Research Methods for Christian Leadership II – CLED 770

Course Description

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Social research focuses on people in their contexts. This course will equip the student to conduct social research by reviewing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods models of research design. The student learns to match the appropriate design model for his/her research purpose and questions. The Christian Leadership Doctoral Programs requires the research and writing of an original dissertation. This course takes the student from idea conceptualization to the actual formation of research questions and preliminary research design.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings, lecture presentations, dissertations, and websites

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete five Discussions in this course. The student is required to provide a thread and replies in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. The student will post one thread of at least 400 words. The student must then post two replies of at least 200 words each. For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least two sources cited in APA format. Each reply must incorporate at least one source cited in APA format. Acceptable sources include the textbook, the Bible, journals, books, and websites. (CLO: A, B, C)

Purpose Statements Assignment

Each student will develop three potential research purpose statements for possible use in a doctoral dissertation – one each for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs. The statements will follow the template provided in the Creswell textbook. This assignment must be completed in accordance with APA formatting. (CLO: C)

Research Questions: First Draft Assignment

The student will take the purpose statements developed for the Purpose Statements assignment and formulate three to six research questions per purpose statement to subdivide the research problem. Each student will submit three research question sets appropriate for the research design approached - one quantitative, one qualitative, and one mixed-methods. The questions will be developed in accord with the instructions provided in the text and in the course videos. This assignment must be completed in accordance with APA formatting. (CLO: C)

Research Questions: Second Draft Assignment

Using the feedback from the professor on the first draft, the student will take the purpose statements developed for the Purpose Statements assignment and revise three to six research questions per purpose statement. Each student will submit three research question sets appropriate for the research design approached - one quantitative, one qualitative, and one mixed-methods. The questions will be developed in accord with the instructions provided in the text and in the course videos. This assignment must be completed in accordance with APA formatting. (CLO: C)

Research Profile: Quantitative Assignment

Using the template found in the Christian Leadership Doctoral Programs Handbook, the student will utilize the research purpose statements and research question sets developed in the Purpose Statements and Research Questions assignments to create a quantitative design research profile. The research profiles will be considered preliminary in nature and will serve as potential topics for the development of the dissertation. This assignment must be 4–8 single-spaced pages and include at least five critically essential sources relevant to the research. (CLO: C)

Research Profile: Qualitative Assignment

Using the outline found in the Christian Leadership Doctoral Programs Handbook, students will utilize the research purpose statements and research question sets developed in the Purpose Statements and Research Questions assignments to create a qualitative design research profile. The research profiles will be considered preliminary in nature and will serve as potential topics for the development of the dissertation. This assignment must be 4–8 single-spaced pages and include at least five critically essential sources relevant to the research. (CLO: C)

Research Profile: Mixed Methods Assignment

Using the outline found in the Christian Leadership Doctoral Programs Handbook, students will utilize the research purpose statements and research question sets developed in the Purpose Statements and Research Questions assignments to create a mixed methods design research profile. The research profiles will be considered preliminary in nature and will serve as potential topics for the development of the dissertation. This assignment must be 4–8 single-spaced pages and include at least five critically essential sources relevant to the research. (CLO: C)