Objective: Students will develop positive attitudes toward communication research by linking new values and principles with the familiar values and principles contained in children's literature. Course: Communication Research Methods.

This investigative laboratory exercise uses the different relations between ambient temperature and metabolic rate in endotherms and ectotherms as a core concept to answer the following question: What thermoregulatory mode is employed by chicken embryos? Emphasis is placed on the physiological concepts that can be taught with this exercise,…

Describes a college course which will help students develop an appreciation of the systematic study of politics. Students learn to scientifically explore political behavior and events and develop knowledge of elementary research design principles and problems in preparation for a subsequent elective course in political science research methods.…

Points out major problems with the scientific method as a model for learning about methodology in science and suggests teaching about the scientists' toolbox to remedy problems with the conventional scientific method. (KHR)

Offers considerations for statistics instructors of behavioral and social science students, in light of the research showing these students often perform significantly worse in statistics than in other classes. Suggests that instructors reflect on the context (student goals and background), course content, and pedagogical style when designing and…

Discusses aspects of quantitative experimental design to help college science faculty investigate college-level science instruction. (PR)

Introduces the chicken wing project in which students assess the microbial contamination of chicken wings for the safety of foods. Uses the colony counting technique and direct wash fluid examination for determining the microbial contamination, and investigates methods to reduce the level of microbial contamination. (Contains 14 references.) (YDS)

This guide is designed to assist sutdents in preparing a masters thesis or a doctoral dissertation. Part 1 describes the process of preparing a "mini" dissertation proposal, intended to familiarize the student with the dissertation process early in their doctoral program. Part 2 presents examples of dissertation prosposals for: (1) a laboratory…

An introductory educational research course should be comprehensive so as to meet the needs of many students and be a self-contained unit. This course outline follows the sequence of activities involved in an actual research study. Some course topics are debatable because evaluation, research, and statistics overlap considerably. (CP)

Presents guidelines for supervising an undergraduate student doing research, including a sample contract set up between the student and the supervisor. The contract may state the research topic, objective, procedures, laboratory requirements, costs, schedule, additional projects, and grading criteria. Other suggestions include scheduled meetings…

Identifies and explains some of the crucial elements of team research and data analysis, points out common pitfalls, and makes some helpful suggestions. Sections include general recommendations and communicating in statistical language. (ZWH)

Qualitative research procedures may be characterized by the practice of empiricism that is sensitive to individual perspectives of reality. The many techniques that may be used are malleable and situation-specific in their design--contingent on those aspects of social phenomena that are chosen to be studied. Practical curriculum design for…

Outlines a history of psychology course in which research design and methodology are introduced in a historical context. Describes course texts and experimental projects in which students ask research questions that are appropriate to a particular historical figure or theorist. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of teaching the course in this…

Introduces an investigative microbiology laboratory activity emphasizing critical thinking and experimental design in which students isolate and characterize a bacterium from a specific habitat. Explains the procedures of the laboratory including safety, sample collection, and isolation. (YDS)

Reports on Westfield State College's Animal Behavior course which requires students to design their own research projects, write a scientific research proposal, conduct experiments, and present results in the form of a scientific paper. (Author/MM)