PPPM 690, Research Colloquium, Fall, 20001 CRN: 13992, 1 credit 3:30-5:00 on Mondays, 100 Hendricks CRN: 13993, 1 credit 3:30-5:00 on Tuesdays, 100 Hendricks Professor: Jean Stockard, 103 Hendricks, ext. 6-5005, jeans@oregon Hours: 1:00-3:00 Tuesdays and by appointment This class is designed to help graduate students in PPPM develop their master’s project or thesis. The course is offered fall, winter, and spring terms, and students take the colloquium two times for credit. Emphasis is placed on formulating and honing a research topic, developing a research design, reviewing the literature, finding data sources, and choosing an appropriate methodology to answer the research questions. The class operates as a seminar with students presenting their own work and critiquing the work of others. Students will have at least two opportunities to present their work to the class. For these presentations students must provide seminar participants with a write-up prior to the class period. The initial write ups (2-3 pages) will include the following parts: 1) what is the issue (problem) that you will investigate and why is it important; 2) what is the specific research question; 3) how will you answer this question -- i.e. what methods will you use; and 4) what specific problems would you like help on in this session. There is 1 required book for the class: Mildred L. Patten’s, Proposing Empirical Research: A Guide to the Fundamentals (Pyrczak, 2000). This book provides a step-by-step guide that students can use in developing the proposal for a thesis or exit project. It includes guidelines and suggestions for each part of the proposal and two sample proposals. Students are urged to read the book in its entirety as soon as possible (it is short) and to use it as a guide in developing their class presentations and proposals. There are also 4 suggested books ordered for the class and available at the University Bookstore: Howard Becker, Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book or Article (University of Chicago Press, 1986); Wayne C. Booth, et al, The Craft of Research (University of Chicago Press, 1995); Jose L. Galvan, Writing Literature Reviews (Pyrczak, 1999); and Paul Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormond. Practical Research, Planning and Design, 7th edition (Prentice-Hall, 1985). Each of these books can be a very helpful guide in various parts of your work -- from compiling relevant literature to planning your research to maintaining momentum on your project. Grading for the colloquium is on a pass/no pass basis only. To receive credit students must attend and actively participate. Because active student participation is a key element of the class, students with more than 2 absences will not receive credit for the class (i.e. “NP”). Students must also complete a “planning and goals” form at the beginning of the term that outlines their goals for the term related to their thesis/exit project and a “reflection and future goals” form at the end of the term that reports their progress and their plans for future terms. Students who have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course should make arrangements to see the instructor as soon as possible. They should also request that the Counselor for Students with Disabilities send a letter verifying the disability. Planning and Goals PPPM 690, Research Colloquium Fall, 2001 Name _________________________________ Date ________________________ Describe the general area of your project (e.g. transportation, non-profits). Do you have a specific research question or problem? Please describe as clearly as you can. When do you anticipate finishing the program? ________________________________ What are your specific goals for this term related to your project (e.g. reading 2-3 peer reviewed articles a week related to the project, finalizing the research question, finding a committee, writing the literature and methods chapters of the proposal, etc.)? 1.______________________________________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________________________________ 3.______________________________________________________________________ 4.______________________________________________________________________ 5.______________________________________________________________________ What help do you expect that you will want from your fellow colloquium members during this quarter? Is there any specific assistance that you would like from the instructor? Reflection and Future Goals PPPM 690, Research Colloquium Fall, 2001 Name _________________________________ Date ________________________ Describe the general area of your project (e.g. transportation, non-profit organizations, etc.) Do you have a specific research question or problem? Please describe as clearly as you can. When do you anticipate finishing the program? ________________________________ What work related to your project did you accomplish this term related to your project (e.g. read 2-3 peer reviewed articles a week related to the project, finalized the research question, met with my committee, wrote the literature and methods chapters of the proposal, etc.)? 1.______________________________________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________________________________ 3.______________________________________________________________________ 4.______________________________________________________________________ 5.______________________________________________________________________ What plans do you have for the next 1-2 terms regarding your exit project/thesis? Try to be as specific as possible, including time lines (e.g. have proposal approved within the first two weeks of the term, begin data collection by the third week of the term, etc.).