In this blog, I post current examples of research methods concepts that are published in online media. I also write sample questions that faculty might wish to assign as discussion questions or homework. The blogs are similar to the Learning Actively exercises in the text, except they are based on more current examples that are all high fidelity and real (not fabricated for pedagogical purposes).
Some of the posts have both questions and answers, so students can check their reasoning. Others have only questions, so that students are more challenged. Each post is tagged to the course concept it teaches, as well as to relevant chapters in the text.
I hope that by working with this blog, students will be inspired to apply the critical thinking concepts they learned in the research methods course to the material they encounter every day. I hope it reinforces key ideas in the textbook and gives them more practice applying their skills.
I also hope that this blog gives faculty an extra resource they can work with in their classrooms, even if they are not using the textbook. I hope it can provide examples that will prompt good discussions, and provide opportunities to hear and give feedback on student reasoning.
If you are not currently using the textbook in your course and you'd like to consider it, you may view information about the book here. You can also take a look at a sample chapter. Chapter 3: Three Claims, Four Validities, introduces the scaffold for the book, and is the best place to start.
I would love to hear from you! If you're a faculty member, please let me know if you have a good idea for a future post, if you have a suggestion for the textbook, or if you'd like to discuss ways of teaching research methods. If you're a student, please let me know about ways you've applied your research methods skills in the real world.
You can email me at [email protected].
Thanks for following!
Beth Morling, Ph.D.
