EDU 501: Research Methodology
Rev. Sage Bennet , Ph.D.
This course is an introduction to the craft of research. It guides students through the fundamental steps in the research process. The course emphasizes the role of good, clear, creative thinking in research. The objective of the course is to teach students how to conduct a systematic analysis of a problem and to develop a method for generating knowledge as a response to the problem.
Note: On the tapes you will hear reference to the development of a required research project. This task is not required for those students taking this as a distant course.
Student Outcomes for the Course
Outcome #1. Students will have the ability to use the fundamental steps in the research process.
Outcome #2. Students are aware of the importance of good, clear and creative thinking in research.
Outcome #3. Students will know how to conduct a systematic analysis of a problem.
Outcome #4. Students will have familiarity with gathering information from a variety of sources.
Outcome #5. Students will know how to use research methodology to access the inner archives of
the soul as an introspective research source.
Outcome #6.Students will be able to apply research methods to subjects they are passionate
about including sermons, articles, and research papers.
Required Reading (choose one from the following)
Johnson, Jean. The Bedford Guide to the Research Process, Bedford Books, Boston, 1996. (Only available through Bedford Books 1-888-330-8477).
Writers on Writing: Top Christian Authors Share Their Secrets for Getting Published.
Indianapolis, Indiana: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2005.
Jenkins, Jeremy. Writing for the Soul: Instruction and Advice from an Extraordinary Writing Life.
New York: Writers Digest Books, 2006.
Staff, The Craft of Research. 2nd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
Staff, The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers. 15th
Edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2003.
Turabian. Kate. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. 6th Rev. Edition.( Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Recommended Reading
Booth, Wayne et al. The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 1995.
Creswell, John. Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks . 1994.
Gay, L.R. Educational Research. Macmillan Publishing, New York. 1992.
Rees, D.G. Essential Statistics, Chapman and Hall, London, 2001.
Hedrick, Terry et al. Applied Research Design: A Practical Guide. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks . 1993.
Sirkin, Mark. Statistics for the Social Sciences. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks . 1995.
Sproull, Natalie. Handbook of Research Methods. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham. 1995.
Stephens, Isaac and Michael, William. Handbook in Research and Evaluation. Edits, San Diego . 1995.
Von Borstel, Frederick , Ph.D. and Rev. FranCione, Ph.D., Research Methodology Handbook, Supplied at no cost. Frederick Von Borstel, Ph.D. and Rev. FranCione, Ph.D., Research Methodology Handbook, Supplied at no cost
CDs
Bennet, Sage. Intuitive Practices: Ways to Access Your Inner Wisdom, 2004.
Phone Conferences – January 11 through March 1, 2007
From 5:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Time, all students participate in these conferences with Dr. Sage Bennet. Three calls have been scheduled. See Conference Calls with Faculty in Table of Contents for call in numbers and procedures.
Topics and Issues For First Conference Call –1. Getting acquainted. Having a sense of the course requirements. (Thursday, January 11, 2007 ; 5 p.m. PST )
Topics and Issues For Second Conference Call - 2. Be prepared to discuss preparation for first assessment. (Thursday, February 1, 2007; 5:00 p.m. PST)
Topics and Issues For Third Conference Call - 3. Details concerning the mechanics of proper citations; research methodology for accessing inner wisdom. (Thursday, March 1, 2007; 5 p.m. PST)
See Conference Calls with Faculty in Table of Contents
Email Discussion Group "holmes "
E-mail discussion groups encourage group discussion on the topics, issues and concepts presented in each course. Students are encouraged to use this discussion forum to share their ideas, insights and questions with one another. A single e-mail message reaches all students and the faculty member at one time. This discussion group has also been put in place to help remove some of the geographic isolation, which may be felt between students, and add an extra link to the natural and vital bond that develops in any spiritual community. All students with a current e-mail address listed with Holmes Institute are automatically subscribed to the e-mail discussion group for this course. The instructor will respond to e-mails throughout the course. Use this e-mail address:
If you desire to respond to an individual in the group, please use his/her personal e-mail address on your class roster or see Faculty Directory for Winter 2007 in the Table of Contents.
Course Outline - Weeks 1 through 5
This outline gives a brief description of how to pace your self-study and gauge your progress in the required course activities throughout the academic quarter.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of the fifth week students will be able to:
1. Recognize the difference between true research and other forms of acquisition.
2. Select, organize and narrow a Research Topic.
3. Develop an interest into a Topic, and into a Research Question.
4. Define a Research Problem from a Question.
5. Know how to search for sources.
Required Reading : Your choice
Lecture Tapes: Listen to tape lectures 1-5.
Assessment Experience #1: Due February 5, 2007. Students will complete the following: 1.Definitions for the following research methodology terminology:
1. Definitions for the following research methodology terminology:
- Research Topic
- hypothesis or thesis
- Research problem
2. Ways to search for at least 5 sources (e.g., library sources, computer references, interviews, oral history, diaries, letters, and other personal paper, surveys and polls.(Actually do these searches for information and create a one sentence how-to-statement that would help someone doing research.
3. Name 5 topics for sermons, articles, or research papers that you are passionate about
4. Choose one of your topics of passion and create a research topic, hypothesis or thesis, and state the problem.
Course Outline - Weeks 6 through 10
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of the tenth week students will be able to:
6. Develop a tentative answer to the question in the form of a Hypothesis.
7. Formulate a working Theoretical Framework for a research study.
8. Use inner research methods
9. Master how to acknowledge sources.
Required Reading : Your choice
Lecture Tapes: Listen to tape lectures 6-10.
Assessment Experience #2: Due March 12, 2007
- Take a topic about which you are passionate. In a short statement for each: (a) select, organize and narrow a research topic; (b) develop a research question; (c) define the research problem from the question; (d) search for sources and, (e) develop the background of the problem.
- Choose one method of inner research methodology: (visioning, wisdom teacher, contemplation, asking a question and receiving and answer) Write a sentence or two about how you integrated this inner work as part of your research project.
- Give examples of proper documentation (for footnotes and bibliography) using the humanities style of the Chicago Manual of Style for each of the following:
Book reference
Article reference
Bible quotation
Quote from a primary source quoted in a secondary source
A film citation
A CD citation
Video or DVD citation
Speech Education
Considerations in Course Grading
If the student reads the material, listens to the tapes, and reflects on the content, he/she will be successful in this course.
| Grading Policy: | ||
| Two teleconferences | 0% | |
| E-mail Discussion | 0% | |
| Assessment #1 | 50% | |
| Assessment #2 | 50% | |
| Total | 100% | |
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Contact information:
You can reach me at sagebennet@aol.com
Notes:
I encourage you to work in groups. Community will help answer your questions and make learning rich and rewarding.
