RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & WRITING (GRAD695) SYLLABUS

COURSE INFORMATION

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & WRITING (GRAD 695)

FALL 2020 SEMESTER
Course Description: This course guides the student to develop and finalize a selected research problem
and to construct a proposal that effectively establishes the basis for either writing a thesis or launching
an experiential capstone project. The course provides an overview of strategies for an effective problem
investigation and solution proposal. Research methodology is studied and applied as part of suggesting a
solution to a problem. Writing and formatting techniques are also explored and applied as a
communication tool for cataloging the investigation and recommending the solution.

GRAD Course Prerequisites: Students enrolled in this course should be seeking their Master of Science in
Project Management and have completed at least 18 graduate semester hours.

COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES

COURSE GOALS:
The primary objective of this course is to prepare Master of Science in Project Management students for
the Experiential Capstone (MS Thesis or Applied Project). This course guides students to (1) research
problems in the Project Management field, (2) select one problem of personal and professional interest
to the student, and (3) develop and submit a brief proposal detailing (a) the problem and (b) the
selection of the study methodology to be followed in the final Capstone Course (GRAD 699 – Thesis
Option, or PMGT 699 – Applied Project - Project Management Plan option) and (c) plan to get there.

Once approved, the student will be led to construct a complete proposal that effectively establishes the
basis for either writing a thesis or launching an experiential Project Management Plan capstone project.
The course provides an overview of strategies for effective problem investigation and solution proposal
writing. Research methodology is studied and applied as part of suggesting a solution to a problem.
Writing and formatting techniques are also explored and applied as a communication tool for cataloging
the investigation and recommending the solution.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After taking this course, you should be able to:
 Describe the general strategies for problem investigation and develop a solution approach
 List and describe the general research methodology and associated tools
 Use academic writing techniques as an essential tool for communication
 Develop a solid proposal and work plan for completing a potentially publishable research thesis
or applied project
 Make use of scholarly and/or discipline-appropriate resources and supporting software for
research.

COURSE MATERIALS
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Project Management Institute, Project Management Body of Knowledge Book, 6th Edition, 2017.
Persaud, N., Devonish, D., & Persaud, I. (2019). Nuts & Bolts of Research Methodology: From
Conceptualization to Write-Up. Ian Randle Publishers. – (Recommended reference)

COURSE GRADES & GRADING POLICIES

Course Grading

Submittal % of Total Grade

Forums 10%
Assignments 10%
Midterm Draft & Final Draft 10%
Midterm Final 15%
Final Submission 25%
Presentation 10%
Attendance 20%
Executive Sessions (15%) and Online (5%) OR Online
only (20%)

TOTAL 100
 Grading Policies and Range of Grades

GRADE RANGE
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
F 69 or lower

Review the designated Grading Criteria before beginning work on a graded item so that you
start on the right track. Additionally, review the Grading Criteria before submitting a graded
item to make sure you have fulfilled the expectations. Finally, review the Grading Criteria
when you receive the scores to see in what areas you did well and in what areas you need
to improve. Your work will be evaluated according to the following general PMGT
guidelines:
Above Average: Good effort. The individual was often prepared to discuss, present, and
provide feedback. Work reflects consistent participation and engagement in a manner that
reflects an advanced interest in and understanding of the course content. The majority of
contributions are consistently thoughtful, constructive, and beneficial to all involved in the
course. Assignments and projects are thoroughly and thoughtfully completed, often
showing some additional work, insight, or integration of ideas.

Assignments and projects are completed on time, according to requirements, and with an
understanding of how individual pieces of the course build upon each other, and integrate.
(Range of grade A: 90 to 100)
Average: Basic Effort. The individual was sometimes prepared to discuss, present, and
provide feedback. Work reflects consistent participation and engagement in a manner that
reflects some interest in and understanding of the course content. Some contributions are
thoughtful, constructive, and beneficial to all involved in the course. Assignments and
projects are completed, occasionally showing some additional work, insight, or integration
of ideas. Assignments and projects are completed on time, according to requirements, and
with a basic understanding of how individual pieces of the course build upon and integrate
with each other. (Range of grade B: 80 to 89)
Below Average: Lack of Effort. The individual was rarely prepared to discuss, present, and
provide feedback. Work reflects some participation and engagement, but in a manner that
reflects little interest in and understanding of the course content. A few contributions are
thoughtful, constructive, and beneficial to all involved in the course. Assignments and
projects are completed but do not show additional work, insight, or integration of ideas.
Assignments and projects are completed on time but lack requirements and indicate little
understanding of how individual pieces of the course build upon and integrate with each
other. (Range of grade C: 70 to 79)
Unacceptable: No Effort. The individual was never prepared to discuss, present, and provide
feedback. Work reflects no participation and engagement, and there is no interest in and
understanding of the course content. Contributions are nonexistent or contain no
thoughtful or constructive elements. Assignments and projects are not completed on time.
(Range of grade F: 69 or lower)

