Course Description
An introductory examination of human development and family research methods designed to provide an understanding of scientific inquiry, methodology, measurement, test construction, scaling, and statistical terms and techniques. Prerequisite: STA 108; Grade of C- or better in HDF 111 or PSY 250, HDF 112, HDF 202, or HDF 203 or HDF 204; 2.50 GPA in the major.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
Name, define, and give examples of key terms and concepts in research methods
Identify and write about critical issues and topics of research in HDFS
Identify and describe ethical standards for human subjects research
Demonstrate the ability to find peer-reviewed research articles on topics relevant to HDFS
Describe, compare, and contrast techniques designed to: (a) sample research participants, (b) demonstrate reliability and validity, (c) collect data from participants or other sources, (d) address internal and external validity
Identify, describe, and compare research designs and approaches
Evaluate research findings by critiquing reliability and validity
Identify, describe, and compare statistical techniques using SPSS (data analysis software)
Course Grading Information:
Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
Plagiarism Policy Form | 1 point |
Course Expectations and Policies Agreement Form | 1 point |
First Week Anonymous Course Poll | 2 points |
Introduction Discussion Post | 5 points |
Course Expectations and Policies Quiz | 5 points |
Attendance and Engagement | 20 points |
Final Project and Presentation | 40 points |
In-Class Quizzes (3 @ 20 points each) | 60 points |
In-Class Assignments (3 @ 30 points each) | 90 points |
Exams (3 @ 40 points each) | 120 points |
Grading Scale
Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
93-100% | A |
90-92% | A- |
87-89% | B+ |
83-86% | B |
80-82% | B |
77-79% | C+ |
73-76% | C |
70-72% | C |
67-69% | D+ |
63-66% | D |
60-62% | D- |
0-59% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance and Engagement is worth 20 points as part of the course grading.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
E-text: Dixon, J. C., Singleton, R. A., & Straits, B. C. (2022). The Process of Social Research (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.