Course Syllabus
EDA 7400 – Summer 2003
Research in Educational Leadership:
Quantitative Methodologies
Instructor: Dr. Bill Wilson
Office: Building 1, Room 2518
Phone: 904-620-2700, email: bwilson@unf.edu
web page: http://www.unf.edu/~bwilson/
Office Hours:
Text: Iversen, G.R. and Gergen, M., Statistics: The Conceptual Approach, Springer
Suggested Additional Texts: (1) Freund, R.J., Wilson, W.J.,
Statistical Methods, 2nd Ed., Academic Press. (2) Pavkov,
R.T. & Pierce, K.A. Ready, Set, Go!, for Windows 11.0, Mayfield.
Course Description: The course includes a close examination
of the major approaches to quantitative research in educational leadership and
critical analysis of their appropriateness and strengths in studying research
questions in applied contexts. Enrollment limited to students admitted to the
doctoral program.
Purpose: This course is designed to develop and enhance the
knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to conduct and interpret
educational research. The purpose of this course is: (1) to be able to compute
and interpret basic descriptive statistics and design a descriptive research
study, (2) to be able to define discuss, and utilize measurement constructs;
(3) to be able to develop a data management plan; (4) to be able to compute and
interpret basic inferential statistics in research; and (5) to be able to state
clearly the research questions and hypotheses to be investigated and identify
the appropriate type of research design and statistical methodology to be used.
Methods: The teaching method of this course will be a
combination of classroom lectures, computer exercises, and discussion. SPSS
will be used regularly during the semester both for classroom demonstrations
(in the computer lab) and for projects.
Participants Responsibilities: All participants are expected to attend all class sessions. This is
particularly important as the class only meets once a week. Any material missed
due to absences must be made up prior to the next class meeting. Participants
should have no more than 2 absences.
Projects: There will be two projects assigned during the
course of the semester. The analysis of the data for these projects will be
done using SPSS. Write-ups will be done using WordPerfect or a comparable word
processor. The organization for the projects is listed below.
Evaluation Criteria: The course grade will be based on the
following breakdown:
1. In-class Midterm Exam .......................................................... ...30%
2. Take-home Final Exam................................................................30%
3. Weekly homework projects
........................................................40%
Grading: The final course grade will be determined by the
following point ranges:
|
Grade |
|
|
A |
95-100 |
|
A- |
90-94 |
|
B+ |
87-89 |
|
B |
83-86 |
|
B- |
80-82 |
|
C+ |
75-79 |
|
C |
70-75 |
|
F |
Below 70 |
Tentative Topic Outline:
|
Class |
Material covered |
Chapters in Iversen & Gergen |
Chapters in Freund & Wilson |
|
5/7 |
Introduction |
Ch 1 & 2 |
Ch 1 |
|
5/14 |
Descriptive Statistics |
Ch 3 & 4 |
Ch 1 |
|
5/21 |
More Descriptive Statistics |
Ch 3 & 4 |
Ch 1 |
|
5/28 |
Inferential Statistics |
Ch 6 |
Ch 3 |
|
6/4 |
Inferential Statistics |
Ch 6 |
Ch 3 |
|
6/11 |
Correlation |
Ch 8 |
Ch 7 |
|
6/18 |
Measurement constructs, reliability and validity of instruments |
Outside |
readings |
|
6/22 |
Probability |
Ch 5 |
Ch 2 |
|
7/2 |
Contingency tables |
Ch 9 |
Sec 12.4 |
|
7./9 |
Inferences on a single population |
Ch 7 |
Ch 3 & 4 |
|
7/16 |
Inferences on multiple populations |
Ch 7 & Ch 11 |
Ch 5 & 6 |
|
7/23 |
Correlation & Regression |
Ch 10 |
Ch 7 |
|
7/30 |
Experimental Design |
Ch 11 |
Ch 10 |