Dan Russell Spring, 2011 HDFS 503: Quantitative Research Methods in HDFS Required texts: Krathwohl, D. R. (2004). Methods of educational and social science research: An integrated approach (2 nd ed.). Waveland Press, Inc. ISBN: 1-57766-3330 Patten, M. L. (2007). Understanding research methods: An overview of the essentials (7 th ed.). Pyrczak Publishing. ISBN: 1-884585-83-3 Recommended n. a. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th ed.). Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association. Course Description: Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies (3 credits). Prereq: Stat 401. Concepts, methods and strategies for research in human development and family studies. Topics include the nature of scientific research, measurement, types of research in human development and family studies, validity of research designs, methods of data gathering, and strategies for and issues in the study of change. Statistical Software SPSS 19 and AMOS 7. Course Purpose: This course is designed to give students practical understanding and/or experience in: 1) Characteristics and broad issues that underlie empirical research methods and identifying appropriate research method/s. 2) Causality conditions for causality. 3) Theoretical perspectives, deriving hypotheses, operationalization of concepts in the hypotheses measurements, questionnaire construction. 4) Properties of measurements Reliability and validity. 5) Basic principles of sampling sampling methods. 6) Identifying and applying appropriate statistical methods, interpretation of results. 7) Longitudinal studies and issues in the study of change. 8) Basic characteristics of observational data.
1-18 Introduction to Empirical Research Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Experimental vs. Non-experimental Studies Types of Non-experimental Research Patten- Topics 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 & 10 Krathwohl Chapters 1, 2, 3 In-class Group Activity #1: Patten exercise on topic 2,Qs 1-9, 10, 12 Patten exercise on topic 4, Qs 1-6, 7, 9 1-25 The Role of Theory in Research Research Hypotheses Operationalization of Concepts, Variables Patten Topics 5, 6, 7, 8, & 13 Krathwohl Chapters 4, 7 In-class Group Activity #2: Identify a theoretical perspective, derive two hypotheses, operationalize the concepts in the hypotheses (the format will be provided). Begin Individual Assignment #1: Complete all the steps in Group Activity #2 & #3 individually (use provided format) Due 2/08 2-1 Survey Research (Guest Lecture Director, SBRS survey unit) Questionnaire Construction Krathwohl- Chapter 16 In-class group Activity #3: Examine a questionnaire (will be provided), identify different types of questions, and critically review the questions. Write questions to collect data for operationalized concepts in Group Activity #2.
2-08 Ethical Considerations in Research: Complete the web-based Human Subjects training before coming to class: http://www.compliance.iastate.edu/compliance Web/irbTraining.aspx.html Patten Topics 12,14,15,16, 17, 18 & 19; Appendix B Krathwohl- Chapters 6, 10 In-class group Activity #4: Patten Exercise on Topic 12, Qs 1-11 Reviewing Research Literature Reading research articles Individual assignment #1 due Begin Individual Assignment #2 (use the provided format): Review literature related to the hypothesis from Individual Assignment #1 List Statistical Techniques used in reviewed articles. Two or three paragraphs (e.g., Patten Topic 16 & Appendix B). Reference in APA format (Patten Topic 19). Due 2/22 2-15 Measurement Reliability Validity Patten Topics 27-33. Krathwohl- Chapter 18 In-class group Activity #5: Patten Exercise on Topic 29, Qs 1-10 Exercise on Topic 30, Qs 1-10 2-22 Sampling -Cross-sectional, Cohort, & Panel Studies -Level of analysis -Level of measurement Individual assignment #2 due Patten Topics 20-26 In-class group Activity #6: Patten Exercise on Topic 20, Qs 1-10 Exercise on Topic 21, Qs 1-12 Exercise on Topic 22, Qs 1-8 In-class group Activity #7: Patten Exercise on Topic 31, Qs 1-8 Exercise on Topic 32, Qs 1-8 Individual Assignment #3 (use the provided format): Due 3/22
3-1 Understanding Statistics Descriptive and Inferential Statistics Introduction to the Null Hypothesis Scales of Measurement Description of Nominal Data Chi Square Test Logic of Hypothesis Testing Review your Stat 401 notes. Patten Topics 43-48. Krathwohl- Chapter 19 In-class group Activity #8: Patten Exercise on Topic 47, Qs 1-9 Exercise on Topic 48, Qs 1-9 3-08 Shapes of Distributions Mean, Median and Mode Standard Deviation Correlation The t-test Patten Topics 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54. Krathwohl- Chapter 17 In-class group Activity #9: Patten Exercise on Topic 49, Qs 1-8 Exercise on Topic 50, 51, Qs 1-9. Exercise on Topic 53, 54, Qs 1-10. 3-15 Spring Break 3-22 Individual Assignment #3 due Midterm Exam 3-29 Analysis of Variance Linear/Multiple Regression Patten Topics 55-57 Krathwohl- Chapter 17. In-class group Activity #10: Patten Exercise on Topic 55, Qs 1-10 Exercise on Topic 56, Qs 1-8 Class Handout on Regression In-class group Activity #11: Interpretation of Regression output Individual Assignment #4: Interpretation of Regression output Due 4/12
4-05 Experimental Methods and Designs Patten Topics 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 & 42 Krathwohl- Chapter 20 In-class group Activity #12: Patten Exercise on Topic 37, Qs 1-8 Topic 38, Qs 1-7 Topic 39, Qs 1-6 4-12 Experimental Methods and Designs Patten Topics 40, 41 & 42 Krathwohl- Chapter 20 Individual Assignment #4 due 4-19 Observational Data, Mixed Methods Guest Lecture Director, Observational Unit, SBRC Viewing Video Tapes Family Interactions 4-26 Research Group Presentations see instructions and the sample 5-03 Final Exam Grading: 12 Group activity reports 100 - Each Due in the 3 rd hr of the class 4 Individual assignments 100 Mid-term exam 100 Final exam 100 Final group assignment 100 TOTAL = 500 Office Hours Dr. Russell will have office hours before class from 5:00 to 6:00 in 2352 Palmer. On other days of the week he can be reached at his office in 1100 Elm Hall (4-4187). His e-mail address is drussell@iastate.edu.