NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
College of EducationCourse Name: EDR 725, Qualitative Research
Instructor: Ishmael Munene, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership & Research
Office Location: College of Education, Room 207K (2nd floor)
Office Telephone: (928) 523-3336
E-mail Address: Ishmael.Munene@nau.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 10.00am - 12.00pm & 2.00 - 4.00pm / appointment
Course Objectives:This course is intended to prepare students to:
1. understand the nature of qualitative research procedures and how they compare to more traditional quantitative procedures (i.e., relative advantages/disadvantages of each approach);
2. identify a number of different ways to collect qualitative data (i.e., individual/group interviewing; participant-observer journaling) and compare the relative tradeoffs of each approach;
3. understand how to summarize, compile and report qualitative data, in both narrative and visual matrix or other graphic/tabular display formats;
4. as the final course paper, prepare a defensible doctoral research proposal which employs at least one method of collecting and analyzing qualitative data.
What You Will Need:
Access to an Internet account at home, school or work
Ideally this should be your student dana account!!!Other Internet providers may not work well with our Website and the WebCT course area.
Ability to access the Internet/World Wide Web site of our course.You must maintain your e-mail and Internet access connection for the duration of the course ( 1/17/06 through 5/5/06).
How the Class Will Work:
Our course materials are organized as follows:
Five modules:
Each of which contains from one to four topics.
And each of these topics ends with one or more of the following types of specific assignments:
Individual assignments and/or Group assignments.
I also provide all EDR 725 Qualitative students with access to Professor Mary D's EDR 610 Introduction to Research materials as well! She was instrumental in the development of both this course and EDR 610 as well. You are welcome to download as much of EDR 610 Intro to Research curriculum as you wish, for your review or records, from the following Website/URL:
In addition, you may wish to download and study some of the online course materials for EDR 720 Research Design. They provide guidance on how to develop a defensible doctoral research proposal. Here is the URL for these EDR 720 course materials:
Assignments:
IMPORTANT: Please post Individual assignments as well as your final paper (doctoral proposal) in the WebCT Discussions area with your Name (entitled "Last name, first name"). Please post Group assignments in the WebCT discussion area labeled with the name of each particular group assignment.
File attachments will NOT be accepted or reviewed EXCEPT FOR the final paper/research proposal (more on this final paper/proposal below).
You are also expected to check our WebCT course area at least every working day during the entire semester (excluding weekends and NAU-recognized holidays) for updates in the following discussion areas:
1. Announcements and Updates;
2. Questions and Answers.
Please post any questions related to our course curriculum, syllabus, how we do things, etc. in our WebCT "Questions and Answers" discussion areas! You might check this discussion area first, as well as "Announcements and Updates," to see whether your question has already been answered.Please use direct e-mail to the instructor only for highly confidential and/or personal urgent communications! Instead, please post unanswered questions in the WebCT "Questions and Answers" discussion area. I will check our WebCT course area at least once every day (EXCLUDING weekends and holidays or when I'm away on official university business) and endeavor to respond to all questions within 24 business hours. This will help reduce e-mail 'traffic flow' in general, thereby helping to ensure my timely return of detailed feedback on your e-mailed assignments.
I am also online every day, EXCLUDING weekends and holidays or when on official travel. Thus, if you ever have a question regarding the assignments, please post your question in the WebCT "Questions and Answers" discussion area, and chances are, I'll be right back in touch with you within the day!
You are strongly encouraged to contact me anytime (e-mail, by phone, in person, etc.) with any questions or concerns you might have! I believe that every problem is solvable (or at least improvable) if we:
a) communicate openly and honestly about it; and
b) put our heads together to brainstorm possible solutions.But I need you to tell me what's working, what's not working, and how we can make things better for you!
Due Dates for Assignments:
All assignments are due on or before 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the dates shown in this section:
Week of Tuesday, 1/17/06 (first official day of instruction): please familiarize yourself with our WebCT discussion area, begin to download and print out our course materials, and explore the "getting started" link and other resource links provided on your WebCT page to gain practice in any specific task(s) with which you may be unfamiliar, etc.
In addition, you MUST post a brief self-introduction in our "Let's Break the Ice " WebCT discussion area by 12 noon, MST (Mountain Standard Time) on Friday, 1/20/06, in order to maintain OFFICIAL enrollment in our course. This self-introductory post may include, but not necessarily be limited to, some information about your studies, professional interests, family, hobbies, etc.
Students who have NOT made the above self-introductory post by 12 noon, MST on Friday, 1/20/06 will be externally administratively withdrawn (involuntarily dropped) from the course for 'non-attendance during the first official week of class'. This is a university-wide policy, regardless of course format, and is explained in greater detail in the NAU Graduate Catalog.
Assignments that are three or more days late will not be accepted or graded. The recorded grade for such assignments will be zero points. In the case of the final paper (doctoral research proposal), any submissions past 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 5/3/06 will likewise not be accepted or graded.
