Advanced Science Ethics - Spring 2014
Research Methods and Lives
 |
 |
Course Outline
Below is an outline of the content and activities of the course.
Lesson 1: Formulating a Research Problem
Research Objectives and Operational Definitions
Lesson 2: Identifying Variables
Concept vs. variables; types of variables; measurements scales
Lesson 3: Constructing Hypotheses
Types of hypothesis; errors in testing of hypothesis
Assignment of Projects
Lesson 4: Research Design
Functions and causality of a research design
Homework #1 Out
Lesson 5: Selecting a Study Design
Cross-over, trend, blind, and double-blind studies
Lesson 6: Data Collection
Data collection in qualitative and quantitative research
Homework #1 Due
Lesson 7: Selecting a Sample
Sample size; random, non-random, and mixed sampling
Lesson 8: Exploratory Data Analysis
Histograms and boxplots
Homework #2 Out
Lesson 9: Significance Testing
Paired tests, ANOVA, and corrections
Lesson 10: Non-Parametric Statistics
Descriptive statistics; Wilcoxon test
Lesson 11: Regression
Regression analysis
Lesson 12: Mixed Methods
New methods for interdisciplinary research
Homework #2 Due
Lesson 13: Stoic Philosophy
Emotion vs. rationality in dealing with success and adversity
Lesson 14: Stoic Philosophy
Historical paradigms to follow or avoid
Lesson 15: Project Presentations
Essays and Project Reports Due
