EDDE 802: Advanced Research Methods in Education

Delivery mode: Grouped study with Internet component

Credits: 3 - Core course

Instructor March 2012: Terry Anderson

Note: Only students admitted into the doctoral program may take this course.

Overview

EDDE 802 (the second course in the doctoral program), will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to successfully carry out doctoral research. This course is intended to provide you with an overview of educational research methods with special emphasis on the new and emerging methods of educational research and the unique aspects of distance education research.

The EDDE 802 course includes online conferencing, group and independent study. Assessment is based on participation in online conferencing and the assignments.

The course content provides an overview of educational research, its different components and methods in educational research including methods of data collection and analysis. We will elaborate on the methods and processes in educational research as applicable in distance education.

This Moodle delivered course will be enhanced with emails, telephone, Me2U, Elluminate, and other internet based technologies (e.g. Skype) in order to deliver the course and provide support to students.

Course Objectives

The overarching goal of this course is to provide knowledge and skills related to research inquiry through an indepth focus on quantitative and qualitative research, strategies of inquiry used in published qualitative and quantitative research and active application. The course is geared toward broadening an advanced understanding of research approaches in ways that can be explored through diverse style of research methods. Special emphasis will be given to the emerging and mixed method approaches to educational research and exposure to various computer mediated tools (e.g., synchronous and asynchronous tools for communication, repository and databases, tools and technologies for data collection and analysis, etc.) available for research in distance education.

Course Outline

EDDE 802 is presented in four units over thirteen weeks. In these units we discuss the range of issues in planning distance education research. Each unit is designed to answer important questions students usually have about the research process, in a manner that relates these questions to the course content.

• Unit A: The context of educational research;
• Unit B: Planning educational research;
• Unit C: Styles of educational research; and
• Unit D: Strategies for data collection and researching.

Student Evaluation

Assignment 1 (20%)

Your first assignment is a methodological critique of articles (where you will critically review at least four articles).

Assignment 2 (20%)

In Assignment 2 you will be working in groups to prepare a presentation on a research method or theory (which may or may not have been covered in this course

Assignment 3 (40%)

Assignment 3 is the writing of a research methods proposal. In groups you will discuss and brainstorm researchable questions, issues or problems and then write a research methods proposal.

Participation (20%)

Participation in the weekly online activities, presentation and discussion of individual and group work through synchronous and asynchronous interactions online.

Course Materials

The course textbook:

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in education, 7th edition. New York: RoutledgeFalmer.

In addition, students receive a course Reader, consisting of core readings.

 

CDE - Last updated by MM February 10, 2012