Methods and Applications of Quantitative Educational Research

Catalog description

This course introduces students to quantitative research methods by examining a range of empirical studies of contemporary K-12 education issues. Across the semester we will scaffold an understanding of quantitative research design and analysis approaches through a close reading of research on different educational topics such as how students’ sociodemographic contexts influence their school experiences, the impacts of teacher professional development experiences on their teaching, the effects of principal leadership on school climate and culture, and the influence of different parental involvement strategies on student engagement. Through a detailed examination of studies of these and other education issues, students will be introduced to both the theory and practical applications of quantitative investigation methods, including research design, data collection measures, and appropriate statistical analyses. From these experiences, students will gain both a deeper understanding of current education issues, develop a solid grounding in the different quantitative approaches commonly used to explore empirical questions, and become more capable and critical consumers of educational research and evaluation. This course has no prerequisites and is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of statistics.