Course Syllabus TLEN 5700: Research Methods Fall 2015 (11:00 a.m. 12:40 p.m. Friday, Rm. ECCS 1B28, 2 credits) Course Description and Objectives In this class students will go through the process of planning and designing a research proposal that can serve as the basis of a capstone or thesis project. Students will learn the process and skills for conducting a research and development (R&D) project designed to generate original research of publishable quality on an interdisciplinary topic selected by the students. Along the way, students will also have the opportunity to consider how to develop and apply their technology solutions for commercial and/or business purposes. TLEN 5700 teaches and develops the following skills for students: 1. Research. Learn the basic research process required for the Capstone and Master s Thesis such as identifying and defining a research problem, conducting literature reviews, and the organization of research proposals. 2. Analysis. Understand different qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and the circumstances under which they are best employed. 3. Writing. Learn the organization and citation accepted with the scientific community; effectively communicate ideas with clarity and persuasive force. 4. Presentation. Gain experience presenting research results through class presentations. 5. Teamwork. Learn teamwork by working in small technical project teams to define and develop Capstone and Master s Thesis topics on research and development topics. Instructor Dr. David Reed Faculty Director, Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program david.reed@colorado.edu 303-492-1457 Office Hours: 2:00 4:00 p.m. Thursdays, ECOT 347 Teaching Assistant Irena Stevens irena.stevens@colorado.edu Office Hours: 10 a.m. noon, Wednesdays, DLC 1B40 Grading Item Percent of Grade Quizzes, Peer Reviews, and Class Participation 10% Homework 30%
Mid-Term Individual Proposal 30% Final Capstone Project Proposal and Presentation 30% Weekly lectures generally will cover specific research topics that are important elements in the development of individual and team (Capstone) research proposals that you will complete this semester. There will be no final, but there will be presentations during the last two weeks of class. To do well in this course, you will need to be prepared for each class (i.e., do not miss a reading or homework assignment). Be forewarned: pop quizzes will occasionally be given at the start of the class on the assigned reading material. The quizzes will be administered using iclickers, and performance on these quizzes will be the primary determinant of your score for the class participation portion of your grade. There will be an individual mid-term project and a team-based final project that will both require a written paper. Student papers will be graded on both the substantive content as well as writing skills such as spelling and grammar. The mid-term paper will be no longer than 10 pages in length, and the final paper no longer than 10 pages in length (doublespaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, exclusive of title page, appendices and references). Individuals selected to present their mid-term projects, and all final project team presentations, will be subject to peer review by fellow students on a clearly defined set of presentation metrics. For class participation, students are encouraged to be active participants in classroom discussions. All homework assignments are due in electronic format at the start of class on the due date. No exceptions to deadlines for course work will be made absent either an emergency or prior notification to the professor stating the date and reason for the classroom absence two weeks in advance. Required Materials 1. CU Clicker iclicker remote. Students can purchase iclicker remotes at the CU Bookstore and register the device in MyCUInfo. 2. Class readings will be posted on the Desire2Learn web site. To access, go to: https://learn.colorado.edu/. You can login using your IdentiKey username and password. Once logged in, click on TLEN 5700 Research Methods. 1 Course Syllabus (Subject to Change) Date Topic, Reading and/or Work Assignment Aug. 28 Lecture 1: Overview of Class and Definition of Research Sept. 4 Lecture 2: Forming the Research Question 1 Please visit http://www.colorado.edu/oit/services/teaching-learning-tools/desire2learnd2l/help/student-support to watch videos and learn more about using D2L. If you run into any problems using Desire2Learn, contact the help desk at: help@colorado.edu or at (303) 735-HELP. 2
Required Readings: Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Practical Research: Planning and Design, 10 th Edition, pp. 1-7, 16-21, 27-35. Craig Partridge, Forty Data Communications Research Questions, ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review 24 Volume 41, Number 5, October 2011. Sept. 11 Homework #1 Three Research Ideas due at 11 a.m. Lecture 3: Developing the Topic Defining the Interdisciplinary Problem Required Readings: Allen Repko, The Interdisciplinary Research Process, Chapter 1, Defining Interdisciplinary Studies, pp. 1-19. Frederic Darbellay, et al, Interdisciplinary Research Boosted by Serendipity, Creativity Research Journal, v26, Issue 1, January 2014. Faculty Mixer to discuss research topics on September 16. Homework #2 Three Interdisciplinary Research Ideas due at 11a.m. Sept. 18 ITP Faculty Presentations of Research Topics for Capstone Lecture 4: How to Review the Related Literature Required Reading: Read Levy and Ellis, A Systems Approach to Conduct an Effective Literature Review in Support of Information Systems Research, Informing Science Journal, v9, p. 181-212, 2006. S. Keshav, How to Read a Paper, ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, v37, Number 3, July 2007. Sept. 25 Homework #3 Literature Review and Finding References due at 11 a.m. New Venture Challenge (NVC) Kickoff on September 24 Lecture 5: Planning the Research Project and Writing A Research Proposal Required Readings: Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Practical Research: Planning and Design, 10 th Edition, Chapters 4 and 5. Oct. 2 Homework #4 Research Sub-problems, and Problem Solving due at 11 a.m. Thesis students need to declare intent to pursue thesis Lecture 6: Creating Research Presentations Mid-term Project: Individual Research Proposal due at 11 a.m. 3
Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Lecture 7: Student Presentation of Proposals Homework #5: Research Proposal Presentation due at 11 a.m. Lecture 8: Research Methodologies MEET AT IDEA FORGE FOR CLASS Capstone Teams Advisors Identified and Teams Set Lecture 9: Digging Deeper on Your Research Proposal MEET AT IDEA FORGE FOR CLASS Homework #6: Notes on 5 Unique, New References due at 11 a.m. Mid-term Project Resubmits Due at 11 a.m. Lecture 10: Different Approach to Research Design Thinking Required Reading: Hasso Plattner, An Introduction to Design Thinking: Process Guide, Institute of Design at Standford (2010). MEET AT IDEA FORGE FOR CLASS Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Homework #7: Updated Literature Review due at 11 a.m. Lecture 11: Technology Transfer Applied to Research Homework #8: New Outcomes of Design Thinking due at 11 a.m. Lecture 12: Project Pitch Presentations Homework #9: Pitch Presentations due at 9 a.m. Lecture 13: Prep for Final Presentation/Project Management Required Readings Schwaber and Sutherland, The Scrum Guide, July 2013. Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Homework #10: Rejuvenated Interdisciplinary Research Focus of Project due at 11 a.m. Class Discussion of Research Proposals Final Project Papers due at 11 a.m. Student Presentations of Research Proposals 4 Final Presentations due at 8 a.m. University Policies Policy on Academic Honesty. All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic
misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735- 2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Additional information regarding the Honor Code policy can be found online and at the Honor Code Office. Religious Obligations. Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, students with religious obligations that conflict with a test or other assignment should contact the instructor at least two weeks in advance to arrange an alternative time or assignment. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html Classroom and Course-Related Behavior. Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. For more information, see the policies on classroom behavior and the student code. Policy on Discrimination and Harassment. The University of Colorado Boulder (CU- Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the OIEC, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be found at the OIEC website. The full policy on discrimination and harassment contains additional information. Students with Disabilities. If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter at least one week prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Injuries guidelines under the Quick Links at the Disability Services website 5
and discuss your needs with your professor. 6