2007-09 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

Graduate Catalog: Section 10.7.1http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/22700.htmlBEP 698 Nondissertation Research. Variable credit.Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.Participation in a research project relating to educational psychology.BEP 699 Dissertation Research. Variable credit. Three-hour minimum.Course Descriptions (BER)BER 500 Introduction to Educational Research. Three hours.An overview of research methodology, primarily for master's students. Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.BER 540 Statistical Methods in Education. Three hours.This three-hour course covers basic descriptive and inferential statistics, including measures of central tendency anddispersion. Hypothesis testing related to one-sample z-and t-test; independent and dependent samples t-test;correlation; and chi-square and simple regression are included. An introduction SPSS is required.Offered fall, spring,and summer semesters.BER 545 Analysis of Variance in Education. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 540 or equivalent.This is a three-hour course in which the student will learn various forms of the General Linear Model (GLM) usingAnalysis of Variance (ANOVA) methods. One and Two-Way ANOVAs; including contrast and interaction analyses,analysis of covariance ANCOVA; Repeated Measures; and Mixed-Model design; non-parametric. SPSS is required.Offered fall and spring semesters.BER 546 Regression Methods in Education. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 540 or equivalent.Topics include correlation, simple, and multiple regression analyses from two to multiple variables. SPSS is required.Offered fall and spring semesters.BER 550 Evaluation of Classroom Learning. Three hours.A comprehensive contemporary approach to the development, application, and interpretation of teacher-madeclassroom assessments; use of text book assessments to be aligned with national and state achievement standards.Attention is given to interpreting standardized norm and criterion referenced tests. Grading practices are presentedespecially to be aligned with No Child Left Behind Federal legislation 2001. Offered fall and spring semesters.BER 558 Introduction to Psychometrics. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 540 or equivalent.An introduction to classical and current theories and practices in psychometrics. Theory is presented together withexposure to many of the popular assessment procedures. Offered fall semester.BER 600 Quantitative Research Methods in Education. Three hours.An overview of research methods and procedures in education, primarily for doctoral students. Emphasis is given tothe quantitative and qualitative methods used in writing a doctoral dissertation.BER 603 Survey Research in Education. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 540.Comprehensive introduction to using survey instruments for research purposes. Survey development, construction,validation scaling, sampling, and research methods as they apply to matching the survey to research questions arecovered.BER 630 Case Study Research Methods. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 631.Examines the production of case studies of individual practices, discrete institutions and organizations, and statelevelpolicies. Explores the research methods that can inform the production of case study representations of humanexperience, as well as the different styles of case study writing. Offered summer term.BER 631 Inquiry as Interpretation: Qualitative I. Three hours.Examines the history and philosophy of naturalistic studies of human experience. Concentrates on post-positivistic,phenomenological, structuralist, and post-structuralist theory and modes of analysis. Course assignments providepractice with rudimentary qualitative research skills. Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.BER 632 Reflexiveness and Resistance in Research Representation: Qualitative II. Three hours.Prerequisite: BER 631.Examines the irony and ideology of naturalistic studies of human experience. Examines the epistemic limits of anymethod of research representation, and the political and ethical implications of those limits for researchers. Courseassignments provide practice with intermediate qualitative research skills, including participant observation, field notedevelopment, and interviewing skills. Offered spring and summer semesters..