MUSC 645
Research Methods in Music
1. Catalog Entry
MUSC 645
Research Methods in Music
Credit hours (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing in Music
MUSC 645 presents a detailed background of research methods and forms to provide the student with a working knowledge and functional competencies in quantitative and qualitative, historical and descriptive styles of research in music with implications for structuring a study, use of search engines and databases, ethical/legal considerations, publishing research, and grant writing.
2. Detailed Description of Course
MUSC 645 will be structured in a progressive manner beginning with overviews of Philosophical, Historical, Descriptive, Experimental methods of research including tenets and structure of quantitative research (parametric and nonparametric), qualitative and mixed-methods research. The course will also contain information regarding the structuring of a review of literature for research including the use of search engines (such as Music Index, RILM, Psychinfo, PsycNet, ERIC, Education Databases for example) and database search techniques and processes. Coverage of expectations and protocols for submitting research to professional journals will be included. Ethical and legal considerations and requirements such as understanding the Institutional Review Board process will be presented and discussed with background information provided (i.e. Belmont Report, Helsinki Declaration, etc.). The course will conclude with information regarding grant writing for both internal and external funding sources.
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
MUSC 645 will be structured as a mixture of lecture for information presentation,
with significant requirements of in-class presentations, writing assignments, and
discussion of topics and readings. Students will also complete abridged examples
of research in a variety of research methods.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon completion of MUSC 645, students will:
1) understand and discern the differences and values of a variety of methods of
research
2) develop skills in a variety of forms of research (quantitative, qualitative,
historical, descriptive,
etc.)
3) develop skills in researching professional literature employing a variety
of search engines and
databases
4) write in acceptable styles of research (APA, MLA, formats for example)
5) possess a working knowledge of ethical and legal considerations and requirements
of research
involving human subjects
6) be familiar with expectations and process for submitting research for publication
in the
professional literature
7) be familiar with expectations and process for submitting grants to both internal
and external
funding sources
5. Assessment Measures
1) writing assignments and projects reflecting the rational for the course and
identified
competencies.
2) completion of one mock research study choosing a format most relevant to the
students’
major.
3) two objective exams
6. Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
May 11, 2015