Columbia College 
Salt Lake City   Spring Term 2008

PSYC/SOCI 325  /  Research Design 

 3 Credit Hours

Dwight L Adams, instructor
email: dwightladams@msn.com

COURSE INFORMATION
    Prerequisites: PSYC 101, junior standing, and PSYC 324, or instructor's permission.

    Required Text: Neuman, W.L., (2006) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitiative approches, 6th Ed., Allyn & Bacon, Boston.        

   Course description:

The study of applied research in the behavioral sciences, with an emphasis on design, methodology results interpretation, and theory building. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are addressed with the latter employing both parametric and non parametric analyses. Cross listed as SOCI 325.

COURSE ORGANIZATION
   
    To cover the material in the time allotted, each class period will cover one chapter in the required text. It is important that you read the chapter before class time. 

    Instructional Methods will include study guides, assignments, group projects, and other information that is found on the class web site. We will have computer labs during class time when it is available.

    Out-of-class activities, working in your assigned groups, will also be necessary to complete the term project (actual research).

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
   
    Specific objectives:
    1. Know, comprehend and apply methods, theories, principles, techniques  and concepts of social and behavioral research.
    2. Produce applied research products.
    3. Produce a research based treatment plan.
    4. Compute and appropriately interpret parametric and non parametric statistics.
    5. Critically evaluate published research.

EVALUATION
   
    We will have 4 exams during the term, but only count 3 of them towards your grade. Each covers 3-4 chapters of the required text and what we do in class.

    A major portion of the course is a term project which you will do in assigned groups. The assignments, exams, term projects, attendance and cooperative participation are all used in computing your final grade.

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

    Attendance Policy: In Research Design we will be proceeding at a very rapid pace. There will NOT be time for you to take a tine off during the term.

    Academic honesty is required and expected. Cooperative participation in class is also expected. Assignments will be posted on the class web site. The due date of each assignment will be noted on the homework itself

Library Support

    Students at the Salt Lake Campus have access to a variety of library and research facilities. These facilities include local and county libraries as well as the public universities library system. Please contact the Salt Lake City Campus staff for more specific information.

    Columbia College students also have access to on-line research databases using the campus computers. An impressive array of information searches can be performed with the available EBSCIhost, Lexis-Nexis and standard Internet connections. Detailed information is available at the campus.

    For library connection information see:
    www.ccis.edu/departments/library/ocresources.html
    Session 01-15   Proxy #     (The proxy number will change for each session)

ADA Statement: Students with documented disabilities who may need
academic adjustments or auxiliary aids or services for this course are required
to contact the Site Director.