MESA 6830 Interpretation and Evaluation of Research
This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. Each student will develop a research proposal.
Course overview
- Department
- Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment
- School
- Lynch
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Both
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring, Every Summer
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.53 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.85 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 6
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | 2.9 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | — | 19 of 27 |
| Fall 2025 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 6 of 9 |
| Summer 2025 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 7 of 10 |
| Fall 2024 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 5 of 11 |
| Summer 2024 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 10+ hrs/week | 10 of 10 |
| Fall 2023 | Joshua Littenberg-Tobias | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 of 10 |