ASSIGNMENTS

Below is a list of assignments and readings. A separate schedule is posted for assignments
and due dates:

Se Topics
ssi
on
1 GRAD 695 course overview
What is Academic Writing?
Research – A way of thinking
Week 1 Discussion: Selected Topic Discussion

2 Week 2 Discussion: The research Process

Demonstration Scholarly Research and refinement of Topic
Review/Discuss Grad 695 – Grad 699: How the courses work together
Defining a Research Problem
Assignment 2A: Research and Refine Research Topic
Assignment 2.2: Topic Approval Form

3 Week 3 Discussion: Problem Statements

Review/Discuss Types of Literature Reviews
Review/Discuss Components of a Literature Review
Review Process for writing a Literature Review
Week 3 Assignment: Annotated Bibliography & Problem Statement

4 Week 4 Discussion: Literature Review Video

Review/Discuss Research Problem
Introduce Academic Writing Characteristics and Purdue OWL Guidance for
Research
Review/Discuss Plagiarism Guidance and Research
Assignment 4: Literature Reviews

5 Week 5 Discussion: Capstone Choice

 Review/Discuss Research Variables
Review the relationship of 695 to PMGT699 and GRAD699
Review and discuss requirements of Capstone Courses
Assignment 5.1: Synthesizing Research
Assignment 5.2: Mandatory Submission of Capstone Selection Approval
Form

6 Review/Discuss Writing a Research Paper

Review/Discuss Developing a Hypothesis
Provide detailed guidance/discuss Mid-term Template sections
Review/Discuss academic writing guidance
Assignment 6: DRAFT Research Project Mid-Term Paper

7 Review/Discuss Research & Study Design

Review/Discuss Areas for Improvement (Mid-term Draft) and Assignment
Examples
Review/Discuss Writing Guidance
No Assignment, Students are given 2 weeks for submission of Midterm
draft

8 Review/Discuss Selecting a Study Design

Review/Discuss GRAD695 Template and Guidance Articles
Review Sample Work
Assignment 7: Final Mid-Term Submission

9 Review/Discuss Data Collect Methods

Review/Discuss Student Midterm Work and Performance

10 Writing A Research Proposal

Review/Discuss Sections required for Final Submission
Assignment 8: DRAFT Research Project Final Paper

11 Review/Discuss Study Validity

Weekly Review based on draft submission
12 Review/Discuss Selecting a Sample
GRAD695 Research Paper Guidance based on Final Submission DRAFT
Review/Discuss Characteristics of Powerful Presentations
Assignment 9: Final PPT Presentation

13 Review/Discuss Writing a Research Proposal

Student Presentation Review
Assignment 10: Final Research Paper Submission
 14 Guidance Review for Final Submission
Summarize Course GRAD and PMGT699/GRAD699 and next steps
Student Presentation Review

ATTENDANCE
Attendance at the Executive Sessions and Weekly Class Sessions is particularly important at
Harrisburg University. It affects your learning, and it affects the credit you receive for your
courses, for which Harrisburg University is accountable. The total loss of points due to lack
of attendance can be a 20% deduction from your final course grade. There are no “extra
points” because you attended, you can only lose points if you do not attend. Calculation is
as follows (percentages refer to your total course grade):

Not attending an executive session: Minus 5% per session. Executive sessions cannot be made
up. Attendance points will be deducted if you arrive late or leave early.

