EDN 551- Advocacy Research Project I 1

Students develop an advocacy research project that demonstrates their engagement in an original line of inquiry. This project provides students with an opportunity to develop a unique representation of what they have learned throughout their program while producing a product that has the potential to enhance their professional profile. Topics covered include: topic selection, APA style guidelines, conducting and developing a literature review, designing a method of inquiry, and preparation of a proposal for Human Subjects Research review by the IRB.

Welcome to EDN 551 800!

Congratulations for having reached this milestone. As you can see from the course description, Advocacy Research Project I is step one in designing and implementing your own project as exit criteria for the program. Unlike other courses, there will be no weekly readings or assignments to submit. Instead, you will review, reflect upon and build on what you have learned throughout the program as you develop a proposal for your advocacy research project. You will be responsible for sharing your ideas and reflections on your ongoing project development with your peers on the discussion board, and serving as a peer reviewer for colleagues and being supported by review of your work. By the end of the semester you will have gone from a list of grand ideas about improving early childhood education to a useful, workable project that will be implemented during EDN 567 800 Advocacy Research EDN 551- Advocacy Research Project I

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Required Texts

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual. (6th.ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

Recommended Texts

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

& Required readings, as assigned. Supplemental readings and materials will also be available in the course.

This course emphasizes the following UNCW Learning Goals:

1. Critical Thinking: Students will integrate multiple methods and perspectives to critically examine complex problems.
2. Inquiry: Students will engage in rigorous, open-minded, and imaginative inquiry.
3. Information Literacy: Students will locate, evaluate, and effectively use information by

applying a variety of academic and technological skills.

4. Thoughtful Expression: Students will effectively express meaningful ideas in speech and writing.

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify a topic for scholarly or creative inquiry.
2. Review, synthesize and summarize research and other scholarly literature around a selected

topic.

3. Compose a well-written, integrative and relevant review of scholarly literature.

Relation of the Course to the Watson College Conceptual Framework

This course is designed to support students in producing a final scholarly or creative product reflective of their learning in their Masters program. Key concepts for this course are: Inquiry and the systematic understanding and examination of problems in education, Innovation and the exploration and development of new ideas or strategies to address or explore problems in education, Ethics and the conduct of responsible inquiry involving human beings, and Reflection and the ability to identify what we do well and what needs improvement, and from there, to make appropriate change.

Learning Outcomes

EDN 551- Advocacy Research Project I 3

4. Provide appropriate, useful peer review of written work.
5. Develop a purpose statement and research/inquiry questions to frame the advocacy research

project.

6. Develop a research design to support the purpose and research/inquiry questions guiding the

advocacy research project.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical research practices, including protecting the rights of

participants, and respecting study participants.

8. Submit written assignments that are well-written, logical, organized, and conform to the

writing, formatting, and citation conventions of the American Psychological Association (6th edition).