BCULST 501, Winter 2009

Students will be evaluated based on assignments (40%), participation in seminar discussions (15%) and project proposals (35% for written, 10% for oral). The grade breakdown will be as follows:


Class participation (15%) means showing up and actively (vocally) participating in every class. This requires that you give yourself ample time to read reflect upon the readings prior to each class, and that you come to class prepared to speak out loud on at least one point. As part of class participation, during the third, fourth, and fifth week of class students will be responsible (in groups of three) for designing and carrying out an in-class exercise related to a particular research method. This exercise should be something that makes visible the purpose of the week's seminar and serves as the basis for subsequent discussion.


Assignments: 40%


PORTFOLIO ESSAY, due date TBA.

ONLINE RESEARCH LOG
, due weekly.
These are found on our course wiki with a separate page for each student: http://cultsresearch.wetpaint.com/. This is a semi-public record of your engagement with the course. It is an opportunity to analyze, synthesize, practice, and evaluate the research theories, methods, experiences, and strategies you encounter during the quarter. The log entries will also help you to develop you research proposal due at the
end of the course. Log entries will include synopsis and evaluation of assigned texts, documentation of your "practice" of the methods (I will give you suggestions for how to do this), and assessment of the implications for your own future research.


HUMAN SUBJECT REVIEW CITI student training, due Tues. Feb. 3. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) is a web-based training program in human research subjects protections. For the purposes of this course students will need to complete the Student Course, which should take about 30-45 minutes to complete. If, after completing the Student Course you are certain that your capstone research will involve human subjects research I strongly encourage you to also complete the Social/Behavioral Course (3-5 hours).  All courses can be found at: http://www.washington.edu/research/hsd/training_citi.html


INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT, due Tues. Feb. 17. This assignment will involve constructing an interview guide, interviewing
two people relevant to your capstone research, transcribing the interviews, and
writing up a preliminary analysis.


PRESENTATION of Research Proposal: 10%
You will be asked to present your research proposal in the last week of the course. The presentation should provide a history and rationale of the project and should engage other students in your project planning and development. The presentation can take the form of an interactive discussion, arts-based performance, or other innovative forms.

WRITTEN Research Proposal and Draft IRB Application: 35% (due Thurs. March 12)
The research proposal is designed to move you toward your capstone project in the MACS program. Based on your research interests and commitments as they are modified throughout the course, you will be asked to outline a research project that you wish to pursue for your capstone project. The proposal should include: Introduction & Rationale, Objectives, Methods, Risks & Benefits, Timeline, and Bibliography. As an attachment to the proposal provide a draft of your IRB application (you will need either the "Human Subjects Review Application: UW 13-11" or the "Certificate of Exemption." Both are found at http://www.washington.edu/research/hsd/forms_paper.php).
Assignment instructions: CLICK HERE