Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

Contact Information

This table includes information about how to contact your instructor and other important details about your class.

Instructor Contact Information

Dr. Laura Phillips

Lecturer

Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Studies

Office Hours: In person Monday & Thursdays 10-12 CT, online via Zoom Tuesdays & Wednesdays 1-2pm CT or by appointment

ZOOM LINK for office Hours

Email: laura.phillips@ou.edu

 

Course Details

Course Description from the Course Catalog

Methods of investigating museum studies problems; use of evaluation in planning for continuous quality assessment and improvement of museum policies, processes, and procedures; developing original research designs; evaluating research studies in museum topics. 

Course Prerequisites 

Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Typically, this course will be taken after MST 5113 World of a Museum and some other courses so that the student has enough background in Museum Studies that they can design research projects that are appropriate for the profession.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to:

  1. Introduce students to research methodologies commonly used by museum professionals including data collection techniques, sampling, and basic data analysis
  2. Explain and outline the nature and elements of research proposals
  3. Provide experience in identifying museum problems for examination and designing appropriate data collection plans to apply to the identified problems
  4. Guide students in effective design of research proposals in museum settings

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Define and appropriately use the concepts and language of research
  2. Identify and provide examples of major research methodologies
  3. Identify various data sources and techniques of data collection and analysis
  4. Articulate the commonalities and differences between basic and applied research
  5. Plan and design research activities relevant to issues in museum studies
  6. Articulate the use of applied research outcomes in administrative planning and management
  7. Understand and evaluate reported research in museum studies
  8. Identify and discuss ethical issues in data collection and use, particularly in regard to human subjects

Course Schedule

Weekly Schedle

LESSON

Dates 2024

TOPIC

ASSIGNMENTS - Parts of the Research Proposal Highlighted

1

8/19-8/25

Introduction, Ethics, Basic Research

CITI certificate due (50 points)

2

8/26-9/1

Structure and Process of a Study

Topic due (50 Points)

3

9/2-9/8

Evaluating Existing Studies

4

9/9-9/15

Reviewing the Literature

Literature Review Preview due (50 points)

5

9/16-9/22

The Research Proposal

 

6

9/23-9/29

Populations, Sampling, Available Data

 

7

9/30-10/6

Surveys

 

8

10/7-10/13

Interviews and Focus Groups

9

10/14-10/20

Experimental Methods

 Application Assn: Survey or Focus Group (100 points)

10

10/21-10/27

Other Types of Methods

 

11

10/28-11/3

Data and Statistics

Literature Review due (300 points)

12

11/4-11/10

Content Analysis

13

11/11-11/17

Qualitative Analysis

Application Assn: Quantitative or Qualitative (100 points)

14

11/18-11/24

Evidence-Based Decision Making

15

11/25-12/1

Outcomes-based Assessment

Methodology Paper due (150 points)

16

12/2-12/8

Wrap-Up

PPT Presentation due (50 points)

Course Materials

No textbook to purchase. Readings will be indicated in each lesson module.

Grading

Grading Scheme
A = 90-100 percent                 C = 70-79 percent                   F = 59 percent and below
B = 80-89 percent                   D = 60-69 percent

Graded Work

  1. Independent assignments = 25%
  2. Parts of the Research Proposal = 60%
  3. Discussion Board = 15% (10 points each week for 15 weeks)
  4. Optional Academic Integrity Quiz for 2 points extra credit

Course Policies

Fundamentally, responsibility for education at the graduate level belongs to the individual student.  Faculty provide the basic frame in which the study is undertaken, offer assistance in setting the parameters of study, and serve as facilitators and mentors.  This approach to the learning environment is particularly necessary as a conceptual framework for the development of professionals who must exercise critical thinking, analyze problems, and design solutions as a daily part of their work life, who must be independent and lifelong learners who also function effectively as team members in a diverse and dynamic professional environment.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words written (not simply found, and not generated by AI) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism. 

Communication 

If you need to contact me, please do so by email. I check my email a lot and typically respond quickly. If you have not heard back in 2 days that means I missed your email, so please send it again. I am commonly on email over the weekend as well as evenings. 

You can address me as Laura or Dr. Phillips.

Feedback 

I'm not a fast grader and it commonly takes me 2 weeks to return assignments. 

Late Policy

If your assignment is going to be late, contact me and we can talk about it. For an independent course like this, due dates are flexible other than the final paper which must be submitted before the semester ends.

University Academic Policies and Student Support

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due