Interpretation and Evaluation of Research

This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. Each student will develop a research proposal.

MESA6410

OR

MESA6420

Introductory Statistics 

An introduction to descriptive statistics. Topics include methods of data summarization and presentation; measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression; the normal distribution; probability; and an introduction to hypothesis testing. Provides computer instruction on PC and Mac platforms and in the SPSS statistical package.

OR

Intermediate Statistics 

Topics and computer exercises address tests of means, partial and part correlations, multiple regression, analysis of variance with planned and post hoc comparisons, analysis of covariance, repeated measures analysis, elements of experimental design, and power analysis.

MESA6820

OR

MESA6210

Foundations in Research Methodology

This course explores foundational concepts that influence the methodologies and methods employed by social science researchers. Core topics explored include: the Enlightenments influence on scientific inquiry; the influence of empiricism, positivism, and universalism on social science research; objectivity and subjectivity; verification and falsification; quantification and standardization; the construction of mental ability and intelligence.

OR

Instrument Design and Development

This course explores principles and techniques applied to develop cognitive tests and survey instruments. Topics covered include: validity and reliability; construct definition and representation; item writing principles; bias, sensitivity, and accessibility; cross-cultural considerations; scaling methods; and techniques for examining item and scale properties. 

Evaluation Practice and Methods

This course introduces the process of conducting evaluations from beginning to end. Evaluation is a form of applied social science research focused on systematically assessing the value--merit, worth, or significance--of interventions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, this course draws on scholarly articles and examples from multiple fields including education, public health, social services, and international development and addressing evaluation at various scales including program, organizational, and systems-level evaluations. By the end of the course, students will gain knowledge of how to carry out evaluations; apply this knowledge to develop evaluation plans for real-world interventions; and gain skills to critique existing evaluations supporting their development as informed, critical consumers of evaluations.