University of Arizona
IRLS 506
Spring 2007
Instructor: Dr. Margaret Higgins
or
margarethiggins@thehaventucson.org
Course Outline
Last altered December 12 2006
Participation (Worth 5%)
I expect input. Articulation of your thoughts and interaction with your colleagues is critical for your learning.
Paper 1 Hypothesis Development. Due last class in February (Worth 15%)
Max length equivalent to 5 double spaced pages (excluding references); 12 point font. Use APA.
Select a recent research article which covers an area of interest to you. Ensure that the article includes identifiable hypotheses (preferably not research questions) - then go back through the cited literature - choosing 4 or 5 key articles; actually look at the original, earlier works - and critique the development of the hypotheses. From where did the ideas stem? Are they worth investigating? Why? Also present a brief critique of the methods used to test the hypotheses. Please provide me with a copy of the article.
Paper 2 Article Evaluation. Due last class in March (Worth 15%)
You will evaluate the research quality of two of the following articles. Using the guidelines below, w rite a maximum of four double spaced print pages: i.e 2 pages per article. Use APA. These research papers (like most) have strengths and weaknesses
Borgman, C.L., Hirsh, S.G., Walter, V.A., & Gallagher, A.L. "Children's Searching Behavior on Browsing and Keyword Online Catalogs: The Science Library Catalog Project. " Journal of the American Society for Information Science , (1995) 46 (9), 663-684. In coursepack.
Buttlar, Lois, and William Caynon "Recruitment of Librarians Into the Profession: The Minority Perspective " Library and Information Science Research volume 14, (1992) pages 259-280.
Case, D & Richardson, J. (1990). "Predictors of Student Performance with Emphasis on Gender and Ethnic Determinants". Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 30, 3. Winter. 163-180.
and, for this, if you wish,
Paper 3 Research Proposal Due last class in April (Worth 45%)
Max length 10 double spaced pages (excluding references), 12 point font. APA.
Writing a research proposal will provide you with the opportunity to give some in depth thought to your topic of concern. It will be in report format, containing an introduction, background to the problem, a broad statement on the nature of the problem, a literature review, a theoretical framework in which the problem is placed, a statement of the hypotheses, and a methods section which includes such design details as the variables in the research, how the hypotheses could be tested / measured, which statistical tests are appropriate, and to whom the research results could be generalized. Please refer to Campbell and Stanley when discussing your design: e.g which of their designs most closely matches your proposed research, and why. Note that I am not expecting a tremendously detailed proposal - just one that contains all the necessary elements of one. You can go online to see examples of research proposal formats. Many research methods books contain examples too.
Examination In class,. (Worth 20%)
Criteria for Evaluating Research Reports
You should be familiar with internal validity, external validity, instruments, design, sampling, control and test groups. Critique the research reports with respect to these parameters. Not all of them will apply to all research pieces, nor are these the only possible criteria that should be addressed. Each piece will require additional thought on the part of the evaluator. Questions to ask yourself as you read are:
I. Report of Prior Research:
Is the literature cited relevant?
Is the literature cited significant?
Are the citations sufficiently identified so that you could retrieve it?
II. Purpose and Justification
Is it sufficient, logical, and convincing?
Is there a general problem area identified?
Is a specific problem evident?
Are definitions given and are the variables operationalized?
Are assumptions stated?
Hypotheses: Are they stated- implied, clear, precise?
Are they directional?
Is lack of an hypothesis accounted for?
III. Sampling (if appropriate):
Is the population clearly described, implied?
Is the sample clearly described?
Is it representative, random, adequate in size?
Are limitations on generalizability presented?
IV. Instrumentation:
Adequately described?
Reliable?
Valid for the purpose?
V. Procedures:
Are they clearly described?
Are extraneous variables controlled?
Is procedural bias controlled?
VI. Data Analysis:
Are statistical methods appropriate?
Are limitations pointed out?
VII. Results
Clearly presented?
Written description consistent with data?
Are there a minimum of inferences?
Are they debatable?
VIII. Interpretation:
Is it consistent with the results?
Relevant to the purpose?
Does it place the study in a broader perspective?
What does it signal?
Grades : A: 100-90 B: 89-80 C: 79-70 Less than C = fail
A note on 'Incompletes'
The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end of the semester ... If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.