Empirical Research Methods II: Spring 2000

Tenative Schedule

 

(A = Adamson Wing)

(W = Wean Hall 5419)

 

week 1

1/18            introduction

(A)              in-class quiz (not-for-credit)

                   sign up for reading packets

                   distribute discussion questions and reading on Advising Evaluation

 

1/20            overview of qualitative research

(A)              measurement: validity and reliability

                   distribute assignment 1

                   Presentation on SDS Research Requirement

 

Interviewing/hypothesis formulation

week 2

1/25            individual and group open-ended interviews

(A)             

                              

1/27            Interview Advising Center staff

(A)              prepare focus group assignment (assignment 2)

 

Descriptive research/survey construction

week 3

2/1              surveys: question construction

(A)              asking questions and influencing answers?

 

2/3              present focus group results

(A)              distribute assignment 3, part 1 (question preparation)

 

                  

week 4

2/8              scales/question ordering                    

(A)

 

2/10            collecting data/sampling

(A)              turn in assignment 3, part 1

                   distribute assignment 3, part 2 (administer survey)

                   distribute assignment 3, part 3 (descriptive analysis of survey)

 

week 5

2/15            descriptive analysis of data

(A)              go over assignment 3, part 1

 

2/17            Lab: descriptive analysis of data

(W)             turn in assignment 3, part 2 (submit data from survey)

 

week 6

2/21            Review session for Test 1

2/22            Test 1

(A)

 

2/24            Lab: Regression analysis of data from assignment 3

(W)             turn in assignment 3, part 3 (descriptive analysis of survey)

 

Representing and Analyzing Hypotheses

 

week 7

2/29            Regression I: Basic

(A)              Causality vs. Prediction

                   Quantifying Phenomena, Dummy Variables, Interrupted Time Series

                   Causal Graphs & The Error Term

 

3/2              Lab: Regression I

(W)

 

week 8

3/7              Regression II: The Statistical Story

(A)              Least Squares Estimation, Measures of Linear Association: Correlation

                   Sampling Error, Confidence Intervals, Hypothesis Tests

                   Functional Form, The Error distribution

 

3/9              Lab: Regression II

(W)

 

week 9

3/14            Misspecification

(A)              Association is not Causation, Omitted Variables, Bias

 

3/16            Lab : Misspecification

(W)

      

week 10

3/21            Multiple Regression I

(A)              Bias Formula, Statistical Control, Project Intro

 

3/23            Lab : Multiple Regression I

(W)

 

week 11

4/4              Multiple Regression II

(A)              Measurement Error, Model Search, Interactions

 

4/6              Lab:  Project

(W)

 

week 12

4/10            Review Session for Test 2

4/11            Test 2

(A)

 

4/13            Review the Test

(A)

 

Experiments

 

week 13

4/18            Experimental Design

(A)              Distribute Assignment: Designing an Experiment

                  

4/20            Lab: finalize experimental designs

(A)

 

4/21            Turn in experimental designs

 

week 14

4/25            Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data

(A)

 

4/27            Lab: statistical analysis of experimental findings

(W)

 

week 15

5/2              final meetings/presentation prep

(A)

 

5/4              presentations of experimental findings

(A)