SYLLABUS: SPST 500 RESEARCH METHODS IN SPACE STUDIES. (3 credit hours) (8 Week Session) (No Prerequisites)

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1 SYLLABUS: SPST 500 RESEARCH METHODS IN SPACE STUDIES (3 credit hours) (8 Week Session) (No Prerequisites) TABLE OF CONTENTS Course Description Course Scope Course Objectives Course Delivery Method Course Materials Evaluation Procedures Grading Scale Course Outline Policies Academic Services COURSE DESCRIPTION (CATALOG) SPST500 Research Methods in Space Studies This course is designed to build the student's ability to organize and conduct research in the space studies discipline, and to enable the student to present findings in a clear, concise and coherent manner. It is devoted to thinking about research logically, creatively, critically, structurally and scientifically. Course material covers qualitative research designs, theory building, role of argumentation in presenting a research report (thesis), as well as describing and analyzing quantitative variables. COURSE SCOPE At the end of this course you will have a firm understanding of the key concepts and basic theories involved in effective research methods. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: Work with both quantitative and qualitative research methods 1

2 Apply select statistical procedures for analysis for quantitative data Present findings in a coherent manner using both written text and graphics Properly find and review sources of data/information COURSE DELIVERY METHOD As with all APUS courses, SPST500 is delivered to you via the online Sakai software system. Be sure to review your workspace and take the time to test drive the classroom areas/links before diving into the course! COURSE MATERIALS Textbook Trochim, William The Research Methods Knowledge Base, Third Edition Atomic Dog Publishing (2006) Voelker, David Statistics (Cliffs Quick Review) Wiley Publishing, Inc. (2001) Supporting Documents A complete package of supporting lesson presentations can be found within the Resources Folder. If additional material is required, such documents will be posted in the Resources area, with an alert posted in the Announcements area of the classroom. Supporting Websites Be sure to use the APUS Online Library Research Center, as well as the APUS Space Studies Homepage in support of your research efforts. Additional websites are listed at the end of this document. EVALUATION PROCEDURES Student efforts in this course will be evaluated based upon the following: Concept Homework (3) 42% Annotated Bibliography Assignments (2) 10% Statistics Homework (1) 8% Forum Postings (4) 16% Research Project (1) 24% 2

3 Total: 100% Concept Homework The Concept Homework will test your knowledge of the research terms and concepts covered in the Trochim textbook and the information found in the Resources folder. Each Concept Homework consists of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. Although these assignments are open book, it is literally impossible to get through the homework without having completed all assigned readings. Annotated Bibliography Assignments You will be required to review a total of 10 (5 each assignment) space studies-related journal articles and write an Annotated Bibliography for each. You are responsible for finding and choosing the articles for review. Be sure to post your annotated bibliographies within the Assignments area of the classroom. Please see the following link for an excellent and concise introduction to the concept of writing annotated bibliographies: Statistics Homework The Statistics Homework assignment will evaluate your understanding of quantitative methods, with emphasis on analysis of real world space studies related data. Forum Postings There are a total of four Forum postings for this course. You will be graded on your active participation within each posting, and the quality of response for each. Make sure you respond to at least two other student posts! Research Project The Research Project will measure your ability to use the skills learned throughout the course. Specifics of the ten-page research project will be posted the beginning of Week 6. GRADING SCALE: Please see the student handbook to review the University s grading scale. 3

4 COURSE OUTLINE Week(s) 1 Lesson Readings/Assignments Readings: Trochim Chapters 1-2 Forum 0 Readings: Trochim Chapter 3 2 Annotated Bibliography Assignment 1 Forum 1 Readings: Trochim Chapters Concept Homework 1 Readings: Trochim Chapters Concept Homework 2 Readings: Trochim Chapters Assignment: Concept Homework 3 Forum 2 4

5 Week(s) Lesson Readings/Assignments Readings: Voelker Pages Forum 3 Annotated Bibliography Assignment 2 Be sure to see the APUS / West Virginia Math Video Initiative (via the APUS Online Library) for a variety of statistics related concepts videos. 7 Commence work on Research Project (Turabian Style must be used) Forum 4 Statistics Homework Readings: N/A 8 Assignment: Complete/Turn in Research Project 5

6 POLICIES: Please see the student handbook to review University policies regarding Drops/ Withdrawals, Plagiarism, Extensions, and Disability Accommodations. WRITING EXPECTATIONS All written submissions should be submitted in a font and page set-up that is readable and neat. It is recommended that students try to adhere to a consistent format, which is described below. Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style and font and submitted inside the electronic classroom (unless classroom access is not possible and other arrangements have been approved by the professor). 11 or 12-point font using Arial or Times New Roman styles. Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1 inch, with reasonable accommodation being made for special situations and online submission variances. CITATION AND REFERENCE STYLE Assignments completed in a narrative essay or composition format must follow Turabian Citation Style guidelines. This course will require students to use the citation and reference style established by Kate Turabian in her A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th edition, A current online version of the manual can be found at the APUS Online Library Resource Center. LATE ASSIGNMENTS Assignments received after the due date will be assessed a 10% point deduction per day. Assignments received more than one week late will not be accepted unless the student has contacted the instructor ahead of time regarding extenuating circumstances. NETIQUETTE Online universities promote the advancement of knowledge through positive and constructive debate--both inside and outside the classroom. Discussions on the Internet, however, can occasionally degenerate into needless insults and flaming. Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in a university setting; basic academic rules of good behavior and proper Netiquette must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the fun and excitement of learning that does not include personal attacks or student attempts to stifle the discussion of others. Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative composition in your formal papers, keep layouts simple. The Sakai classroom may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not translate in your messages. Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and--especially--satire can easily get lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add emoticons to help alert your readers: ;-), : ), DISLCAIMER STATEMENT 6

7 Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular group. ACADEMIC SERVICES ONLINE LIBRARY RESEARCH CENTER & LEARNING RESOURCES The Online Library Resource Center is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Center provides access to special learning resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to Charles Town Library and Interlibrary Loan: The University maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors publications, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries. Electronic Books: You can use the online library to locate and download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format. Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available in electronic format and only through limited subscription services. Turnitin: Turnitin is a web-based plagiarism prevention application licensed for campus use through the APUS Online Library. All students can signup for an APUS student profile. With an APUS student profile, students can submit class assignments, as directed by instructors. Students also can use Turnitin outside of enrolled courses, as a learning tool, uploading and checking their work to avoid instances of inadvertent plagiarism. Smarthinking: Students have access to 10 free hours of tutoring service per year through Smarthinking. Tutoring is available in the following subjects: math (basic math through advanced calculus), science (biology, chemistry, and physics), accounting, statistics, economics, Spanish, writing, grammar, and more. Additional information is located in the Online Research Center. From the ORC home page, click on either the Writing Center or Tutoring Center and then click Smarthinking. All login information is available. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY There are numerous online sources to help you in better understanding the objectives outlined in this course. These include (but are not limited to): Qualitative Research Methods (Mensah-Dartey) The Layman's Guide to Social Research Methods (Colosi) 7

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