Research Design for Applied Inquiry about Humans

Course Description

This class is designed for the computer science student who is planning on
or has conducted research involving human participants and has taken at
least one introductory statistics course.  The topic will be the design
of studies that attempt to investigate people or systems of people using
technology.  We will discuss the rationale for, core principles of, and
discipline involved in different designs, and in utilizing qualitative,
experimental and quasi-experimental methods with an emphasis on avoiding
mistakes.  Qualitative research topics will include an introduction
to techniques, values, and questions in phenomenologically-oriented
investigations.  Experimental and quasi-experimental topics will include
discussion of the relationship between design and validity, assumptions
behind different designs, kinds of evidence, kinds of data, handling data,
and analysis.  The course will not teach statistics or use them (much) but
will assume a basic familiarity with introductory statistical principles.
Advanced undergraduates may be accepted into the course.

Instructor: Deborah Tatar