Assignments

Table of contents

1. Weekly Discussion Leader
2. Research Design Project
   1. Logistics
   2. Timeline
      1. First checkpoint (Week 4)
      2. Second checkpoint (Weeks 6 and 7)
      3. Third checkpoint (Week 10)
      4. Presentation (Week 14)
      5. Peer Feedback
      6. Written design

Weekly Discussion Leader

In each of seven specifically designated weeks (marked in the outline), we will have 1-2 students act as discussion leaders. As the discussion leader, you have the following tasks.

• choose a reading that features the design issue of the week
• prepare a set of discussion questions based on the week’s design issue and readings
• send the reading and discussion questions (draft is fine) to the rest of the class by the end of Thursday of the previous week
• give a 10-15 minute presentation on some aspect of the design issue of the week; ideally, this is on an extension or a “tangent” rather than a summary of the assigned readings, but can definitely include a discussion of the readings
• facilitate discussion during class
• if there are two discussion leaders, they should coordinate to avoid overlapping content

Research Design Project

The major assignment in this course is to produce a publication-level and implementable research design.

Logistics

The research design project should be completed individually.

Timeline

First checkpoint (Week 4)

• present the theory and the derived research question
• propose a measure and discuss its strengths and weaknesses
• approximately 1-2 pages
• meet Ted by Sep 13 to discuss project ideas
• ready for discussion on Sep 17
• written version due on Sep 20

Second checkpoint (Weeks 6 and 7)

• refinement of previous draft (or completely new topic)
• discuss the target population and sampling considerations
• approximately 3-4 pages
• ready for discussion on Oct 1
• written version due on Oct 11

Third checkpoint (Week 10)

• refinement of previous draft (or completely new topic)
• discuss all aspects of internal validity in the study (e.g. threats and assumptions required)
• approximately 5-6 pages
• ready for discussion Oct 29
• written version due Nov 1

Presentation (Week 14)

• 20 minute presentation on Dec 3
• written draft due Nov 22 (for peer feedback purposes)

Peer Feedback

• 5 minute peer review presentation on Dec 3
• written version (1-2 pages) due Dec 6

Written design

• final version due Dec 15
• approximately 6-7 pages