Course Description
This course will focus on providing research techniques and language for both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Topics will include developing research questions and hypotheses,conducting library/literature searches, research limitations, and other research design considerations. The applied research project is a part of the Capstone Seminar course. The research project should be a work-based project focused on a research problem. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- OEL 501: Learning Community
- MAT 105 or Undergraduate Statistics
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain the various frameworks related to designing a research proposal (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches).
- Discuss ethical issues associated with a research problem, questions, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data.
- Develop a research strategy for writing the research proposal.
- Formulate research hypotheses and research questions (for a qualitative or quantitative study).
- Create a work-based project.
Applicable Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
- PLO 3. Develop professional communication skills.
- PLO 13. Develop a research project proposal that clearly defines a problem, identifies project objectives or research questions, recommends and supports methodologies to address the above, and hypothesizes resultant actions.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Points |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8 @ 30 points per week) | 240 |
Week 1: Project Topic - Supporting Sources | 80 |
Week 2: Introduction and Problem Statement | 80 |
Week 3: Background of Study - Research Question | 80 |
Week 4: Literature Review | 80 |
Week 5: Draft Capstone Project Methodology | 80 |
Week 6: Final Capstone Project Methodology - Resulting Actions | 80 |
Week 7: Formal COSC IRB Submission | 80 |
Week 8: Final Project: Capstone Proposal | 200 |
Total Points | 1,000 |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Creswell, J. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. 5th ed. Sage Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-1-5063-8670-6
Supplemental Required Readings / Resources
- Links to the supplemental readings and articles are provided in the course shells.
Course Schedule
| Week | PLOs | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3,13 | 1 | Introduction to Research - Choosing Your Topic Creswell Textbook:
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2 | 3,13 | 1,3 | Introduction and Problem/Purpose Statement Creswell Textbook:
Article: Buckley, M. R., Ferris, G. R., Bernardin, H. J., & Harvey, M. G. (1998). The disconnect between the science and practice of management. Business Horizons, 41(2), 31. (Note: articles are available in the Charter Oak Library) |
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3 | 3,13 | 1,4 | Background of Study - Literature Review - Research Questions Creswell Textbook:
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4 | 13 | 2 | Ethics in Research - The IRB Creswell Textbook:
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5 | 3,13 | 1,3 | Research Methodologies - Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Creswell Textbook:
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6 | 3,13 | 1,3 | Data Analysis Creswell Textbook:
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7 | 3,13 | 2,3,5 | Preparing Your Charter Oak Institutional Review Board (IRB) (Due to the amount of written assignment work, there are not any readings for this week) |
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8 | 3,13 | 3,5 | Final Project: Capstone Proposal (Due to the amount of written assignment work, there are not any readings for this week) |
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.