IS U692 Information Science Senior Project
Spring 2009
Course Description (revised Jan 20, 2009)

Instructor: Prof. Carole Hafner hafner@ccs.neu.edu, Tel. 617-373-5116
Course information and discussions: www.facebook.com  group: isu692
Course web site: http://www.ccs.neu.edu/course/isu/

Class Meets: Tuesdays 5:15-8:15 Room 10 BK (Behrakis)
Prof. Hafner Office Hours: Mon 4-6, Thurs 2-3

In this capstone course, students conduct term-long empirical research projects, inspired by their cooperative education activities and experiences, that investigate some aspect of the interaction between information technology and its context. During the semester, students reflect on and analyze their cooperative education experience, using the information science literature to interpret and better understand those experiences. Building on the skills acquired in the Empirical Research Methods course, students select a research topic and methodology, perform a literature review, plan their research and document this in a written proposal, collect and analyze data, and write an in-depth research paper  At the end of the semester, students participate in a seminar in which students present the results of their research.

The textbook for the course is:  Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, Third Edition, by John W. Cresswell. (Sage Publications, 2009).  Additional readings will be posted on the course Web Site (and facebook page).
Additional readings

Guidelines for Research Proposal, Firm Due Date: Monday Feb. 16

Examples of Literature Reviews

Example for reporting results

Guidelines for Final Papers, Firm Due Date: (TBA, probably April 21)

There is no syllabus for this class per se, but a schedule of activities (both in class and outside of class).  It is expected for each student to meet with Prof. Hafner individually two or three times during the semester to discuss their project.  Mondays from 2:00 - 6:30 will be "open door" office hours for these meetings (however, it is best to check by email or phone before making a trip to WVH, since sometimes unscheduled meetings occur).  If this time is not convenient, it is also possible to schedule appointments.

 

Schedule of Activities

WEEK
 Activities                                
Deliverables (hard copy due in class + email)          
 Readings  (for following class) 
1
1/6
 Select a research topic, framework and methodology;  identify data sources
Cresswell Ch. 1
2
1/13
 Proposal writing: literature review
 Progress report: Research topic and potential data sources Cresswell Ch. 2, 3
3
1/20
 Proposal writing (cont.):  identifying research questions and hypotheses
 Revised progress report with list of references
 Ch  5-7
4
1/27
 Proposal writing (cont):  Methodology Section
 Revised progress report with framework and research questions/hypotheses
 Ch 8-10
5
2/3
 Data collection and Research Ethics
Ch 4
6
2/10
 Begin data collection
No class - professor out of town M-W

 FORMAL PROPOSAL DUE*
via email by Thurs Feb. 12  midnight
7
2/17
 Students present their proposals
(informally) - feedback and questions from the class
Outside of class: Collect data
Extend and annotate bibliography

8
2/24
 In class: Finish proposal presentations
Outside of class: Collect data
Extend and annotate bibliography		 Revised proposal due (unless excused)*
9
Spring Br
 Finish collecting data and begin data analysis
No class Spring Break

10
3/10
 In class: TBA
Outside of class: Analyzing data
 Annotated bibliography due*
11
3/17
 In class: Students present their data analysis techniques and issues
Outside of class: Analyzing data
Writing Methodology section of paper
 Progress report on data collection and analysis
12
3/24
 In class: TBA
Outside of class: Analyzing data/Writing up results

13
3/31
 In class: TBA
Outside of class: Writing final paper

14
4/7
 In class: TBA
Outside of class: Writing final paper
  Draft of final paper (optional)
15
4/14
 NO CLASS
Outside of class: Finish paper
Creating slides for talk

Finals Wk
 Student Presentations*
 Final Research Paper & Slides*

Course Administration, Requirements, Grading

Students grades will primarily depend on the quality of the research project (40%), research paper (40%), and presentation( 10%).  About 10% of the grade will be determined by the student's participation in class discussions, facebook discussions, and/or overall contribution to the activities of the class.
That being said, persistent absence from class or lateness in submitting deliverables can result in a penalty on the final grade.

The highest professional standard of ethics is expected, and academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or other ethical violations will result in a grade of F and a report to the appropriate University authority.
Last modified: January 20, 2009