Fall Semester 2003
?
EDUC
222 ?
-3
?
Susan O'Neill
Research Methods in Educational ?
Office: TBA
Wednesdays 13:30-16:20 ?
Psychology ?
Phone: TBA
E-mail: soneill@sfu.ca
WMX 2532 ?
D01.00
PREREQUISITE:
Corequisite: Educ 220
This course is designed to elaborate the understandings of theory and research that are introduced in Education
220 by extending your knowledge and skills in interpreting and doing educational research.
The main goal of this course is to learn how to read and evaluate research studies critically. Questions you should
ask when reading research articles include: Should I take this study seriously? Are the researchers credible? What
flaws are there in the study? Can I believe the findings? Do the researchers draw reasonable conclusions given what
they did?
Before you may profit from applying the findings of research to the classroom situation, you need to learn how
to read, interpret and evaluate research. In this course, you will learn to read research articles critically, interpret
them sensibly, and evaluate the validity of the research vis-à-vis specific questions you face in teaching.
As a teacher, as you interact with students, set up your classroom environment, plan instruction, teach "on the
fly", etc, you can conduct your own research to examine the effectiveness of your teaching methods. Whatever
type of research you conduct, it is a cornerstone to improving education.
REQUIREMENTS
Assignment 1: Analysis of a study's variables, hypotheses, samples, and measurements.
Worth 25% of the final
grade.
Assignment 2: Writing an article critique.
Worth 25% of the final grade.
Midterm and Final Examinations.
The midterm and final examinations will each be worth 25% of your final grade. The format of each will be
discussed approximately two weeks prior to the date of the examinations.
Late assignments will be penalized 1 mark per day (not including weekends). Missed examinations must be
rescheduled with permission by the instructor.
REQUIRED READINGS
Suter, W. N. (1998). Primer of Educational Research. MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Meltzoff, Julian (1998). Critical Thinking About Research: Psychology and Related Fields. Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association.