This course introduces basic concepts of quantitative research design, methodology, and interpretation of results. Students will be asked to engage in data collection, preparation and analysis. This set of conceptual and methodological skills is applied to initial research design, review of research finding reports and presentations as well as examination of empirical quantitative data.
Course Objectives:
This course presents the broad scope and methods of quantitative research. Students will be introduced to and supported to use generally accepted methods for quantitative data organization and management. Students will employ specific analytical approaches in interpreting data. Students will be introduced to several quantitative methodologies and required to articulate the ways that researchers organize and execute quantitative inquiry to inform organizational inquiry and transformation.
Note: It will be assumed that students have prior knowledge of some basic statistics terminology and applications to fully understand the concepts introduced in this course. Advanced computational mathematics and statistics will not be required to complete the course assignments, but a foundational understanding of applied statistics concepts may be necessary. Students may gain this knowledge with recommended supplemental readings embedded within the course modules.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Self-Assessments
Self-assessment should address all of the readings and tasks you completed individually and in your small group for the assigned time period. Refer to your mastery of objectives, clarity/accuracy, and participation in the assigned tasks during the time assigned, providing a recommended grade (low pass, pass, high pass) and a justification for your recommendation.
Class and Small Group Discussion Board Posts & Comments
Online discussions provide participants with opportunities to make meaning of new theory, key concepts, and applications of theory to practice. Participants contribute to the intellectual development of the cohort by offering insights, synthesizing understandings, and responding to the postings of others. The co-construction of knowledge is especially transparent in the online environment, unlike face to face classrooms where only a few individuals may offer ideas in a public forum. While somewhat less formal than a paper, the quality of your postings should reflect the standards of a submitted paper.
Assignments: Reading Synthesis, Statistical and Quantitative Research Definitions Quiz, and Preparing Data for Correlation Analysis
The three assignments required for this course (Reading Synthesis, Statistical and Quantitative Research Definitions Quiz, Preparing Data for Correlation Analysis) vary somewhat in the nature of the task. However, each rubric addresses the general expectations of the work. Specific comments/feedback relevant to each assignment may be added by the instructor on assessed work.
Quantitative Research Analysis & Evaluation Essay
Read one summary report and three full reports of empirical studies. In this essay, you should analyze and evaluate the methods, findings, conclusions and presentation of data of all four reports. Discuss elements that are common to the reports collectively, as well as, some characteristics that may be specific to individual reports. In your evaluation, identify a strength of one or multiple reports. In addition, identify one weakness in a quantitative methodology of one of the three original studies and propose an alternative that would strengthen this area.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignments | Points |
---|---|
Discussion Board Posts & Comments (5 points each) | 30 |
Assignments (10 points each) | 30 |
Self-Assessments (5 points each) | 10 |
Quantitative Research Analysis & Critique Essay | 30 |
Total | 100 |
The criteria for all courses in the Ed. D. program are described in the modules and/or rubrics. Assignments will include guidelines with rubrics, descriptions of expectations, or examples, and include point values. Coursework will be assessed and graded using individual evaluation protocols that are provided for the three major assignments. Final “grades” will reflect the following schema:
Note** The instructor will determine if an assignment may be revised and resubmitted for rescoring. Candidates may proceed to subsequent courses in the curriculum with one LP grade, and although there is no failing grade, a second LP course grade results in termination from the doctoral program.
All assignments are to be completed in a timely manner with appropriate accuracy, detail, thought and reflection fitting of doctoral-level degree candidates. All assignments (done in writing or with other media applications) are graded on the basis of faculty assessment of your ability to accurately apply concepts from readings, organization, and mechanics. Please note that you must save all submitted documents in Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint in order for them to transmit successfully. All work must be properly identified and include author(s)’ name(s). Submit all written work in APA style (Refer to the APA Publication Manual for guidance; Purdue OWL is an excellent, user-friendly resource).
Notes:
Week |
Topic |
Activities & Assignments |
Due Date |
1 5/3-5/7 |
Quantitative Methods |
Introduction Class Discussion Board (DB) Reading Synthesis Assignment Readings: Creswell ch.1, 2 & 4; Cassuto; Mukherjee |
Intro DB – by midnight, Friday, 5/5 (initial post due by FRIDAY night) Reading Synthesis – by midnight, Sunday, 5/7 |
2 5/8-5/14 |
Quantitative Data Collection |
Data Collection Data Collection Small Group DB & Comments Self Assessment Readings: Smith & Rabin; Creswell ch.5; Jensenius Viewings: sample NCES data set; online databases |
Sm Group DB Initial Post – by midnight, Wednesday, 5/10 Sm Group DB Comments – by midnight, Sunday, 5/14 Self-Assessment – by midnight, Sunday, 5/14 |
3 5/15-5/21 |
Quantitative Research Designs |
Small Group Work – Definitions & Quiz Class DB Post & Comments – Research Topic Readings: Creswell ch.10-12; Gorman; Nunez et al.; Ladd |
Class DB Initial Post – by midnight, Wednesday, 5/17 Class DB Comments – by midnight, Sunday, 5/21 |
4 5/22-5/28 |
Statistics & Quantitative Data Analysis |
Small Group Work – Definitions Small Group Quiz Stats & Quant Research Quiz & Self Assess Readings: Creswell ch.6; Lazer et al. Recommended: Agresti & Finlay; Thompson et al.; DeCoster; Baker; Fisher; stats videos |
Sm Group-Developed Quiz – by midnight, Wednesday, 5/24 Research Quiz Self Assessment – by midnight, Sunday, 5/28 |
5 5/29-6/4 |
Quantitative Data Preparation |
Data Preparation Individual Assignment Class DB Post & Comments – Data Preparation Readings: Creswell; Microsoft; Hellerstein; Trochim |
Data Preparation Assignment – by midnight, Wednesday, 5/31 Class DB Data Preparation Post – by midnight, Friday, 6/2 Class DB Comments – by midnight, Sunday, 6/4 |
6 6/5-6/11 |
Interpretation of Results & Reporting Findings |
Class DB Post & Comments – Presenting Data Readings: Nellie Mae report & supporting studies; SPSS output; DataGraph scatterplot; S.Moon data map; data viz galleries Small Group: DRAFT Quantitative Research Analysis & Evaluation Essay: Interpreting and Critiquing Reports of Research Findings |
Class DB Data Presentation Post – by midnight, Wednesday, 6/7 Class DB Comments – by midnight, Friday 6/9 Small DB Draft Essay – by midnight, Sunday, 6/11 |
7 6/12-6/18 |
Review & Epistemology |
Class DB Post & Comments – Methodology & Epistemology Small Group: Peer Review Comments of DRAFT Quantitative Research Analysis & Evaluation Essays Readings: Pole; Johnson & Onwuegbuzie; Feynman; Smith & Heshusius Quantitative Research Analysis & Evaluation Essay |
Small DB Peer Review Comments – by midnight TUESDAY, 6/13 Class DB Method & Epistemology Post – by midnight, Friday, 6/16 Class DB Comments – by midnight, Sunday, 6/18 Essay – by midnight, Sunday, 6/18 |
8 6/19-6/25 |
Course Reflections & Evaluation |
Class DB Post – Course Final Reflections Self Assessment |
Class DB Post – by midnight, Wednesday,6/21 Course Self Assessment – by midnight, Friday, 6/23 |
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
The Graduate Programs in Education holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.