Course Details

EDP 812 Overview

This advanced course in research methods builds on students’ prior knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods, the philosophical foundations of those methods, and how they manifest in current research practice. Students will utilize these foundations to examine a variety of important issues that need to be considered in designing research. As an elective in the Ph.D. sequence, this course builds knowledge and skill in focus group procedures in the public and non-profit environment. Attention will be placed on that alignment of research purpose to theoretical frameworks and focus group protocols. Questioning routes, moderator skills, planning critical logistical details of focus group interviews, and analyzing results of focus group interviews will be emphasized. Students will design, conduct and analyze a focus group interview related to their research interests.