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Mara 285 COURSE DESCRIPTION Overview of research methods in the social sciences and their application to research about and within archives and records centers. Research design, human subjects, quantitative and qualitative methods, model studies, methodological critique and evaluation, data analysis and presentation. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Lectures, discussions, assignments, and rubrics will be posted to the Canvas course management system. Links to additional materials will be provided in Canvas as well. Total number of points is 100. Here is a brief summary of the assignments and points earned: Student Introduction post to discussion board - 2 points Discussion based on material covered - 2 points each X 9 = 18 points Protecting Human Research Participants Certification Course - 5 points (CLO #4, 6) Survey Questionnaire Group Project - 20 points (CLOs #2, 4, 5) Annotated Bibliography Assignment - 10 points (CLOs #1) Research Proposal: Topic Proposal Assignment - 5 points (CLO #2, 4) Research Proposal: Literature Review Assignment - 15 points (CLOs #1, 2, 3) Research Proposal: Final Research Proposal Assignment - 25 points (CLOs #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Note: For weeks with required discussion board postings, students should provide their initial post by Wednesday at midnight (11:59 PM, Pacific Time), to leave ample time for follow-up discussion. Please participate early and actively in the required discussions. Details for all of the discussions and assignments will be provided in Canvas. Assignments Due Unless otherwise noted, each module begins on Monday (12:01 AM, Pacific Time) and ends on Sunday 11:59 PM, Pacific Time). Assignments will be due by midnight (11:59 PM, Pacific Time) on the due date. Course Calendar Modules/Weeks/Days Title (Readings) Assignments Introductions: August 24 - August 28 Introductions Lecture Review Discussion: Student Introductions Module 1: August 29 - September 4 Investigation (Barnes chapter 1) Lecture Review Discussion Module 2: September 5 - September 11 Design (Barnes - chapter 2) Lecture Review Assignment 1: Annotated Bibliography due September 11. Monday, September 5: Labor Day - NO CLASS     Module 3: September 12 - September 18 Measurement (Barnes - chapter 3) Lecture Review Discussion Module 4: September 19 - September 25 Indexes and Scales (Barnes - chapter 4) Lecture Review Assignment 2: Topic Proposal due September 25. Module 5: September 26 - October 2 Sampling (Barnes - chapter 5) Lecture Review Discussion Assignment: October 3 - October 9 See Assignments Assignment 3: Completion of Protecting Human Research Participants Certification Course - Upload a copy of the completion certificate to Canvas in order to receive credit. Due October 9. Module 6: October 10 - October 16 Ethics (Barnes - chapter 6) Lecture Review Discussion Module 7: October 17 - October 23 Experiments (Barnes - chapter 7) Lecture Review Module 8: October 24 - October 30 Survey Research (Barnes - chapter 8) Lecture Review Discussion Module 9: October 31 - November 6 Evaluation Research (Barnes - chapter 9) Lecture Reivew Assignment 4: Literature Review due November 6. Module 10: November 7 - November 13 Field-Based Research (Barnes - chapter 10) Lecture Review Discussion Thursday, November 11: Veteran's Day: NO CLASS     Module 11: November 14 - November 20 Other Types of Research (Barnes - chapter 11) Lecture Review Assignment 5: Survey Questionnaire Group Project due November 20. Module 12: November 21 - November 23 Research Dissemination Mini-Module Lecture Review Discussion due by midnight (11:59 PM, Pacific Time) on Wednesday, November 23. Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving - NO CLASS     Module 13: November 28 - December 4 Data Analyses: Qualitative and Quantitative (Barnes - chapter 12) Lecture Review Discussion Module 14: December 5 - December 12 (extended) Course Wrap Up Lecture Review Discussion Assignment 6: Final Research Proposal due December 12. Please complete the SOTES (Student Opinion of Teaching Effectiveness) by December 12. COURSE DESCRIPTION Covers fundamental principles, processes, values and roles of research for professional application in information organizations. Students will become critical consumers of research products. Emphasis will concentrate on developing, planning, and producing a quality research proposal. This section focuses on academic library research, discussing the topics and methods of research in the context of academic libraries. INFO 285 is required for all students who entered the MLIS program from Spring 2007. Waiver Option: If a student has taken and passed a graduate-level research methods course AND completed a thesis or dissertation as part of a previous graduate degree (as documented by an official transcript), the student can petition the iSchool Graduate Advisor to waive the INFO 285 requirement. A waiver, if granted, does not reduce the total units required for the MLIS degree. info 285 COURSE REQUIREMENTS Course Format