Consideration of critical research issues in the field; review
of resources for higher-education research; specification of
appropriate research questions; survey of alternative research
philosophies, paradigms, and methods; evaluation of alternative
research designs.
Athena Title
Intro to Research on Higher Ed
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will learn about contemporary research issues in the field of higher-education studies.
By the end of this course, students will learn about major available resources for higher education research.
By the end of this course, students will learn about the formulation of empirical research questions that may be
addressed rigorously, feasibly, and productively to expand knowledge in the field.
By the end of this course, students will learn about alternative research philosophies, paradigms, and methods
for research in higher education.
By the end of this course, students will learn about effective approaches for evaluating alternative designs for
research in this field.
Topical Outline
1. Higher education as a focus of empirical study higher education
2. Central research resources in the field: published and electronic sources
3. Significant contemporary research issues in the field
4. Assessing knowledge claims: an introduction
5. Formulating research questions: the pursuit of rigor, feasibility, significance
6. Introduction to alternative research approaches in the social sciences: philosophies, paradigms, and methods
