Semester | Spring Semester, 2020 | ||
Department | International Doctor Program in Asia-Pacific Studies, First Year International Doctor Program in Asia-Pacific Studies, Second Year International Doctor Program in Asia-Pacific Studies, Third Year | ||
Course Name | Research Methods | ||
Instructor | HOLM DAVID LEOPOLD | ||
Credit | 3.0 | ||
Course Type | Required | ||
Prerequisite |
Course Objective |
Course Description |
Course Schedule |
Week 1: Scientific Inquiry, Research Areas, Research Topics, Research Questions Readings Babbie, chapter 1 Topics * course objectives, requirements, overview * knowledge and science * purposes of research (see also Babbie, pp.90-93) * science as a social enterprise * research areas vs. research interests vs. researchable topics
Week 2: Getting to Know the Journals in your Field Topics * disciplines in Asia-Pacific Studies * journals in Asia-Pacific Studies * recent and past discourses in your research area * methods in use in your research area * posting assignment (due before class in week 4)
Week 3: Ethics in Research Readings: Babbie, ch. 2 Topics: * ethics in research * politics in research * posting assignment (due before class in week 4)
Week 4: The Basic Building Blocks of Theory and Research Readings: Babbie, chapter 3 (especially pp.71-79); Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 2, 6, and 9 Topics: * Why theory? What is theory? * paradigms, theories, models and hypotheses * key concepts: variables, concepts (also, Babbie, p.164) * inductive versus deductive inquiry (also, Babbie, 21-23) * criteria for causality (also, Babbie, 93-95) * what is a “contribution to knowledge?” * analytical frameworks versus literature review * research and dissertation topic formulation processes
Week 5: The Basic Building Blocks of Empirical Research II; Understanding Research Design Readings: Babbie, chapter 4; Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 12, 15 (Proposal and Dissertation outlines) Topics: * purposes of inductive research; criteria of success * purposes of deductive research; criteria of success * issues in research design * examples in Asia-Pacific Studies
Week 6: Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement Readings: Babbie, chapter 6 Topics: * conceptualization * operationalization * levels of measurement * validity, reliability * examples in Asia-Pacific Studies and other relevant disciplines
Week 7: Indices; Presentation of Research Proposals Short Presentation of Research Topics. Readings: Babbie, chapter 7 (esp. 201-215, 217) Topics: * indices and Likert-scales * examples in Asia-Pacific Studies and other relevant disciplines * presentation of sample research proposals
Week 8: Sampling Readings: Babbie, chapter 8; Glatthorn & Joyner, chapter 4, 11, and 18 (Methods Selection) Topics: * samples in research * probability and non-probability samples * key concepts: sampling frame, sampling error, types of bias
Week 9: Survey Research Readings: Babbie, chapter 11; Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 3, 10, and 17 (Literature review)
DUE: Initial Proposal.
Topics: * role of surveys in research * self-administered surveys; mail and internet * telephone and interview surveys
Week 10: Field Research Readings: Babbie, chapter 10 Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 2. 16, and 19 (Writing the Introduction) Topics: * topics appropriate for field research * roles of observers * use of focus groups * examples in Asia-Pacific Studies and other relevant disciplines
Week 11: Field Research (2) Readings: H. Russell Bernard, Research Methods in Anthropology, chapters 9-11 Topics: * observing other cultures * field notes: how to take and manage them * unstructured and semi-structured interviewing * direct observation * dealing with language barriers * audio and video recording * use of GPS and digital cameras
Week 12: Evaluation Research Readings: Babbie, chapter 12 Glatthorn & Joyner, ch. 19-20 (Writing the Results chapter) Topics: * program evaluation from start to finish * selection of research questions and methods * program evaluation as a learning; presenting results * from evaluation to optimization
Week 13: Secondary Data and Policy Analysis Readings: Babbie, chapter 10
Topics: * availability of secondary data * strengths and weaknesses of secondary data * secondary data and policy analysis * examples in Asia-Pacific Studies and other relevant disciplines
Week 14: Experiments and Quasi-Experiments Readings: Babbie, chapter 9 Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 14, 8 (Academic Style, Technology) Topics: * the importance of control and research design * threats to validity * double-blind experiments * strengths and limitations of the experimental design
Week 15: Publishing in SSCI journals Readings: Glatthorn & Joyner, chapters 5, 13 Topics: * journal house styles * quotation, paraphrase, and plagiarism
Week 16: Oral Presentations of Research Findings Topics: * conference presentations and posters * presentation style * using powerpoints (PPTs) effectively * handouts Activities: Individual consultations with Professor upon appointment work on final report
Week 17: Bringing it Together; presentations (1)
Week 18: Bringing it Together; presentations (2)
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Teaching Methods |
Teaching Assistant |
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Requirement/Grading |
Synopsis 15% Book review 10 Initial Proposal 15 Proposal presentation 5 Ethics posting 5 Research Proposal 30 Proposal presentation 10 Attendance 10 |
Textbook & Reference |
(1) Earl Babbie (2012). The Practice of Social Research, Wadsworth Publishing; 13th edition. (or later) . ISBN-13: 978-1133-04979-1 (2) H. Russell Bernard (1994). Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-8039-5244-9 (3). Allan A. Glatthorn, Randy L. Joyner. (2005). Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation: A Step-by-Step Guide. Corwin Press, 2nd edition. ISBN-13: 9780761939610 |
Urls about Course |
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Attachment |