HDDR 6210 Research Methods

Southern Methodist University

Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development

Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management
5228 Tennyson Parkway Suite 118
Plano, TX  75024

972-473-3425

January Term

October 26, 2009 – January 15, 2010

Instructor Information

John Potter, OD, MA

Phone: 972-818-1239

Fax: 972-818-1240

Cell: 314-494-7563

Email: jwpotter@smu.edu

Office Hours: By appointment only

Class Time: Monday 6:00-10:15 PM

Credit: 2 hours

Course Description

HDDR 6210 Research Methods (2 credit hours)

The focus will be to provide students with a fundamental understanding in research methods allowing them to be discerning consumers of literature in the dispute resolution field. Students will learn sound research design, inference from data to conclusions, and the assumptions underlying various methods. In this way, students will be empowered to judge for themselves the value, validity, and reliability of studies they read.

http://smu.edu/education/disputeresolution/coursedescriptions.asp

Course Objectives

Required Reading

Day, Robert, and Barbara Gastel. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper. 6th ed. Westport: Greenwood P, 2006.

Class Schedule

Student Evaluation and Grading Policy

1/4 of the final grade will be based on the first examination.  1/2 of the final grade will be based on the second examination.  1/4 of the final grade will be based on attendance and class participation. We will use the following grading system.

Course Policies

Course Withdrawal

It is your responsibility to check for add/drop and withdraw dates.

http://smu.edu/registrar/academic_calendar.asp

If you are unable to complete this course or will miss 3 or more classes, it is your responsibility to withdraw formally from the course.

Honor Code

The honor code of Southern Methodist University governs all work in this course.  Students should review their student handbook of the code. Cheating will result in automatic failure of the class.

http://smu.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook/PCL_05_HC.asp

Blackboard

We will rely heavily on Blackboard for communication, so become familiar with it before class begins.

https://courses.smu.edu/webapps/login/

Other Items

1. Be prepared to participate in class.
2. Professional respect and courtesy is expected at all times.
3. Class begins on time.
4. We will take breaks, but you are expected to be back on time.
5. Do not read newspapers, books for other classes, or other outside reading material during class.    
6. Attendance is mandatory and roll will be taken.
7. Be quiet if you arrive late for class when you enter the classroom.
8. If you have to leave class early let me know before class begins.
9. Pagers and mobile phones are to be turned off during class.

University Policies and Procedures

http://smu.edu/education/disputeresolution/academiccalendar.asp

Disability Accommodations

Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first contact Ms. Rebecca Marin, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities (214-768-4557) to verify the disability and establish eligibility for accommodations.  They should then schedule an appointment with the professor to make appropriate arrangements.  (See University Policy No. 2.4.)

Religious Observance

Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on the holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of absence.  (See University Policy No. 1.9.)