This class is conducted online through Canvas. Student Responsibilities As a student, you are expected to read and carefully consider all the readings, participate fully in all activities and discussions during the class duration, as well as turning in assignments by the designated time. Due dates are not negotiable. If the instructor needs to change a due date, you will be notified as soon as possible. Because due dates are not negotiable, procrastination should be avoided. If you employ procrastination as a time management tool, this can limit your time in dealing with unexpected problems. The instructor has the right not to accept late assignments or to add significant grade penalties. If you foresee any difficulty in completing your assignment on time, you need to contact the instructor at least 36 hours before the due date to request extension. In addition, as the instructor schedules grading time for assignments, students turning in late assignments may receive their assessment much later than the rest of the class. If you do not understand assignments, readings, etc., it is your responsibility to inform the instructor. If you are having difficulty, please contact me early so that we can resolve problems before your final grade is unchangeable. You may also ask for help from your classmates through the various discussion methods. You must complete all assignments to pass the course. Assignments and Evaluation Research proposal (40%, corresponds with CLO#1, CLO#2, CLO#3, CLO#4)  Develop a research proposal as the final product of the class. In the proposal, students will identify and formulate a research question related to academic libraries, provide a brief review of literature related to the research problem, discuss the methodology to be employed in data collection and analysis, outline the project completion schedule and provide correct APA style citations to sources cited in the proposal. Quantitative and qualitative research practice (35%, corresponds with CLO#1, CLO#2, CLO#3, CLO#4) Quantitative research practice - students will practice conducting quantitative research using one or more frequently used quantitative research methods in academic library research (group project, 20%). Qualitative research practice - students will practice conducting qualitative research using one or more frequently used qualitative research methods in academic library research (15%) Research ethics training (5%, corresponds with CLO#4) Complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) online workshop titled: "Students conducting no more than minimal risk research." Completion of this workshop is required by all San José State University faculty and students intending to do research with living human subjects. The course can be located at: https://www.citiprogram.org Class discussion (20%, corresponds with CLO#1, CLO#2, CLO#3, CLO#4) Students are expected to participate in a series of class discussions. Students' individual contribution to the discussion topics is as important as their responses to colleagues’ postings. Basically students will be evaluated for their involvement in and intellectual contribution to the collaborative learning environment. Part of the graduate education experience is to help you learn how to present information with support, and not simply say “Well, I think that….” This also applies to agreeing with someone; the statement “I agree” should be presented with support. All assignments are must be turned in by 11:59 pm of the day they are due. Late submissions will be reduced by 5% of the total points for the assignment for each day they are late. top COURSE WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus. Instructional time may include but is not limited to: Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor. Student time outside of class: In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work. COURSE PREREQUISITES INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204.  COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: Understand the difference between primary and secondary research. Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental principles and processes of conducting research. Articulate the research method(s) covered in the course, appropriately apply them, and understand their strengths and liabilities. Understand appropriate data collection/analysis tools, and ethical concerns related to research. Understand the difference between primary and secondary research. Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental principles and processes of conducting research. Articulate the research method(s) covered in the course, appropriately apply them, and understand their strengths and liabilities. Understand appropriate data collection/analysis tools, and ethical concerns related to research. CORE COMPETENCIES INFO 285 supports the following core competencies: L Demonstrate understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, the ability to design a research project, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize research literature.