Course Syllabus

Title of Course RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Prefix and Number PUBHLTH 202

Semester and Year  Spring 2026

Number of Credit Hours 3

Prerequisites none

Course Details

Day and Time: [T/Th]

Meeting Location: [tbd]

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: [tbd]

Instructor Contact Information: [tbd]

Instructor Office Hours: [tbd]

 

TA Name: [tbd]

TA Contact Information:  [tbd]

TA Office Hours: [tbd]

 

Course Description

This is a three-credit hour course designed to help students understand and evaluate research in the social and behavioral sciences, including public health. The course introduces students to essential concepts and strategies in planning, designing, and implementing research studies. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology in public health research will be discussed.

 

Course Materials 

Books: none.  

Other Materials: All materials will be made available on the course Canvas space.

Fees: n/a

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) 

Course Learning Outcomes

(students will be able to:)

Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes

Assessment of the Learning Outcomes

[Describe the role of the literature review in research planning]

[discussion board responses]

[quizzes, exams, assignment grades]

[Conduct critical review of the literature]

[article critiques, discussion board responses]

[midterm and final exams, assignment grades]

[Explain ethical issues involved with research and evaluation and use of human subjects in research]

[final project, article critiques, discussion board responses]

[quizzes, midterm and final exams, assignment grades]

[Understand differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods and describe the most appropriate use including the advantages and disadvantages in public health research]

[article critiques, final project, discussion board responses]

[quizzes, midterm and final exams, assignment grades]

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different data gathering techniques

[discussion board responses]

[quizzes, midterm and final exams, assignment grades]

Identify, adapt or create quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments

[final project]

[final project grade]

 

Course Schedule

[Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]

Dates

Lesson Topic

Assignment

Assessment

Week 1
[dates]

[Course Overview & Introduction]

[Complete Online Quiz #1]

  [quiz 1]

Week 2
[dates]

[Selecting a Research Question]

[Complete Online Quiz #2]

   [quiz 2]

Week 3
[dates]

[Literature Review and Defining Specific Aims]

[Complete CITI Human Subjects Training
Final Project Topic Submissions Due]

   [CITI certificate]

Week 4
[dates]

[Ethical Considerations]

[Complete Online Quiz #3]

  [quiz 3]

Week 5
[dates]

[Descriptive Study Approaches]

[Complete Article Critique #1]

 [article critique 1]

Week 6
[dates]

[Analytical Study Approaches]

[Final Project Introduction Due]

   [n/a]

Week 7
[dates]

[Experimental Study Approaches]

[Complete Online Quiz #4]

[quiz 4]

Week 8
[dates]

[Qualitative and Correlational Studies]

[Complete Mid-Term Examination]

   [midterm exam]

Week 9
[dates]

[Research Protocols]

[Complete Online Quiz #5
Complete Final Project Literature Review]

   [quiz 5]

Week 10
[dates]

[Study Populations]

[Complete Online Quiz #6]

   [quiz 6]

Week 11
[dates]

[Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection]

[Complete Online Quiz #7

Complete Final Project Methods Section]

   [quiz 7]

Week 12
[dates]

[Comparative and Advanced Statistics]

[Complete Article Critique #2]

   [article critique 2]

Week 13
[dates]

[Qualitative Analysis]

[Complete Online Quiz #8]

   [quiz 8]

Week 14
[dates]

[Reporting Findings]

[Complete Online Quiz #9]

   [quiz 9]

Week 15
[dates]

[No Class - Work on Final Project]

[Complete Final Project]

  [final project]

 

 

Expectations for Student Effort 

[For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class.  Some weeks will have a higher workload due to the nature of assignments.  Please consult the course schedule and ask your instructor if you have questions.]

 

Grading 

Assignment Breakdown

Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc)

Points

Percent of Overall Grade

[online quizzes]

[7 x 10]

[17.5]

[CITI Human Subjects Training]

[10

[2.5]

[Midterm]

[80]

[20]

[Final Project]

[120]

[30]

Written Research Article Critiques]

[2 x30]

[15]

[discussion board participation]

[6 x10]

[15]

 

Grading Schema

Grade

Percent

A

[>90]

B

[80 – 89]

C

[70 – 79]

D

[60 – 69]

F

[0 – 59]

Scores will be rounded to the nearest whole percent to assign a letter grade

 

Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class

 

 

Academic Integrity Statement

You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

-Receive an F in the class

-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards

-Have the right to appeal my decision

-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.