) Gorman & Clayton (1997) CD Katzer et al., 13, 14 (pp. 163-167 and 173-176), and p. 68 (note Table 13-1, pp. 154-155) Spatz, 4 (pp. 77-83), 8 (pp. 179-181, 185-186, and 189-192) and 9 (pp. 193-196, 198-199, 212-214, and 217-222) AS: Paulos (1992), "Correlation, Intervals, and Testing," pp. 56-58 Paulos (1995), "... Statistical Tests and Confidence Intervals," pp. 151-153 Schwandt (1996) Trochim (2001), 10 (pp. 257-266) • ASSIGNMENT DUE: Draft of research proposal (≥6 pp.) -- GRP • ASSIGNMENT DUE: Draft of empirical data collection instrument -- GRP JUN 29 THU Inferential statistics continued -- The chi square test of independence (online tutorial) More on effect size Group meetings READ: Babbie, 17 (pp. 472-485) Berg (1998) CD Creswell, 11 Spatz, 13 (pp. 296-305 and 307-317) JUL 4 TUE No class – Independence Day JUL 5 WED Research ethics REVIEW Questioning the variables sex, gender, and race Review of 2000 Florida presidential vote (if sufficient time) READ: Babbie, 3 Milgram (1963) CD • ASSIGNMENT DUE: Research proposal (15-18 pp.) (25%) – GRP JUL 6 THU Course evaluation REVIEW Disseminating research results Plato's Republic, "Allegory of the Cave" READ: Babbie, 15 and 16 Creswell, 3 (pp. 62-69) McClure (1991) CD Plato (1945) CD Robbins (1992) CD Spatz,15 AS: Institutional review board procedures manual for faculty, staff, and student researchers with human participants, Office of Research Support and Compliance, UT Austin http://www.utexas.edu/research/rsc/humanresearch/manual/(2005) UT -Austin Human Subjects Policies and Documents --http://www.utexas.edu/research/rsc/humanresearch/ Haddow & Klobas (2004) Jones (1993), passim Trochim (2001), 1 (pp. 24-25) and 12 JUL 7 FRI 2:00 – 5:00 PM -- Final exam (30%) – IND There will also be at least seven optional statistics review sessions in SZB 468, the regularly scheduled classroom. These sessions will last from 12:00 N – 12:45 PM and will be immediately before class on the following days: June 7, June 13, June 15, June 21, June 27, July 5, and July 6. There will be no negotiation of the date, time, or place of the final exam: Friday, July 7, 2:00 – 5:00 PM, probably in SZB 468. The place for the examination will be officially announced by the University later in the semester. |