Missed Online Class Policy: Students are expected to attend the weekly sessions and if
absent to watch the live recording within 7 days of the missed session. An email must be
sent to the professor notifying them of the missed class session. A summary of the session
must be posted in the designated area on the Canvas course page within 7 days to receive
full credit for attending the session. It should include the following:

Title and date of missed class in topic line

A 250-word summary of the session
Up to 4 key learning points noted while watching the session
At least 1 “take away” or “lessons learned” that you can apply to your professional or personal
life

Excused Absences. F-1 visa Federal Regulations indicate that for an absence to be excused,
a student must provide a note from a US Licensed Medical Doctor stating that you are
unable to attend class or travel for the specific date(s) of absence due to illness. Do not list
specific information regarding the illness. Do not other medical documents such as patient
bills, diagnoses, or after-care. All other absences will be marked as unexcused. Academic
consequences for an absence from an executive weekend class are decided by each
individual professor per Harrisburg University policy and usually involve significant point
loss. Visa/F-1 Student Status will not be impacted by absence from one unexcused absence
of an executive format class but more than one per semester would need to be reported to
a DSO and puts both academic and visa status at risk. If you are experiencing prolonged
illness or other extraordinary circumstances that are preventing you from being successful
within your coursework, reach out to the Office of Student Services,
gradstudentservices@harrisburgu.edu, for support.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Student Engagement. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 126 hours of student
engagement (for a three-credit course) led by a faculty member. These hours are delivered
through a variety of instructor-led activities, and may include: Adobe Connect sessions, audio
and/or video lecture with Q & A, online discussion boards, one-on-one dialogue, problem-
solving scenarios, projects, research papers, and so on to ensure all course outcomes are met.
For a graduate-level course, this averages 9 hours of individual work per each 3-credit class.
Class Participation. Students must have a working laptop for all meetings along with a
working microphone to participate in group discussions. Cell phones and other electronic
devices must be turned off or silenced during all course meetings. Students unable to fully
participate in class may be considered absent at the professor’s discretion.

STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic Code of Conduct: All students are required to abide by the Code of Conduct and
Academic Code of Conduct as described in the Student Handbook, which includes academic
integrity and expectations of originality. Students are responsible for understanding the
requirements for each course, for complying with the rules, and for reading, understanding,
and complying with the Code of Conduct and Academic Code of Conduct. The Student
Handbook is located on MyHU under the home tab.
APA Format. All students are required to quote or paraphrase borrowed material correctly
and to cite the source of such borrowed material completely following current American
Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for style, format, and content, or another style of
citation approved by the course instructor. Students may seek writing and citation
assistance from Student Services: gradstudentservices@harrisburgu.edu or Smarthinking®
on Canvas, the University Librarian library@harrisburgu.edu, or online resources such as
the Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

As a student, you should always ask for any help that you need to be successful! HU offers many
support services for our students. Additional information can be found on the student services
SharePoint site, which can be accessed through your learning management software.
Academic Support:
Help with study skills, time management - email tutoring@harrisburgu.edu
Research, resources, and library questions - email Library@HarrisburgU.edu
Reading & writing assistance - email tutoring@HarrisburgU.edu
Tutoring - email Tutoring@HarrisburgU.edu or gradstudentservices@harrisburgu.edu
Access online tutoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through BRAINFUSE Online Tutoring® (via
link on Canvas)
General questions not related to visa status-gradsstudentservices@harrisburgu.edu
Academic Calendar-located on the “Quick Links” on MyHU-this includes important dates such as
holidays, withdrawal deadlines, tuition refund schedule, etc.
Registering for courses, request a transcript or enrollment verification-email
registrar@harrisburgu.edu
Writing Resources
Submit your writing for feedback on BRAINFUSE® (online tutoring service) - Access via link on
Canvas
Writing Lab, Towson University http://www.towson.edu/owls/index,htm
English Writing, Really Learn English http://www.really-learn-english.com/parts-of-a-
sentence.html
Guide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College Foundation
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm
Purdue Online Writing Lab https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/2/
APA Style, Purdue Online Writing Lab https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
HU Library APA Guide: http://library.harrisburgu.edu/apa
IT Support. For help with computer, software, or printer problems, visit
https://ithelp.harrisburgu.edu. ADA Accommodations. For documented disability
accommodations at HU,
email ada@harrisburgu.edu
International Student Services. For questions regarding the CPT requirements or anything
about your Visa, submit an inquiry via the Student Support Network: https://harrisburgu-
advocate.symplicity.com/care_report/

COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Students must have a laptop. Students at Harrisburg University must have a working
wireless network connection and the ability to print documents. It is the responsibility of
every student to have a working computer and printer access. Information about minimum
requirements for your computer and connecting to the HU wireless network can be found
at https://ithelp.harrisburgu.edu

Students enrolled in Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s degree program are
required to have a laptop computer to complete specific course requirements.
Students are required to have a working external microphone to use in online sessions.
Students should use the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to ensure compatibility
of their files with university and instructors’ computers. Open Office files (or other programs)
are acceptable only if files submitted are compatible with and can be opened by university
software. Students are eligible for Office 365 ProPlus; instructions for downloading and
using Office 365 ProPlus are available at https://ithelp.harrisburgu.edu

If an assignment allows for electronic submission of a file, an unreadable file will be deemed
“unsubmitted,” ungraded, and the assignment will be penalized as a late assignment when
it is submitted.

