KEAN UNIVERSITY
UNION, NEW JERSEY
Fall, 2009
COURSE TITLE
Advanced Seminar: Research in Special Education I & II
Course Numbers: SPED 5198, 5199
Semester Hours: Three (for each semester)
Prerequisites: SPED 5197, Problems and Issues in Special
Education Research
Student must have completed 21 semester
hours in the program
Limitation on Enrollment 15
Required:Master’s Students in Special Education
Catalog Description
In this two semester course, students design and implement a research project, resulting in a thesis. Students are encouraged to use results in classroom setting and/or publish findings. SPED 5198 is a prerequisite for SPED 5199.
Note: In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special
accommodations (e.g. tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking or test-taking
procedures) will be strongly encouraged to contact the professor at the beginning of the course.
KEAN UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
UNION, NEW JERSEY
COURSE TITLE
Advanced Seminar in Special Education I & II
ICOURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will achieve growth toward being informed, dynamic, professionals, as evidenced by
demonstrating proficiency in knowledge, skill application and dispositions to teaching.
Student will:
A. Demonstrate a critical understanding of research (S. D)
B. Develop an understanding of research design and implementation (K, S)
C. Select and evaluate literature sources related to individual research (K, S)
D. Design, implement and evaluate a research project (S, D)
E. Create a written document, demonstrating research that was conducted (K, S, D)
F. Project purpose and intent of research, and devises a plan to share results (S, D)
II COURSE CONTENT
A. Understanding research
1. Become familiar with the research process
2. Study the foundations of research
3. Analyze research approaches and determine most feasible approach to utilize in research project
4. Evaluate ethical issues in research
5. Critique research related to research topic
B. Research design and Implementation
1. Planning research design for project, such as:
a. experimental
b. quasi-experimental
c. descriptive
d. single-subject
e. qualitative
f. historical
2. Assessing internal and external validity
3. Determining subject selection and assignment
4. Selecting instrumentation and measurement
5. Engaging in data analysis and interpretation of results
C. Location of adequate sources
1. Using appropriate search techniques- ex. Educational indexes, CD ROM library search,
Internet (search engines)
2. Locating pertinent sources (journals, associations, World Wide Web Sites)
D. The Research Design
1 Assessment of research plan
2. Determining steps needed to conduct research
3. Selecting population, methods, measurements
E. The Research Project (thesis)
1 . Introduction
2. Review of the literature
3. Design of the study
4. Results and discussion
5. Summary
6. Documentation of resources, using APA Format
7. Appendix
F. Sharing the Results
1. Seeing connection between role as “teacher” and as “researcher”
2. Arena for sharing results is targeted
a. Poster session/ symposium for research
b. Journal publication
c. Staff development
d. Using results to influence worksite practice
IIIMETHODS OF INSTRUCTION
A. Demonstration
B. Discussion. Familiarity with technology in conducting search is reviewed.
C. Hands-on technology training (i.e. Excel, statistical analysis)
C. Individual conferences
D. Small group conferences
IV METHODS OF EVALUATION
Completion of Research Proposal and Master’s Thesis as per rubric guidelines (K, S, V)
Discussions (K, S, D)
Peer Reviews (S)
Individual Conferences (K, S, D)
V. SUGGESTED TEXTBOOK:
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication of the American Psychological Association
(6th Ed). Washington DC: Author
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- Non-Print Media
Educator’s World Wide Web Tour Guide. (CD Rom). Classroom Connect, Lancaster,
PA 17605
Searching the Internet (VHS). Classroom Connect, Lancaster, PA 1760
Writing a Great Research Paper: Plagiarism & Other Pitfalls. (DVD). Kean U. Library
Writing a Great Research Paper: Quoting, Citing and Paraphrasing (DVD). Kean U.
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- Websites
Action Learning and Action Resources (ALAR)
Action Research International
is a refereed on-line
journal of action research.
Action Research Resources
CARPP The Centre for Action Research in
Professional Practice, associated with Judi Marshall, Peter Reason and Jack
Whitehead at the University of Bath, UK.
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education.
Educating as Inquiry: A Teacher/Action Research Site
is maintained by Judith
Newman, a Canadian educator and writer.
ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education. Council for
Exceptional Children,Reston, VA 20190.
Excel in the Classroom.
GraphPad Software.
JP Das Developmental Disabilities Center.
Learning Disabilities Association of America.
National Center for Special Education Research.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
OSEP Ideas that Work.
Special Education Research for Better Schools.
Special Education Resources.
Successful Writing Tips—
The Educator’s Reference Desk.