EDR8103 - Research Methods

Semester Credits: 3 Weeks: 12

Students will develop a foundation for understanding research methods and their application. Students will critically analyze existing research literature related to applying research methods to studies. Students will investigate the theoretical and practical foundations of the primary research methodologies used in educational research, specifically qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Topics will include the ethics of research, data collection and analysis techniques, and issues of reliability, validity, trustworthiness, and rigor. Emphasis will be placed on identifying criteria for a quality research project and whether a research study is aligned and cohesive. Students will have the opportunity to explore topics of interest from different research perspectives (e.g., qualitative, quantitative) with the goal of helping students understand the applications of educational research and begin to clarify their future research course plan.