University of North Texas
COURSE SYLLABUS
MUED 5120 - Applied Research in Music Education
Spring, 2010
The Division of Music Education is dedicated to empowering students through learning opportunities that are contextual and relevant to a career in teaching. To become an effective music educator, each student must commit to excellence in both teaching and musicianship.
Dr. Debbie Rohwer
Office: Music 304
Phone: 369-7538
E-mail:
Office Hours: Tues.: 10:00-11:00 and Thurs: 1:00-2:00
Theories, techniques and procedures for conducting and understanding research related to human musical behaviors.
Required texts: How to design and evaluate research in education.
Fraenkel & Wallen
(ISBN#0-07-021771-8)
Other requirement: Binder for all submissions, if using hard copies
Recommended text: Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.
Sixth edition (ISBN# 978-1-4338-0561-5)
Grading: 90-100 (A); 80-89 (B); 70-79 (C); 60-69 (D); 59-lower (F)
Project: 50 points (turned in in parts; edited at each stage; important to meet deadlines)
Daily questions: 10 points
Quizzes: 40 points
Topics to be covered:
Writing style
Research terminology familiarity
Research methodology
Research design basics
Statistics basics
Attendance:
Regular, punctual attendance is essential to your success in this course. One absence will be allowed. Beyond this, ten points may be deducted for each subsequent absence. Excessive instances of lateness may also result in a lowered grade. Four absences will constitute an automatic failure of the course. Inclass group assignments and quizzes cannot be made up outside of class time.
Academic Misconduct:
If you engage in academic misconduct relating to this course, you will receive a failing grade on the assignment and a failing grade in the course. In addition, the case will be referred to the Dean of Students for appropriate disciplinary action.
Academic misconduct includes cheating and plagiarism.
The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to, (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations: (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments: or (3) the acquisition without permission, of tests or other academic materials belonging to a faculty member or staff of the University.
The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in selling of term papers or other academic materials (Source: Code of Conduct and Discipline at the University of North Texas).
Americans with Disabilities Act:
The College of Music complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disability. If you have an established disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request accommodation, please see me as soon as possible. My office hours and office number are shown on this syllabus.
ORDER OF
FRAENKEL AND WALLEN READINGS:
INTRODUCTION:
Chapters 1, 2, and 3
ETHICS/REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
Chapters 4 and 5
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:
Chapters 18, 19, and 21
SURVEY RESEARCH/DESCRIPTIVE:
Chapters 17 and descriptive statistics section (192-196)
SAMPLING:
Chapter 6
CORRELATIONAL:
200-206 and Chapter 15
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY:
Chapter 8
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE:
Chapter 16
EXPERIMENTAL:
Chapter 13
INTERNAL VALIDITY:
Chapter 9
Weekly topics to be covered:
Week 1: Overview of research methodologies/terms, and searching for research articles
Week 2: Institutional Review Board
Week 3: Qualitative Research attributes
Week 4: Survey Research, introduction to descriptive statistics and sampling
Week 5: Writing questionnaires, level of measurement, central tendency and variability
Week 6: Method details
Week 7: Correlations
Week 8: Midterm & ANOVA intro
Week 9: Ex post facto and experimental designs and ANOVA details
Week 10: ANOVA interactions
Week 11: Internal validity and statistics
Week 12: Threats to external validity
Week 13: Studies in trade paperbacks
Week 14: Evaluating studies, conclusion sections, item analysis for classroom tests
Week 15: In class experiment: jumping frogs
Week 16: Final and turn in final version of project