Research Design and Methods in Sustainable Practices

Catalog description

The focus of this course is research design and methodology as applied to problems in the field of sustainable practices. Students will learn basic principles of research design and data collection methods in the field of sustainable practices, such as environmental sampling, surveying, content analysis, and interviewing. Students will learn to choose appropriate statistical tools and apply them in the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Elements of set theory and relational algebra will also be addressed as they are used in working with data sets. Students will learn to interpret published research, such as demographic data and peer-reviewed research articles. They will also learn to communicate the results of their own research in formats that can reveal complex information at a glance, generate insights, and spur action. Research ethics and human subject considerations will be discussed. Needed technology will be taught along with the subject matter. Finally, students will begin the process of using the methodological approaches to help them organize their Senior Project Proposals.