It is the policy of Harrisburg University that university business be conducted using a

HarrisburgU.edu or my.HarrisburgU.edu email account. Emails to staff or faculty should be
written clearly, respectfully, and concisely. It is a requirement that each student check their
my.harrisburgu.edu email account regularly.

Students and faculty are required to use Canvas (the course management system for HU)
located at https://Canvas.harrisburgu.edu. This may be required both during and outside of
class. Instructors regularly post information such as assignments, due dates, readings, and
outlines on Canvas. Students are responsible for reading any course announcements that
are posted on Canvas. In addition, students may have to complete assignments or upload
documents to Canvas.

Students must be familiar with basic file management, word processing, the internet,
browsers, uploading files, and opening attachments sent in emails. Students are
encouraged to back up all files to a flash drive and/or to Microsoft OneDrive.

Access to your courses will open prior to the first day of the semester and you are expected
to log onto your courses when the semester starts even if this is prior to your executive
weekends on the actual campus.
Responsibility for resolving any computer/software problems is the responsibility of the
individual student. Students should visit the OIS support page at
https://ithelp.harrisburgu.edu. This page allows you to search a knowledge base for
answers to your technology-related questions at Harrisburg University. If you are unable to
find a solution by searching the knowledge base, you can submit a ticket to get assistance
from one of our support staff. You can also call 717.901.5177 with questions.
HU CORE COMPETENCIES
Critical Thinking
The use of deliberative thought,
characterized by the
comprehensive exploration of
topics, ideas, artifacts, or events
before accepting or formulating
an opinion or conclusion.
Communication
The development and expression
of ideas in involving a variety of
styles, genres, and technologies
through repeated written and
oral communication experiences.
Teamwork and Collaboration
The ability to work effectively
with others in a concerted effort
toward a common goal.
Entrepreneurship
The process of organizing
tangible and intangible
resources to pursue
opportunities that generate
value, meet an identified need,
or satisfy an organizational or
societal market.
Information Literacy
The knowledge and familiarity
with different media types,
efficient data storage, retrieval
methods, and research
techniques.
Critical thinkers will demonstrate the competency
to: Work with context, evidence, opinions, and
error Analyze connections and draw conclusions
Problem Solving
Quantitative literacy: Interpretation
Quantitative literacy: Representation
Quantitative literacy: Calculation
Quantitative literacy: Assumptions Quantitative
literacy: Communication
Those demonstrating communication skills will
exhibit the competency to:
Write within context and for purpose Develop
Content
Adhere to genre and disciplinary conventions Use
sources and evidence
Control use of grammar and mechanics Organize and
deliver Presentations Select appropriate language
Provide supporting material
Convey a central message
Those showing effective collaboration skills will
demonstrate the competency to:
Recognize how to maximize group efficiency
Contribute to group tasks as an individual Facilitate
the contributions of team members Contribute to
team function
Be a valued contributing member
The successful entrepreneur will demonstrate the
competency to:
Understand relationships between costs and
benefits Evaluate stakeholders, needs, and
markets
Practice innovative thinking
Understand leadership and organization roles
An information literate person will demonstrate
the competency to:
Determine the extent of information needed
Collect and retrieve the needed information
Evaluate information and its sources
Use information sources to accomplish a specific
purpose Use communication and information
technologies

Ethical Decision Making
The realization and inclusion of
the moral dimension for personal
decision-making.
Global Awareness
The knowledge of the world
citizenry’s interests, appreciation
and respect, and the interaction
and impacts of individuals, global
systems, and cultures.
Civic Engagement
Working to make a difference
through the participation in
personal and public activities that
are life-enriching and socially
beneficial.
Access the use of information ethically and legally
An ethical citizen will demonstrate the
competency to:
Recognize ethical issues and consequences
Understand ethical philosophies
Exhibit ethical self-awareness
Process and apply ethical considerations
A globally aware citizen will show an understanding
of:
Global context
Action in global context Global solutions Worldview
frameworks
Global interactions
An engaged citizen will demonstrate the
competency to:
Connect knowledge to civic engagements Express
civic identity and commitment Adapt civic
communication strategies Initiate civic action and
collaboration