Requirements for the Course

This semester you are supposed to submit two tasks: (1) in-class tasks and (2) research/thesis proposal. 1- In-class tasks (40%) There will be 4 in-class tasks. These tasks will be carried out in the class time and will be submitted that day. You can work in pairs or groups of 3 or 4 for analysis, but interpretations of the analysis will be done individually. This means each of you will have to submit a total of four tasks.

You will be given some raw data, and you are supposed to analyze the data and interpret the analysis. a) Descriptive Statistics (Using excel) (20th February) b) Descriptive Statistics (Using SPSS) (6th March) c) Factor Analysis (27th March) d) Inferential Statistics (17th April)

2- Research/Thesis Proposal (60%) The new comers (in their first semester) will write a research proposal. The ones in their second semester will write a thesis proposal, so they are expected to read and cite more articles then the new comers. You will write your research/thesis proposal in 3 parts:

a) Introduction (13th March) Purpose of the Study: Write what you want to investigate, giving some general background to the key ideas in your study. Write concise purpose statement. Justification for the Study: Write why the topic you want to investigate is important. Research Questions and/or Hypotheses: This is a more specific form of your purpose statement; write you research questions and/or hypotheses as clearly and concisely as possible. Definitions: Write operational definitions of the key terms of your study. The aim is to make your definitions as clear as possible. You can use definitions in the literature if you think they do define your aim clearly. Or you can give your own definitions of terms.

b) Literature Review (3rd April) Research Proposals: Give a partial summary of previous work related to your topic. You may also include theoretical conceptions that your study is based on. Keep in mind! When you cite other studies, indicate how related it is to your study. Use at least six references. Thesis Proposals: Write major trends in previous research on your topic and relate them to your study. Include theoretical conceptions, directly related studies, and studies that provide additional perspectives on the purpose of your study. Keep in mind! When you cite other studies, indicate how related it is to your study. Use at least ten references.

c) Methodology (15th May) Research Design: Write what research design you are going to use (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, case study, experimental, correlational, etc.). While writing the research design, use specific terms related to the design. Participants: Write who your participants will be. Give information about them (e.g. age, education, etc.). Write your sampling procedure (what sampling method you are planning to you, why, etc.) Instrumentation: Write what instrument(s) you are planning to use. Use an existing instrument and describe it as clearly as possible (how many sections are there, rating procedure, etc.). Write how it is relevant to your study. Write how you are planning to check its reliability and validity in your context. Don’t forget to cite the original source of the instrument. Give the instrument as Appendix.

Procedural Details: Write in detail the procedures to be followed (what will you do, when, where, how). If you are planning to implement something (as in some case studies, or experimental studies), write your weekly plans and how you are going to do the implementation as well. Data Analysis: Write how you are going to analyze the data you have collected. Write each analysis method separately and give as much information as possible. Reliability/Trustworthiness: Write how you are planning to eliminate possible threats to the reliability/trustworthiness of your study.

Note that all your tasks must be submitted both in hand and by e-mail. Late submissions without prior approval by me will NOT be accepted.