Methods Courses

Research Design Courses:

E10.2132: Principles of Empirical Inquiry
(Fall 2008; Thursdays 2:00-3:40)

Origins of social science
Modes of inquiry
Empirical inquiry
Modes of data collection
Sampling
Fit theory – method – design
Limits/benefits data and design
Operationalizing of measures/designs

E10.2135: Historical Research
(Spring 2009; Day/Time TBD)

Central methods and theories of modern historical research
Frame questions
Gather archival evidence
Employ theories
Draw conclusions

E10.2139: Survey Research Methods
(Spring 2009; Day/Time TBD)

Modes of data collection
Survey design
Questionnaire construction and evaluation
Coverage, sampling, and non-response
Post-collection data processing

E27.2132: Evaluating Educational Programs
(Spring 2009; Wednesdays 12:20-2:00)

Introduction to the theory and practice of educational evaluation
Focus on all aspects of the design and implementation of educational evaluations
Consideration of the audience and purposes for evaluations
Development of an evaluation plan
Preparation of the evaluation design
Design of evaluation instruments and measures
Collection, analysis, and reporting of evaluation data

E63.2073: Research Design and Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences I (Doctoral Only)
(Fall 2008; Mondays 12:30-2:30, lab 3:00-4:30)

Paradigms that guide empirical research in the social and behavioral sciences
Planning and implementing research in these domains
Formulating problems and hypotheses
Specifying types of variables and operational definitions
Experimental and non-experimental research designs
Qualitative methodologies,
Use of randomization and controls,
Sampling problems basic to statistical inference
Mixed methodologies.

Qualitative Courses

E10.2140: Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry
(Fall 2008; Saturdays/Time TBD)
(Spring 2009; Day/Time TBD)

Epistemological foundations
Overview to qualitative research
Ethnography – case study – scientific methods
Post-positivist – constructivist- critical methods

E10.2141: Case Study and Ethnographic Inquiry
(Prerequisite E10.2140 or by permission of instructor)
(NOT OFFERED)

Ethnography and case study
Two dominant approaches
Field study
Doc analysis
Data analysis
Applications, illustrative, etc.
Coding

E10.2142: Interviewing and Observation
(Prerequisite E10.2140 or by permission of instructor)
(NOT OFFERED)

Mechanics/naturalistic observations
Semi-structured interviewing
Production of field notes
Organization of field data, data sharing
Preliminary analysis
Illustrative examples

E10.2143: Participatory Action Research
(Spring 2009; Mondays 4:45-6:35)

Epistemological traditions
Multiple Research Methods
Researcher Positionality
Engagement with work setting - community
Address and theorize problems in setting
Ethical issues for participatory action research

E10.2145 Advanced Seminar in Qualitative Methods
(Fall 2008; Wednesdays 9:30-12:15)

Qualitative research design
Sampling
Proposal writing
Negotiating site access
IRB protocols for qualitative researchers
Field relations
Data organization and analysis

Quantitative Courses

E10.2001: Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences I
(Fall 2008; Mondays 2:00-4:45)

Descriptive statistics
Levels of measurement
Correlation
Introduction to principles of statistical probability
Fundamental distributions
Role of sampling
Introduction to tests of inference

E10.2002: Data Analysis for the Behavioral and Social Sciences II
(prerequisite: E10.2001 or by permission of instructor)
(Spring 2009; Mondays 2:00-4:45)

Tests of inference
t-tests
One and two way ANOVA
OLS linear regression (multiple and linear)
Non-parametric statistics

E10.2003: Intermediate Quantitative Methods: The General Linear Model
(prerequisite: E10.2002 or by permission of instructor)
(Fall 2008; Tuesdays 3:30-6:10, lab 6:20-7:35)

Advanced principles of regression
Mediation and moderation
Issue of cross validation and shrinkage
Suppression
Indicator variables
Diagnostic analyses
Special cases of regressions: ANCOVA, path analysis

E10.2004: Advanced Quantitative Methods: A Survey of Multivariate Analysis
(prerequisite: E10.2003 or by permission of instructor)
(Spring 2009; Tuesdays 3:30-6:10, lab 6:20-7:35)

Discriminant Analysis
Logistic regression
Survival analysis
MANOVA, Repeated measures ANOVA
Overview of hierarchical linear modeling: nested and longitudinal data
Nagin clusters
Principal components analysis
Structural equation modeling
Missing data analysis

E10. 2006: Multilevel Models I
(prerequisite: E10.2004 or by permission of instructor)
(Fall 2008; Mondays 3:30-6:00)

Introduction to multi-level modeling as distinct from OLS regression
Exploratory techniques for multi-level data
Longitudinal (growth curve) modeling
Nested data modeling
Variance components
Model selection

E10. 2995: Biostatistics I
(This course is intended for graduate students in the epidemiology, public health and clinical research fields.)
(Fall, 2008, Tuesdays 4:55-7:35)

Ranks and Percentiles. Measures of central tendency, graphical methods
Measures of dispersion, skew
Continuous and discrete probability theory
Agreement and psychometrics
Hypothesis tests. Confidence intervals
Cross tabulation and nominal measurement
Diagnostic tests
Measures of association: correlation and scatterplots

E10. 2996: Biostatistics II
(This course is intended for graduate students in the epidemiology, public health and clinical research fields.)
(Spring 2009, Day/Time TBD)

Regression
Analysis of variance and post hoc analysis
Logistic regression
Categorical data analysis
Survival analysis
Non-parametric tests
Permutation and randomization tests
Power Analysis
Experimental design

Measurement/Psychometrics Courses

E63.2140: Measurement: Classical Test Theory (was E63.2035)
(Fall 2008; Wednesdays 3:30-6:10)
(Spring 2009; Wednesdays 3:30-6:10)

Principles of measurement and testing
-Interpretation of test scores
-Reliability
-Validity
-Standards for measurement