KIN605                 # 36606 (KIN)                           Research Methods and Design            Fall 2003 Course Syllabus   Thursdays 16:00-18:50    Room  KN278                                                                                                                                                    

Instructor: Konstantinos “Dino” Vrongistinos, Ph.D.                                                                

e-mail: kv61497@csun.edu

Office: KN281                                                                                                                                     

Phone: (818)-677-7567

Office Hours: M, W  11:30-12:30   Th  12:30-13:30,  and   by appointment

 

Catalog  : Credit 3 hours. Prerequisite: KIN302 – score 10 on UDWPE or on ENGL305.  A study of various types of research used in kinesiology, and techniques employed in collecting, classifying, interpreting and presenting data.

Overview:              Designed as a research-oriented course taken by students seeking the masters degree in the Dept. of Kinesiology , this course is an overview of types of research, the research process, and research methods. The course includes principles, procedures, and techniques of research with an intensive survey of current scientific investigations in the area of Kinesiology. Special attention is given to practical application. Traditional lecture and discussion sessions are augmented by presentations by real-life researchers (experts in their areas who share examples of their work) and application-based projects & assignments.

Objectives:            Upon completing it, students will

- Have gained an understanding of research terminology and methods which enables them to be knowledgeable, critical consumers of research and professional literature.

- Understand the research dissemination (presentation and publication) process.

- Gain experience and skill using library data-bases to search for literature.

- Have read a line of research in an area of interest and written a review paper or thesis proposal on such.

- Have presented research papers in the 12-minute verbal and poster formats common to professional meetings.

- Gain experience and skill in formal professional writing.

- Be familiar with APA and other writing styles.

- Be better prepared to propose and conduct a thesis.

Text:                       Thomas, J. R., & Nelson, J. K. (I 996). Research methods in physical activity (4rd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Evaluation        Course grades will be based on the traditional 10-point percentage scale and the following:

 

Grade Scale

Percent

 

Points

90-100

A

450-500

80-89.99

B

400-449.95

70-79.99

C

350-399.95

60-69.99

D

300-349.95

less than 60

F

less than 300

 

IMPORTANT

 

KINESIOLOY STUDENTS MUST EARN A GRADE of B  (B) OR ABOVE, IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE KINESIOLOGY DEPARTMENT POLICY REQUIREMENTS

 

Assignment of plus/minus grade adjustments to the above scale will be determined by the final class point distribution.

 

A minimum of 80% is required for B- .

 

A minimum of 83% is required for B .

 

Assignment of plus/minus grades will be determined by the final class point distribution

10%    Small class projects & assignments

50 pt

30%    Midterm Exam

150 pt

10%    Class presentations (oral, poster)

50 pt

10%    Review paper1

50 pt

40%    Final Exam 

200 pt

 

1This paper should not be closely associated with any previous or current projects used to fulfill requirements of other courses. However, students in thesis options may take this opportunity to work on Chapters 1-3 of their thesis. Students will be expected to complete at least 4 installments of this paper (Topic, Article summaries, Outline, Final draft).        

 

Expectations         Attend class and be punctual. You are expected to attend all class meetings and arrive on time. If you will miss a session, you are responsible for discussing your absence with the instructor beforehand, obtaining information on the content and assignments from other students, then meeting with the instructor if need be.

Keep up with reading and assignments. Material assigned for reading will greatly enhance your understanding as will engaging in homework assignments. Late work will be penalized 20% per day (i.e., if an assignment due on Monday is given to the instructor on Wednesday, the penalty is 40% of the total points for the task).

Be ethical. You are responsible for ethical academic conduct throughout the course. Pay special attention to ethical responsibilities when writing the review paper (e.g., appropriate citation, selection of topic different from that used for other classes).

 

 

Miscellaneous Information

 

A.      Time Elements                             

Class begins promptly on the hour

 

B.     Behavior      

Treat other students and the instructor with respect and civility. Free discussion, inquiry, and expression is encouraged in this class. Classroom behavior that interferes with either (a) the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or (b) the ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include routinely entering class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular phones, or other electronic devices; repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking while others are speaking; or arguing in a way that is perceived as “crossing the civility line.”  Eating food or chewing ice during lecture or discussion time is unacceptable.  

 

C.            Cheating will not be tolerated. Severe penalties will be imposed including an F on the exam, and potentially an F in the course, and may also be subject to more severe discipline by the University. Please review the Student Conduct on Academic Dishonesty in the current Schedule of Classes and in the University Catalog. Each student is expected to be familiar and abide by the conditions of student conduct as presented in the CSUN Catalog Appendix C.

Exams may not be made up with rare exceptions. In the case of illness, advanced notice to the instructor must be given, and proof must be provided.

 

Note:                      If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the SDR, Room 110, Student Services Building  (818)-677-2684.

 

                Attention::             Last day to drop is Friday of the 2nd week.

 

                                               

Draft semester schedule

Aug

  Sep

 

 

 

  Oct

 

 

 

 

   Nov

 

 

 

   Dec

 

28

4

11

18

25

2

9

16

23

30

6

13

20

27

4

11

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 MidTerm

 

 

 

 

   DD_P

   No Class

   Prsnt

   Final

 

-Papers due: Nov 20

-Presentations are on Dec. 4

-Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 11, 17:30-19:30

 

 

Proposed Topics

-Course overview, Introductions Why research?  Types of research. Categorizing abstracts activity Quantitative/qualitative paradigms

-Using library databases to search Independent and dependent variables Internal and external validity. Basic-applied continuum 

-Giving a 12-minute research presentation

-Types of descriptive research. Parts of a research paper and thesis.  Organization of a review paper. Finding articles for your review paper

-Making notecards/spreadsheets of articles

-Being a critical reader.  Sampling, instruments, procedures.  Survey research: general issues/methods of survey research types of items

steps in survey development

-Survey research continued:  steps in survey development Meta analysis .  Correlational and Experimental Research

-Single case design. Evaluating abstracts. Outline/Draft of paper due

-Intro to qualitative research. Qualitative methods. Qualitative methods and data analysis


 

EVALUATION OF RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

 

 

 

Evaluation of Review Paper

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation of Exams