Course Number:

Credit Hours:

3

Course Title:

Advanced Research and Data Analyses 1

Course Description:

Offers the first course in a year-long, two-semester sequence. Studies the relationship between design and analysis in research in the behavioral sciences. Emphasizes the use of existing theories and models as a basis for the formation of questions and hypotheses and for designing research to address them. Covers the logic of design of research, objectivity, and ethical concerns, as well as the role of perspectives on epistemology, such as neopositivism, phenomenology, and pragmatism. Reviews descriptive statistics and correlation techniques to include simple regression and nonparametric methods. Requires students to do problems on the computer and/or by hand using data sets assigned in class. Utilizes SPSS, SAS, and other computer analysis packages including graphic methods of depicting data. Emphasis is on interpretation of the results of quantitative analyses. Emphasizes the analysis of research findings within an ecological context. Student does a research project from a data set and turns in a written report in APA format suitable for publication. Studies how to critique existing published investigations, taking a researcher’s perspective.