University of Arizona
IRLS 506
Spring 2006
Instructor: Dr. Margaret Higgins
or
higginsm@u.arizona.edu
Last altered December 3 2005
I expect input. Articulation of your thoughts and interaction with your colleagues is critical for your learning.
Lecture Schedule (Subject to refinement as the semester progresses)
Jan 12th General Introduction & Expectations
Jan 19th What is Research & Why do it? Ways of Knowing
Jan 26th Research Process
Feb 2nd Science & Positivism
Feb 9th Designs & Error Readings: Campbell & Stanley
Feb 16th Designs & Error Readings: Campbell & Stanley
Feb 23rd Basic & Applied research
Mar 2nd Introduction to Statistics
Mar 9th Introduction to Statistics (cont)
Mar 23rd Qualitative I
Mar 30th Qualitative II
April 6th Sampling; Survey research
April 13th Different countries / different research concerns
April 20th Research and Decision Making: their connections
April 27th Review
May 4 th Exam
Paper 1 Hypothesis Development. Due last class in February (Worth 15%)
Early submission of papers is most welcome. Max length equivalent to 5 double spaced pages; 12 point font. Use the APA style.
Select a recent research article which covers an area of interest to you. Ensure that the article includes identifiable hypotheses - then go back through the cited literature – choosing 4 or 5 key articles, and actually look at the original, earlier works - and critique the development of the hypotheses. From where did the ideas stem? Are they worth investigating? Why? Also present a brief critique of the methods used to test the hypotheses. Please identify or provide me with a copy of the article.
Paper 2 Article Evaluation. Due last class in March (Worth 15%)
You will evaluate the research quality of two of the following articles . Using the guidelines below, write a maximum of four double spaced print pages. These research papers (like most) have strengths and weaknesses
Borgman, C.L., Hirsh, S.G., Walter, V.A., & Gallagher, A.L. "Children's Searching Behavior on Browsing and Keyword Online Catalogs: The Science Library Catalog Project. "Journal of the American Society for Information Science , (1995) 46 (9), 663-684. In coursepack.
Buttlar, Lois, and William Caynon "Recruitment of Librarians Into the Profession: The Minority Perspective "Library and Information Science Research volume 14, (1992) pages 259-280.
Case, D & Richardson, J. (1990). “Predictors of Student Performance with Emphasis on Gender and Ethnic Determinants”. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 30, 3. Winter. 163-180.
and, for this, if you wish,
Paper 3 Research Proposal Due last class in April (Worth 45%)
Max length 10 double spaced pages, 12 point font.
Writing a research proposal will provide you with the opportunity to give some in depth thought to your topic of concern. It will be in report format, containing an introduction, background to the problem, a broad statement on the nature of the problem, a literature review, a theoretical framework in which the problem is placed, a statement of the hypotheses, and a methods section which includes such design details as the variables in the research, how the hypotheses could be tested / measured, which statistical tests are appropriate, and to whom the research results could be generalized. Note that I am not expecting a tremendously detailed proposal - just one that contains all the necessary elements of one.
Examination In class,. (Worth 20%)
Criteria for Evaluating Research Reports
You should be familiar with all standard material about internal, external, instruments, design, sampling, control and test groups. Not all of it will apply to all research pieces, nor are these the only possible criteria that should be addressed. Each piece will require additional thought on the part of the evaluator. Questions to ask yourself as you read are:
I. Report of Prior Research:
Is the literature cited relevant?
Is the literature cited significant?
Is the literature cited sufficiently identified so that you could retrieve it?
II. Purpose and Justification
Is it sufficient, logical, and convincing?
Is there a general problem area identified?
Is a specific problem evident?
Are definitions given and are they clearly operationalized?
Are assumptions stated?
Hypotheses: Are they stated- implied, clear, precise?
Are they directional?
Is lack of an hypothesis accounted for?
III. Sampling (if appropriate):
Is the population clearly described, implied?
Is the sample clearly described?
Is it representative, random, adequate in size?
Are limitations on generalizability presented?
IV. Instrumentation:
Adequately described?
Reliable?
Valid for the purpose?
V. Procedures:
Are they clearly described?
Are extraneous variables controlled?
Is procedural bias controlled?
VI. Data Analysis:
Are statistical methods appropriate?
Are limitations pointed out?
VII. Results
Clearly presented?
Written description consistent with data?
Are there a minimum of inferences?
Are they debatable?
VIII. Interpretation:
Is it consistent with the results?
Relevant to the purpose?
Does it place the study in a broader perspective?
What does it signal?
Grades : A: 100-90 B: 89-80 C: 79-70 Less than C = fail
A note on 'Incompletes'
The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end of the semester ...
If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.