EDL 735 - Research Methods II: Quantitative

This course introduces the basic concepts of data analysis and statistical computing. The goal of the course is to provide students practical tools for conducting basic statistical analyses and understanding and assessing statistical claims, including claims made in journal articles. The emphasis is on foundational knowledge of experiments and statistical inference, and the practical application of quantitative reasoning, visualization, and data analysis. Topics covered include basic descriptive measures, measures of association, sampling and sample size estimation, statistical inference for categorical (e.g., binomial tests, chi-square) and numerical (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression) data. Weekly assignments will allow students to practice learnings and self-assess progress. Discussion Board assignments will allow students to engage in peer learning and peer-to-peer feedback. The midterm exam will allow students to demonstrate knowledge and application of basic statistical concepts. The final paper will allow students to apply statistical concepts, evaluate results, and make recommendations to solve real-world educational leadership and higher education problems. We will use R with RStudio to learn and practice statistical analyses; however, students will not be evaluated on the extent to which they learn R and can code with R language. Students will be evaluated on the extent to which they understand and apply basic statistical concepts and evaluate findings to make recommendations for actions.

(Cr: 3