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Syllabus
NATS 4390, Research Methods
Gordon Davison (gdavison@utdallas.edu) TA
COURSE INFORMATION
Pre-requisites, Co-requisites
Step 1, Step 2, Knowing and Learning
Acknowledgment
This course is a high-fidelity replication of a similar course taught at UT Austin. Much of what you read this
semester was written by Dr. Michael Marder at UTAustin. Most of this syllabus is also the work of Dr. Marder.
Instructional Emphasis
Research Methods is primarily a laboratory course, and most of the topics covered are developed in connection with
four independent inquiries that UTeach students design and carry out. Students design experiments to answer
scientific questions and to reduce systematic and random errors. They incorporate statistics to interpret experimental
results and deal with sampling errors, and do mathematical modeling of scientific phenomena. They present their
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scientific work orally. Thus, the course content is organized into five units that correspond to the development of
their inquiries and a presentation on a scientific topic of choice:
• Curiosity and Scientific Inquiry
• Experimental Design and Analysis
• Statistics
• Modeling
• Presenting Scientific Information
Research Methods is also a substantial writing component class, and the written inquiries students produce are
evaluated as examples of scientific writing.
Research Methods is cross-listed between the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology departments. Math students are
encouraged to take the Physics section because connections between math and physics are particularly strong, and
the chances of finding a project with substantial mathematical content increase. All cross-listed versions are
identical, except that each student must perform the final inquiry in the discipline for which she or he signed up.
One to two 20-hour teaching assistants are assigned to the class. They are responsible for grading weekly homework
assignments, and they attend all lab sections.
Assessment
The majority of a student's grade, roughly 65%, is based on four independent inquiries that are designed and carried
out by the student. The final inquiry must be related to the subject for which students have signed up for the class.
For example, if a student is registered in biology, his or her final inquiry must be a biology inquiry. Research
Methods is a Substantial Writing Component course. Therefore, inquiries are evaluated both on content and the
quality of written expression. There are no formal examinations. Another 25% comes from homework assignments.
Student participation is tracked and accounts for 10% of a student's grade. Detailed information on homework and
inquiry assignments, including assessment rubrics can be found in the resource tables below.
Course Description
Research Methods is a one-semester three-hour course in the required UTeach sequence. It is one of several content
courses specially designed to meet the needs of future teachers (others include Perspectives on Science and
Mathematics and Functions and Modeling). It also fulfills multiple degree requirements. At UT Austin, the course
fulfils both a science and a university substantial writing component requirement. Sections are limited to 30
students, who meet two hours per week for non-traditional, interactive lectures and two hours per week for lab. The
course is cross-listed between Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Students design and carry out four independent inquiries, which they write up and present in the manner that is
common in the scientific community. Because the inquiries incorporate math and the various science disciplines, it
is essential to build a team of instructors who have expertise in different disciplines and are available to supervise
students as they work on their inquiries in the lab. Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Master Teachers are members of
the instructional team.
The combination of Research Methods and Perspectives on Mathematics and Science provides prospective science
and mathematics teachers with an in-depth understanding of how the scientific enterprise works. Students imbed
their understanding of the nature of science and mathematics into their Project-Based Instruction curriculum unit.
Core Components
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The course is taught by an instructional team with a broad mix of scientific expertise. A
Ph.D. in a scientific discipline is essential for anyone who evaluates the inquiries.
The course is primarily a laboratory course where students develop and practice skills that
are fundamental to the scientific enterprise.
The Course is organized around four independent inquiries that UTeach students design
and carry out.
The course emphasizes the use of mathematics to model and explain both the natural and
man-made worlds.
The course requires a substantial amount of writing. The written inquiries that students
produce are evaluated as examples of scientific writing.
The course emphasizes the development of skills that are directly applicable in teaching
secondary science and mathematics (e.g. use of equipment, preparation of lab materials,
safety issues, use of technology).
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Course Requirements and Expectations
• You must purchase the book Surely You are Joking, Mr. Feynman. Other materials will be
provided.
• Some course topics will be covered only in class, and you must be present to receive
credit. If you turn assignments late without approval, you will lose 10% of the value of the
assignment for each day it is late.
