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Part of the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree

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Research Design: Inquiry and Discovery

University of North Texas

About this Course

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The main purpose of this course is to focus on good questions and how to answer them.  This is essential to making considered decisions as a leader in any organization or in your life overall. Topics will include the basis of human curiosity, development of questions, connections between questions and approaches to information gathering design , variable measurement, sampling, the differences between experimental and non-experimental designs, data analysis, reporting and the ethics of inquiry projects.  Emphasis will be placed on approaches used in the social sciences (i.e., sociology, psychology, anthropology), but we will also discuss how others (i.e., natural scientists, business analysts) might approach the inquiry process.  No prior knowledge of statistics is required for this course.

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Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.73/5 (48 Ratings)

Susan Watson

Clinical Assistant Professor

Applied Arts & Sciences

4,732 Learners

2 Courses

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Offered by

University of North Texas

Start working towards your Bachelor's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from University of North Texas. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

The Process of Inquiry

This module will focus on the process of inquiry and how that will be used as a systematic model in seeking answers and solving problems. Next, we turn to components essential to each of the inquiry approaches.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 30 min), 13 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Welcome to the Course!4m

Introduction to the Inquiry Process4m

What is Curiosity?4m

Intro to Readings for Week 12m

The Components of Inquiry Design3m

What is a Theory?2m

Using Inquiry as Professionals8m

13 readings

Course Syllabus 5m

Elements of Critical Thinking: An Overview - A Resource We Will Refer to in This Class10m

Study Tips for this Course 10m

Connecting UNT, Applied Arts and Sciences, and This Course 5m

Week 1 Overview10m

What is the Process of Inquiry?10m

Inquiry Approaches: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods10m

Glossary: The Process of Inquiry10m

Inquiry Components10m

Systematically Asking Questions10m

What is a Theory?10m

Glossary: Inquiry Terminology10m

Using Inquiry: An Interview with Dr. Krisstal Clayton10m

1 practice exercise

Process of Inquiry10m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Conceptualize and Operationalize Research

In this module, we will consider how to develop questions or hypotheses. This process begins with conceptualization or the mental process where fuzzy and imprecise concepts are made more specific and precise.

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 16 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz

3 videos

Intro to Readings for Week 25m

Conceptualize and Operationalize Inquiry Process1m

Interview with Dr. Keleher8m

8 readings

Week 2 Overview5m

Relationships Between Variables10m

Questions and Hypotheses10m

Conceptualization and Operationalization (Part 1 of 2)10m

Conceptualization and Operationalization (Part 2 of 2)10m

Glossary: Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Inquiry10m

Glossary: Inquiry Design10m

Using Inquiry: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Keleher10m

1 practice exercise

Conceptualize and Operationalize Research10m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Background Research

In this module, we will look at the essential components of a literature review. The purpose is both to gain a good understanding of the main sources of information concerning a particular topic or question and to clarify our inquiry objective, hypothesis and/or research question.

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 13 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

3 videos

What is Literature Review?3m

Intro to Readings for Week 31m

Interview with Dr. Simon8m

4 readings

Week 3 Overview5m

Review of the Background Literature and Writing10m

Glossary: Background Research10m

Using Inquiry: An Interview with Dr. Jason Simon10m

1 practice exercise

Literature Review10m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Importance of Sampling and Ethical Issues in Research

This module will explore the importance of reliability and validity. We will also focus on ethical issues encountered with research.

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 17 min), 13 readings, 1 quiz

3 videos

What is Sampling and Why is it Important?4m

Intro to Readings for Week 43m

Interview with Dr. Cooley9m

13 readings

Week 4 Overview5m

Sampling10m

Basic Statistics Concepts10m

Reliability and Validity10m

Creating a Representative Sample10m

Glossary: Importance of Sampling5m

Ethical Issues Overview10m

Voluntary Participation10m

No Harm to Participants10m

More Ethical Issues10m

Proposals10m

Glossary: Ethical Issues5m

Using Inquiry: An Interview with Dr. Jason Cooley10m

1 practice exercise

Sampling and Ethical Issues in Research10m

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Is financial aid available?
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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
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Research Design: Inquiry and Discovery

Research Design: Inquiry and Discovery