Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2018 - EDUC 864 G001

Research Designs in Education (5)

Class Number: 5157

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 7 – Aug 3, 2018: Tue, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Designing and interpreting research about education. Introduction to survey techniques, correlational designs, classic experimental and evaluation designs for investigating causal relations, case study methods, interpretive approaches to research. Students with credit for EDUC 814 may not take this course for further credit. Equivalent Courses: EDUC814

COURSE DETAILS:

DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to the major approaches and issues in educational research. Students will develop an understanding that allows them to read and interpret interdisciplinary qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods educational research. Students will also develop the skills and language with which to critically understand how research, as a form of institutionalized knowledge, is socially constructed; and the skills and language with which to assess how knowledge is produced in relation to social constructions of difference (such as gender/sexuality, race/ethnicity, class, and ability).

By the end of course students will:

  • Learn about diverse approaches to interdisciplinary social research design in education;
  • Understand and articulate the differences between data collection and data analysis strategies;
  • Understand and articulate the place of theory in research design, and data collection and analysis activities;
  • Understand and articulate the possibilities and limitations of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research designs;
  • Articulate a personal topic of interest and situate a research question or issue about it within an existing field of study (i.e. situate your interest in relation to a set of issues/questions already under investigation in a given field);
  • Identify, interpret, and analyze the existing research literature on this issue/ topic;
  • Write a literature review (appropriate to a masters level) outlining the existing known research on this issue/topic;
  • Understand and articulate some of the challenges for social research for equity on the research process.

Grading

  • In class and take-home work (such as but not limited to solo and group exercises, solo and group written activities, homework assignments) (ongoing) 30%
  • Literature Review assignment (all students will write a LR on a topic of their choosing as their final paper for the course) (due date Aug 7) 60%
  • Presentation of Lit Review (Jul 24) 10%

NOTES:

The course will run primarily as a seminar and there will be expectations of self-directed work on a topic of your choice. Be prepared for a reading load that is in line with other social sciences disciplines at the level of 200 ppw.

REQUIREMENTS:

Graduate standing in any Faculty. Students outside of the Faculty of Education and from institutions other than SFU who have an interest in the course are encouraged to contact the instructor with questions, or to enroll.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Coe, R., Waring, M., Hedges, L. V. & Arthur, J. (2017). Research methods & methodologies in education. Second edition. Los Angeles: Sage.
ISBN: 9781473969803

Graff, G. & Birkenstein, C. (2018). They say/ I say: The moves that matter in academic writing, 3e. New York: Norton.

Note: 4th edition not available until June 11, 2018. Use the 3rd edition. ISBN updated.
ISBN: 978-0-393-61743-6

Please familiarize yourself with the APA style guide; you will be required to submit your written work using APA style citations and references. Preliminary info here: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/cite-write/citation-style-guides/apa

Additional readings will be required and available via the SFU Library databases; Please ensure you know how to use the online SFU Library databases (from on-campus and off-campus).

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS