FOR 569 588 Interpretive Research & Evaluation This is a Web-based course taught by Dr. Theresa Coble.
The 588 section is only for non-resident students living outside Texas. If you are a non-resident student living outside Texas, please contact the instructor prior to registering for the course.
Instructor Contact Information
Dr. Theresa Coble, Ph.D.
email: tcoble@sfasu.edu
(936) 468-1354
Dr. Coble's home pageCourse Description
This course provides an overview of interpretive research and evaluation with a focus on theory development, methodological approaches, and research design. This course seeks to provide a holistic and interdisciplinary examination of the field. The course emphasizes the philosophy and techniques, the curriculum and training, and the certification review process of the NPS Interpretive Development Program (IDP).Textbook Requirements
*American Psychological Association, (2001). Publication manual of the American psychological association (5th ed.) Washington, DC: Author.**Basman, C.M. (Ed). (2003). Bibliography of interpretive resources [Special Issue]. Journal of Interpretation Research, 8(2).
Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design:Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fink, A.F. (2006). How to conduct surveys: A step-by-step guide (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
*Spiral-bound edition recommended.
**Available through the NAI Association Bookstore (www.interpnet.com)Course Prerequisites
None.Course Format and Participation Requirements
This is a graduate course in resource interpretation. As such, it requires students to assume responsibility for analyzing class readings and other course content, identifying the implications for interpretive research and evaluation, and applying those insights to class discussions and assignments. Each week students will prepare a 1-page précis summarizing the content of the week's required readings. Each week students will participate in an online seminar discussion that will last approximately one hour. Seminar discussions will focus on a topic(s) related to that week's readings and/or assignments. Preparation for seminar discussions includes preparing a précis summarizing the week's required readings, posting the précis. and reviewing the postings other students have made. Students will complete a variety of assignments to increase their familiarity with the scholarly literature in their chosen field, enhance their understanding of interpretive theory, research and evaluation, and strengthen their ability to prepare a thesis proposal. Each student will complete a Methods assignment. For this assignment students will either complete a three interview sequence with a classmate, summarize interview results, and reflect on the interview process or work with a classmate to analyze five written surveys terms of question format and questionnaire construction. All assignments are to be submitted electronically unless otherwise noted. For a final project students will develop a thesis proposal that outlines a research project that the student will complete as an important requirement to earn a Masters of Science degree.On-campus or Face-to-Face Meeting Requirements
None.Course Assessment
Class Participation
Précis
300
100
Methods Assignment
500
TOTAL
1000 points
Effort Expected
This is a 3-credit-hour course. To be successful in this course you should expect to spend about 6 to 9 hours a week on readings, assignments, discussions, and other activities. This estimate is for the fall and spring semesters; if the course is offered during the summer course, more time per week may be necessary.Technical Requirements for the Course
Other than the minimum technical requirements for any course, students will need
Operating System
Windows '95, '98, 2000, NT, XP, or a Mac with System 8.1 or higher
Processor 600 MHz or higher
Memory
64 MB of Ram
Hard Drive Space
100 MB free disk space
Modem
56 kbps or higher speed
CD-ROM
Required
Sound Card
Required
Monitor
15" monitor (800 x 600 resolution)
Technical Requirements for the Course
Students should meet thefor any course.Before the Course Begins
Activate mySFA username, password, and email Register and pay for the course just as you would any other SFA course. As soon as you are registered, please send an email message to the instructor. F-1 Visa Holders
RESOURCE LINKS:
There are important federal regulations pertaining to distance education activity for F-1 Visa holders. All students with an F-1 Visa should follow the instructions at the following link to make sure they are in compliance.
http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/disted/facsup/f1visa.html
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