Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University UST 405 Methods of Research & Evaluation Fall 2009 Page 1 of 6 8/25/2009 UST 405 METHODS OF RESEARCH & EVALUATION Day & Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2:50 p.m. Location: UR 27 (lecture/discussion) and UR 39 (lab) Instructor: Dr. Sung-Gheel (Gil) Jang Office: UR 349 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (216) 687-5597 Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 to4 p.m., or by appointment Course website: CSU Blackboard (https://elearning.csuohio.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct) Course Description This course provides an overview of crucial methods of research and evaluation in the public policy, urban planning, and urban studies at large. This course is one of college requirements with UST 404 Urban Data Analysis. The emphasis is on working knowledge and skills students can use in other coursework and their careers, particularly in analyzing urban planning and policies and building a conceptual framework for looking into varied urban planning and policy issues. This course consists of two parts: lecture/discussion sessions (Tuesdays) and laboratory sessions (Thursdays). During the lecture/discussion sessions, students must come to class after reading materials assigned prior to each class and participate in varied class activities. During the lab sessions, students will gain working knowledge on the use of computer software for varied urban research. Particularly, Spreadsheet software (MS Excel) will be used to manipulate numerical data and conduct statistical analyses with census data as well as other research data such as ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research). ESRI ArcGIS will be introduced for mapping census data. Course Objectives At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to meet the following objectives: Create a formal statement and proposal of research to address research question(s); Gain a practical, working knowledge of a variety of research methods and analytical techniques; Identify approaches and techniques for data collection and analysis relevant to urban research; Determine what information is relevant to your inquiry and where those data may be found; Apply statistical methods and interpret findings; Comprehend and critically evaluate the use of quantitative data in reports and media; and Effectively communicate findings visually, orally, and in writingMaxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University UST 405 Methods of Research & Evaluation Fall 2009 Page 2 of 6 8/25/2009 Required textbooks Colin Robson (2007). How to Do a Research Project – A Guide for Undergraduate Students. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4051-1490-5 [ROBSON] Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams (2008). The Craft of Research, 3rd Edition. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-06566-3. [BCW] Recommended web sources William M. K. Trochim (2005). The Research Methods Knowledge Base, <URL= http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/index.php> Grading The course grade will be determined as follows: 10% Class participation (Attendance; In-class group and/or individual participation) 10% Lab exercises 20% Assignments 20% Midterm exam 20% Final project 20% Final exam Grading scale: A = 94% or above, A- = 90%-93.9%, B+ = 87%-89.9%, B = 83%-86.9%, B- = 80%-82.9%, C+ = 77%-79.9%, C = 70%-76.9%, D = 60%-69.9%, F = 59.9% and belowMaxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University UST 405 Methods of Research & Evaluation Fall 2009 Page 3 of 6 8/25/2009 Course Schedule Subject to Change with Notice Week Date Course Topic 1 8/25 Introduction to class 8/27 Lab: Spreadsheet primer (I) MS Excel basics 2 9/1 Research concepts & foundation scientific inquiry; scientific methods language of research Reading: William M. K. Trochim and James P. Donnelly (2007). Research Methods Knowledge Base, 3rd edition. Mason, OH: Thomson Publishing – Ch 1. Foundations (pp. 5-23) Web source: William M. K. Trochim (2005). The Research Methods Knowledge Base, <URL= http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intres.php> 9/3 Lab: Spreadsheet primer (II) creating tables and charts in MS Excel 3 9/8 Research process research topics and research questions hypotheses Reading: BCW Ch 3 & Ch 4 (pp. 35-67) ROBSON (pp. 47-54) 9/10 Lab: from data to information (I) exploring census data: data aggregation 4 9/15 Engaging sources from problems to sources literature search Reading: BCW Ch 5 & Ch 6 (pp. 68-99) ROBSON (pp. 54-64) 9/17 Lab: Library search Guest speaker: Diane Kolosionek (Education/Urban Affairs Librarian, Michael Schwartz Library)Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University UST 405 Methods of Research & Evaluation Fall 2009 Page 4 of 6 8/25/2009 5 9/22 Ethics in research Reading: Frederick J. Gravetter and Lori-Ann B. Forzano (2003). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. – Ch 3. Ethics in Research (pp. 58-81) 9/24 Lab: from data to information (II) exploring census data: difference; trends; population pyramids 6 9/29 Approaches to research Reading: ROBSON Ch 2 (pp. 18-46) 10/1 Lab: Mapping data (I) mapping census data 7 10/6 Introduction to evaluation research Reading: James C. McDavid and Laura R. L. Hawthorn (2006). Program Evaluation & Performance Measurement – An Introduction to Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. – Ch 1. (pp. 1-38) Web source: William M. K. Trochim (2005). The Research Methods Knowledge Base, <URL= http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/evaluation.php> 10/8 Lab: Mapping data (II) 8 10/13 Midterm Exam 10/15 Final project assigned 9 10/20 Measurement and scales measurements methods of collecting data Reading: Frederick J. Gravetter and Lori-Ann B. Forzano (2003). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. – Ch 4. Defining and measuring variables (pp. 83-113) ROBSON Ch 4 (pp. 70-94) 10/22 Lab: Data-driven learning (I) descriptive analysis using MS ExcelMaxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University UST 405 Methods of Research & Evaluation Fall 2009 Page 5 of 6 8/25/2009 10 10/27 Sampling Reading: Daniel R. Montello and Paul C. Sutton (2006). An