Research

• SED RS 600: Introduction to Research
  Designed to introduce students to social science research methods including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches to education inquiry. Students will develop skills in conducting literature searches, reading empirical research studies and applying these methods. Students leave the course better able to critically examine research presented in the mass media, critically engage with research in the workplace, and participate in research- based efforts to improve education. 4 cr.
• SED RS 620: Action Research and Practitioner Inquiry
  Overview of the foundations and techniques for conducting action research. Encourages the development of an inquiry stance within the practice of teachers, principals, and other school-based practitioners. Students engage in planning, collecting, and analyzing data through an action research project. 4 cr.
• SED RS 652: Qualitative Research Methods
  The philosophical and theoretical underpinnings and the techniques for conducting qualitative research. Students are introduced to different kinds of qualitative research, consideration of ethical issues, and criteria for rigorous qualitative research studies. Students critique published research and engage in planning a study, collecting and analyzing data, and writing up a report. 4 cr.
• SED RS 653: Quantitative Research Methods
  Conceptualization of quantitative research problems. Study descriptive and inferential statistics most commonly used for analyzing data in educational research including t-tests, ANOVAs, multiple comparisons, correlation, regression, and chi square. Emphasis placed on interpretation. Research project requires identifying a problem, gathering and analyzing data, and writing the results in APA format. 4 cr.
• SED RS 654: Educational Inquiry and Proposal Writing
  Overview of foundational questions related to what is important and knowable about educational matters (including issues of objectivity and subjectivity) and how different empirical methods of inquiry respond to such questions. Topics include: standards of believability, persuasiveness, and utility in different kinds of inquiry and the relationships among theoretical, quantitative and qualitative methods in the cycle of scientific discovery. Emphasis is on formulating significant research questions, clarifying important concepts for research, and preparing sound research proposals. Open only to matriculated doctoral students who have completed the prerequisites. 4 cr.
• SED RS 655: Mixed Methods Research
  This course is an advanced research seminar that provides hands-on training in the use of integrated quantitative and qualitative methods in a single study. Students will gain competency in design, rationale, data collection, analysis, integration of results, and dissemination strategies.
• SED RS 699: Research Apprenticeship
  Collaboration with a faculty member on funded or unfunded research. Particular focus will depend on the stage of design or implementation of the particular study, and may include formulation and refinement or research questions, design of the methodological plan, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and report of findings. Var cr.
• SED RS 750: Advanced Research Seminar
  Graduate Prerequisites: Three graduate-level research courses including RS654 and consent of instructor.
  Provides direction on substantive and procedural issues in the design and conduct of research. Requires students to present drafts of their dissertation proposals for critique in seminar format and to contribute to the constructive criticism of proposals presented by fellow classmates. Graduate Prereq: For doctoral students who have already clarified their research interests and are ready to work on their dissertation proposals. Three graduate-level research courses and consent of instructor. 4 cr.
• SED RS 751: Program Evaluation
  Graduate Prerequisites: two graduate-level research courses and consent of instructor.
  Alternative approaches to evaluation; consideration of stakeholders; specification of multiple outcomes; program monitoring; formative and summative designs; practical guidelines for planning, conducting, reporting, and using evaluations; role of the evaluator; necessary skills; political, ethical, and interpersonal aspects. Applicable to curricular interventions, training programs, social action projects, social policies. Case studies and student proposals are critiqued in seminar. Prereq: Two graduate-level research courses and consent of instructor. Requires some pilot testing. 4 cr.
• SED RS 752: Seminar in Qualitative Research
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: RS 652 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods or equivalent
  This is an advanced qualitative research course designed for doctoral students who have data ready to analyze. Students engage in data analysis, writing, and peer review throughout the course, with a goal of each student completing a full research paper draft by the end of the semester. Prerequisite: SED RS 652 or a similar introduction to qualitative research course at the graduate level. 4 cr.
• SED RS 753: Causal Design in Education Research
  This course will introduce students to research designs commonly used in education research that plausibly allow for causal claims. Topics include randomized field trials, regression discontinuity, differences-in- differences, and instrumental variables.
• SED RS 755: Psychometrics
  Provides instruction in psychometric and statistical methods of measurement. Introduces two psychometric methods -- Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory (IRT) -- and will cover a range of measurement issues, such as reliability, validity, bias, and standard-setting.
• SED RS 900: Ind Study
  Prereq: Approval of advisor. Signed plan of study must be submitted in advance of registration on an Independent study form obtained from the SED Office of Records. Variable cr.