The following information lists the learning modules, topics within each module, and related assignments, along with their due dates. You are also responsible for reading and studying the related electronic textbook sections prior to doing the assignments.
For all listed due dates except the ice-breaker self-intro post described above, 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time is the assumed deadline.
You may submit 'early' assignments NO MORE THAN ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE STATED DUE DATE.
Early (more than one day prior to stated due date) submissions will be assessed a three-point penalty.
Assignments submitted after 5:00 p.m. on the due date will be penalized one (1) point for every day late up to three (3) days. Assignments submitted more than three (3) days past the due date will not be reviewed or annotated and will receive an effective grade of zero points.
This reinforces the fact that you must remain continually and actively engaged in our course throughout its duration.
IMPORTANT ADDENDUM TO DUE DATE POLICY: In the case of WebCT GROUP assignments where you are asked to make your own initial posting and also go back and review others' postings, the due date shown below refers to YOUR INITIAL posting. You then have ONE CALENDAR WEEK from this due date to go back and review and make comments on your classmates' WebCT postings, as per the stated directions of the particular WebCT group assignment.
Module 1: Qualitative Research Procedures
Topic 1: Introduction to the Course:Let's Break the Ice
Web Activity #1: Search the Web on Qualitative Research (5 points)
Topic 2: Qualitative Research Highlights & Differences:Assignment #1: Share Your Story
(5 pts.)Assignment #2: Analyze Qualitative Research Studies (5pts.)
***you may have until the following Wednesday to complete this particular assignment and get your selected articles to me or share their URLs with me***
Module 2: Strategies for Qualitative Research
Topic 1: Research & Design Strategies:Assignment #1: Identify Qualitative Design & Data Collection Techniques (10 pts.)
Assignment #2: Mini-Qualitative Study - What's Your Problem (5pts.)
Group Assignment #1: Share & Discuss Your Topic (5 pts.)
Your Posting Due Wednesday; one week to respond to classmates
Topic 2: Strategies for Compiling & Reporting Qualitative Data:Assignment #1: Identify Analysis & Reporting Procedures (10 pts.)
Web Activity #1: Keeping Things Plumb in Qualitative Research (5 pts.)
Topic 3: Qualitative Population & Sampling Procedures:
Assignment #1: Identify Sampling Procedures (5 pts.)
Assignment #2: Describe Your Sampling Procedures (5 pts.)
Web Activity #1: Join a Qualitative Research Listserv (5 pts.)
Module 3: Essentials of Participant Observation
Topic 1: Participant and Observer:
Web Activity: Become a Participant-Observer (5 pts.)
Topic 2: The 5 Dimensions of Participant Observation:
Assignment #1: Your Participant-Observer Field Notes (10 pts.)
Group Assignment #1: Ethics in Fieldwork (5 pts.)
Module 4: Interviewing in Qualitative Research
Topic 1: Introduction to Interviewing:
Assignment #1: Create a Grid of Interview Questions (10 pts.)
Assignment #2: Do a Practice Interview (5 pts.)
Topic 2: Focus Group Interviewing Part I:Assignment #1: Focus on Focus Groups (5 pts.)
Topic 3: Focus Group Interviewing Part II:Assignment #1: Sample Focus Group Interview Protocol (5 pts.)
Web Activity #1: Ethics Scavenger Hunt (5 pts.)
Module 5: Making Sense of It All
Topic 1: A Second Look at Data Compilation & Analysis:
Assignment #1: Find or Create a Typology (10 pts.)
Topic 2: When the Data Doesn't Fit:Group Activity #1: Qual "vs." Quant Research: The Wrong Question? (5 pts.)
Topic 3: Evaluating the Credibility of Qualitative ResearchAssignment #1: Assess Credibility of Your Two Research Articles (10 pts.)
Assignment #2: Qualitative Research Proposal (60 pts.)
***A file attachment is fine for the proposal provided it is in one of the following 2 formats:***
(1) Microsoft Word (filename.doc), or
(2) Rich Text Format (filename.rtf).
You should keep copies of all assignments submitted to me for your own records.Grading & Student Evaluation Policies:
Course activity will be graded as follows:
Total points for all assignments 140 pointsDoctoral research proposal 60 points
Total points 200
Course Grades will be assigned as follows based on points obtained by each students:
A = 180 + points
B = 179 - 160 points
C = 159 - 140 points
D = Below 140 points
Proficiency in both e-mail use (sending/receiving) and Internet navigation (accessing Web sites/URLs/links) are necessary so as to enable you to fully concentrate on the research material for the course. It would create an unfair burden for you to have to learn the computing navigational skills at the same time that you are also learning the research material. Therefore, students who are discovered not to possess these stated computer prerequisites will be externally administratively withdrawn (involuntary dropped) from the course. Likewise, students who do not complete the aforementioned self-introductory posting by 5:00 p.m. MST on Wednesday, 1/20/06 will be subject to external administrative withdrawal from the course.
