URBP 298A Information

Greensheet/Syllabus

URBP 298A Syllabus, Spring 2013 [.pdf] 

Class meeting times for Spring 2013 (subject to change with notice)

The class will meet on Thursday evenings, from 7:30 - 10:00 p.m, (SH 444).  The first meeting will be held on January 24. The other meeting dates will be January 31, February 7, February 28, and April 18.

Assignments for Spring 2013

• Research Proposal [.pdf] (assignments #1, #2, and #4) -- assignment guidelines updated 8/27/12

Here are some sample proposals written by URBP 298 students that will give you some ideas of how to construct your own: Donlon [.pdf], Fauria [.pdf], Kim [.pdf]

• Preparation of an IRB application (assignment #3)

  You can read about the IRB process and review the forms used to put together an application at http://www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies/irb/.

  Sample IRB proposals you can use as models are: Interview Example [.pdf]; Survey Example (and Interview) [.pdf]; Observation Example (and Interview) [.pdf]interview Example (2) [.pdf]

Other examples include:  Salazar example [.pdf], Nixon example [.pdf], Mathur example [.pdf], and Agrawal example [.pdf] Please note that these IRB proposals do not use the current IRB formatting and should only be consulted for ideas regarding language to describe certain research procedures (e.g. the Agrawal example gives an excellent structure for interview guides). Please review the Graduate Studies website for the most up-to-date information on formatting.

• Literature Review Assignment  [.pdf] (assignments #5 & #6) -- assignment guidelines updated 3/05/13

  Here is a well-developed literature reviews written by a prior 298 student that may give you ideas of how to construct your own literature review: Tyree [.pdf] In addition, you might find this literature review example useful. It was written by a student in URBP 200, but generally follows the same format as the URBP 298A assignment: Active Commuting to School [.pdf].

Key due dates for Spring 2013

Assignment	Due Date
1. Draft #1 of Research Proposal	Feb. 7
2. Draft #2 of Research Proposal	Feb. 28
3. IRB Application	March 7
4. Final Research Proposal	March 14
5. Draft Literature Review	April 1
6. Final Literature Review	April 22
7. Draft report sections	May 9

Class meeting topics and handouts for Spring 2013 (subject to change with notice)

January 24 - Class 1

Lecture: Introductions; overview of the 298 process and syllabus; explanation of the research proposal assignment, framing the research question

January 31 - Class 2

Lecture: Selecting research methods; conducting interviews

Readings:

• May, Chapters 1, 6, and any chapters from 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 that describe a method you may use for your project

Class materials

• Lecture notes on choosing a method and interview techniques [.pdf], update 9/19/12

February 7 - Class 3

Lecture: Analyzing qualitative data (i.e., interview notes or primary documents); the IRB process; in-class workshop on completing the "candidacy form" (students must bring a printout of their unofficial SJSU academic transcript and a copy of the "candidacy form")

Assignment: Draft #1 of research proposal due

Readings:

• Read about the IRB process and review the forms used to put together an application at http://www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies/irb/

• Sample IRB proposals you can use as models are: Interview Example [.pdf]; Survey Example (and Interview) [.pdf]; Observation Example (and Interview) [.pdf];interview Example (2) [.pdf]

  Other examples include:  Salazar example [.pdf], Nixon example [.pdf], Mathur example [.pdf], and Agrawal example [.pdf] Please note that these IRB proposals do not use the current IRB formatting and should only be consulted for ideas regarding language to describe certain research procedures (e.g. the Agrawal example gives an excellent structure for interview guides). Please review the Graduate Studies website for the most up-to-date information on formatting.

Class materials

• Lecture notes on Analyzing Qualitative Data [pdf.], updated 9/19/12
• Lecture notes on the SJSU IRB Process [.pdf], updated 9.19.12

February 28 - Class 4

Lecture: Explanation of the literature review assignment; review of when and how to cite sources

Assignment: Draft #2 of Research Proposal due

March 7: IRB application due
March 14: Final Research Proposal due (if needed)
April 1: Draft Literature Review assignment due

Handouts

• Handy reference on formatting bibliographies in MS Word

Class materials

• Lecture notes on Turabian [.pdf], updated 9/24/12
• Lecture notes on Literature Reviews [.pdf]. updated 9/24/12

April 18 - Class 5

Lecture: Review of document design principles; tips on using advanced MS Word features to format a report; what to expect in URBP 298B

April 22: Final Literature Review Due
May 9: Draft report sections (4,000 words) due

Handouts

• Handy reference on formatting bibliographies in MS Word

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Sample 298 reports

See the URBP 298 reports that have received an honors designation:

• Work/Live Development in Sacramento, by Laura Russell [.pdf]

• The University Campus and the Urban Fabric: Mending the University District, by Katja N. Irvin [.pdf]

• Estimating Time-Based Bus Service Areas Using the Time-Based Bus Service Area Tool, by Chao-Lun Cheng [.pdf]

• Sex Businesses in San Francisco: How the City Could and Should Regulate Where They Locate, by Seon Joo Kim [.pdf]

• Do Central Business District Redevelopment Investments Have a Positive Influence on Surrounding Neighborhoods, by Amy M. Fauria [.pdf]

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Resources on Research Methods and Writing

There are many good resources available on the web that can help you to develop your thesis, organize your paper, cite sources properly, and such.  A small subset appears below here.

• How to Write a Literature Review: This handout from the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill provides a very helpful description of the purpose of a literature view, as well as the steps you take to write one.

   

• Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals: This handout from the Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, explains how to identify scholarly or "academic" research.

   

• Critical Evaluation of Resources: This handout from the Library at the University of California at Berkeley suggests strategies to evaluate the credibility and usefulness of materials you find on the web or in print.

• Revising: This handout from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Writing Center suggests strategies for editing and proofreading draft writing.

• For both quantitative and qualitative methods, you will find a good list of suggested readings at the UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library's website Preparing for Thesis and Dissertation Research.

   

You will also find many recommended books on writing in the course materials for Asha W. Agrawal's version of URBP 213.  See the suggested readings at the bottom of the URBP 213 course home page and also the required readings on the URBP 213 course syllabus.