• Your final inquiries write-ups will be graded according to a rubric you will find in your
course packet and checklists you can find on the course Website.
• Inquiry drafts will be graded by checking whether the major sections of the report have
been completed (Abstract, Introduction, Design, Analysis, Conclusions).
• Rewrite policy: Final drafts of Inquiries 1, 2, and 3 that have been turned in on time can be
rewritten for additional credit. Contact your lecture instructor for details of the policy.
• Please note that the final inquiry must be related to the subject for which you have signed
up for the class. For example, if you are registered in biology, your final inquiry must be a
biology inquiry.
• Research Methods is a Substantial Writing Component course. Therefore, your inquiries
will be evaluated both on content and the quality of written expression. There will be no
formal examinations.
Books
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character), provided.
Grading Policies
(credit out of 100 total possible points)
Activities Points
Class and Laboratory Attendance. as determined by checks of active participation 10
and submission of in-class assignments.
Homework Assignments. 25
Inquiry 1 5
Inquiry 2 Proposal 2
Inquiry 2 Draft. The draft may not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on 3
time.
Inquiry 2 Oral Presentation 3
Inquiry 2 Final Write-up. The formal write-up may not be accepted if the first draft was 10
not turned in on time, the presentation was delivered, and the student participated in
partner grading.
Inquiry 3 Write-up. 10
Inquiry 4 Proposal. 2
Debate Presentation. 5
Inquiry 4 Draft. The draft may not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on 5
time.
Inquiry 4 Oral Presentation. 5
Inquiry 4 Final Write-up. The formal write-up may not be accepted if the first draft was 15
not turned in on time, the presentation was delivered, and the student participated in
partner grading.
TOTAL 100
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Course Components
Students will be able to perform the following.
• Pose scientific questions and create experiments to answer scientific questions.
• Design experiments to reduce systematic and random errors.
• Use statistics to interpret experimental results.
• Use probes and computers to gather and analyze data.
• Treat human subjects in an ethical fashion.
• Apply safe laboratory procedures.
• Create mathematical models of scientific phenomena.
• Find and read articles in the scientific literature.
• Apply scientific arguments in matters of social importance.
• Write scientific papers.
• Review scientific papers.
• Give oral presentations of scientific work.
The topics in the syllabus are color-coded to correspond with the above course objectives.
Statistics: Overview,
Feb 2 Sample Inquiries 3 (Human Subjects)
sampling and averaging
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Project in
Date Topic Reading Homework Start Due
Progress
Statistics: Distributions, Central Limit
Feb 16 Thm. 5 (Inquiry grading) Inquiry II draft
and Z tests
Inquiry III
Mar 9 Inquiry II presentations 7 (Literature Search) and Inq IV Proposal
1
Mar 16 S p r i n g B r e a k
Inq IV Proposal 2
Mar 23 Modeling: Order of magnitude Notes, Chapter 4 8 (Estimation)
AND Inquiry II final
Lab Inquiry IV
Apr 20 Presentations
6
Project in
Date Topic Reading Homework Start Due
Progress
Lab Inquiry IV
Feynman, Cargo
Apr 27 Presentations 11 (Inquiry Grading) Inquiry IV draft
Cult...
MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS
None without prior approval of instructor
EXTRA CREDIT
None
LATE WORK
Accepted only with appropriate written excuse
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
None
CLASSROOM CITIZENSHIP
Respect should be shown at all times.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established
due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University
of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the
Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is
expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents' Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct
takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an
academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative
that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
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Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or material that is not one's own. As a
general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or
falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the Web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This
course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90%
effective.
EMAIL USE
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and
students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of
each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent
only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address, and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if
it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individuals corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student
with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of
Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to
other accounts.
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic
responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor,
supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot
be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy to the
respondent's School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean's
decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the dean
will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The
results of the academic-appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.
INCOMPLETE GRADES
As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester's end
and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8)
weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove
the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a
grade of F.
DISABILITY SERVICES
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of
their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday
and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m.
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The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate
discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against
tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is
hearing impaired). Classes enrolling students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible
facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.
It is the student's responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability
Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and
needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.