2002
| Instructor | Peter D. MacIntyre, Ph.D | |||
| Activities and Schedule | Phone | 563-1315 | ||
| Objectives | Office | cc233 | ||
| Meeting Format | Office Hours | Mon. & Wed., 10:30-12:00 | ||
| Marking Scheme | Meeting Room | cc254 | ||
| Meeting Time | Thursdays
1:30 – 4:00 |
Major Activities and Sequence:
This course is a seminar course, meaning that the onus is on the students
to prompt and sustain the discussion. The basic sequence of events occurs as
follows:
1.
Choosing
a topic and thesis advisor (by the end of Sept.)
2.
Reading
the literature on the topic and writing an introduction to the thesis
(Oct.-Nov.)
3.
Planning
a study of the topic and writing a methodology, including ethics approval
(Oct.-Nov.)
4.
Presenting
a research proposal (early Dec.)
5.
Collecting
data (Jan. - Feb.)
6.
Data
analysis (March)
7.
Interpreting
the results in terms of their implication in the literature (March)
8.
Writing
the thesis (March - April)
9.
Presenting
your thesis (April)
At
every stage you can count on the support of your seminar colleagues, as well as
the thesis coordinator and your advisor.
In the end, the quality of your thesis will depend on the amount of
effort you put into finding a research question, searching the literature,
collecting the data, and interpreting the meaning of your results. It is
challenging, rewarding, and difficult at times.
¨ To
learn about the research process and appreciate its complexity.
¨ To
complete a major research project, from inception to completion.
¨ To
learn academic presentation skills, both oral and written.
¨ To
contribute to scholarly research, either through a novel investigation or
replication.
¨ To
write a thesis document that is well written
The classroom meetings are intended for discussion of issues raised in
the process of conducting your research.
This will focus on the issues that the students wish to discuss. Students
will take turns leading the discussion and contributing to the ongoing
dialog. Students who are leading a
discussion are expected to provide a reading (preferably a journal article) for
the other students. The rest of the
group is expected to prepare by reading assigned papers, critiquing them, and
contemplating the relationship between methodology and theory in the
article. Reading the assigned paper in advance is
required. Students will be
marked on their participation in discussion and assistance in developing and
critically evaluating other students’ research.
Attendance
(10%)
Participation
(20%)
Initiative
and Effort (20%)
Research
Proposal (50%)
Review of the literature (50%)
Methodology (30%)
Planned analyses (20%)
Attendance
(10%)
Participation (20%)
Initiative
and Effort (20%)
Thesis (50%)
Introduction (20%)
Method (20%)
Results (25%)
Discussion (35%)
NOTE:
Your first term mark will not be used to calculate your final mark.