It is each student's responsibility -- not the instructor's or NAU's -- to secure dependable access to computing equipment and/or facilities in advance of the beginning of the course (Date).Students in the EDR725 Qualitative Research must agree to comply with the stated due dates as per the syllabus, even if they are in a different academic major and subject to different due dates within their own individual academic departments generally. Assignments submitted after the announced due dates (please see earlier listing) will be subject to the following "lateness penalty:" one point will be deducted for each day that the assignment is late (and please see following point);
Assignments that are three or more days late will not be accepted or graded. The recorded grade for such assignments will be zero points. In the case of the final paper (doctoral research proposal), any submissions past 5:00 p.m. on (date and time)will likewise not be accepted or graded.
IMPORTANT RELATED POINT: Massive submissions of past-due assignments will not be reviewed under any circumstances and will result in an automatic grade of F for the course;
Students are expected to make a good-faith commitment to be fully engaged in the course during the entire scheduled semester of its duration. Therefore, students who are absent offline for three or more working days (excluding weekends and NAU-recognized holidays) for any reason MUST agree to withdraw from the course. Provided that you have been doing acceptable work up until the point of absence, you will receive a withdraw pass as your recorded grade;
Students must agree to implement in good faith any recommendations I may have for them at any time in the interests of improving their course performance. Such recommendations may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
(a) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for individual tutorial assistance;(b) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with study skills;
(c) referral to the NAU Learning Assistance Center for help with time management skills;
(d) referral to Cline Library for help with locating research sources.
A Word on "Attitude"
In a course such as this one, where we have opportunities to work more flexibly and directly one-on-one regarding your learning needs, it is even more critical to keep in mind how a "good attitude" can greatly facilitate our working in positive partnership on your learning needs! For purposes of this course, we might consider a "good attitude" to be defined as follows:
1. A willingness to be 'open and up-front' with me about any problems, concerns, even suggestions on 'how to make things better' in a prompt, timely, honest manner; and2. A corresponding willingness to work actively and positively with me on resolution of any such problems, concerns, etc. This means being willing to listen to my suggestions for resolution; to offer your own reactions to my ideas; to implement whatever solutions we jointly agree upon; and to provide me with 'progress reports' on what's working, what's not working, etc.
In that regard:
1. Reporting a problem to me right away and being open to my ideas for solving it would be indicative of "a very good attitude:"
2. On the other hand, keeping a problem to yourself, letting it fester, build up, upset you internally, but trying to conceal it from us and saying nothing to me about it, "pretending nothing is wrong" and/or "wishing and hoping it'll get better by itself," would be indicative of "a very bad attitude."
Please don't hesitate to follow up with me if you would like further clarification of this vitally important course expectation!!!
The biggest single cause of problems that arise is PROCRASTINATION!! It leads to unnecessary stress and difficulty--which can be avoided by pacing yourself appropriately!
It is important for you to set aside regular study time (daily, weekly, etc.) to make regular progress on your course reading, assignments, and related responsibilities. The NAU Graduate College estimates a minimum of 15-20 hours per week to study and prepare for each course as the norm for graduate students. This weekly study time is proportionally increased during summer session.
IMPORTANT: This course does NOT carry the option of a grade of "Incomplete." You may at any time elect to accept a grade of "Withdraw", which would enable you to re-enroll for the course at a future date and time.
The primary keys to success in this course may be summarized in two steps:
(1) Keeping up with the work (reading, assignments, and related responsibilities) in a timely manner; and
(2) Notifying me PROMPTLY and HONESTLY of any problems you may be experiencing!
Just one more thing -- please remember that I'm ready, willing and eager to do my best to make this a productive and enjoyable experience for you!
NAU POLICIES
Policy on Academic Honesty, Integrity, Plagiarism, etc. The policies, rules and regulations set forth in the current NAU Student Handbook shall apply to this course. For more information select the link above or contact NAU's Office of Student Life (928-523-5181).
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this university.You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (523-9368), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (523-3312).
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting the office of Disability Support Services (DSS) at 523-8773 (voice) 523-6906 (TTY). You are encouraged to provide documentation of the disability to DSS at least 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester so arrangements can be made to meet your individual needs. You must register with DSS each semester you are enrolled and wish to use accommodations.Faculty are not authorized to provide accommodations without prior approval from DSS. Students are encouraged to notify their instructors a minimum of one week in advance of the need for accommodation. Failure to do so may result in a delay in provision of the accommodation.
Concerns may be brought to the attention of the office of Disability Support Services or to the ADA coordinator in the Affirmative Action Office.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU—including a course project, report, or research paper—must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities.The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures.
A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department’s administrative office and each college dean’s office. If you have questions, contact Carey Conover, Office of Grant and Contract Services, at 523-4889.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community, NAU’s administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the education process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest manner.Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU’s Student Handbook.
