Speech Therapy (B.A., BM 13 or BM 8)
“Basic Module 13: Research Methods” (“new” examination regulations) comprises:
a) a lecture (2 credits)
b) a seminar (2 credits)
c) a module exam in the form of a written exam (2 credits)
“BM 8: Quality Management, Counseling, Didactics & Research Methods” (“old” examination regulations for students who enrolled before the 2015/16 winter semester) additionally includes two seminars not administered by our department in the areas of therapy didactics and quality management.
Lecture
The lecture “Introduction to the Fundamentals of Research Methodology” covers essential content on academic work, the research process, and the quantitative and qualitative research aspects involved. In addition to content on research design and data collection, a focus is placed on teaching the statistical fundamentals (both descriptive and inferential statistics) of quantitative research.
This includes, in particular, the following areas:
- Goals and criteria of scientific work
- From research questions to empirical studies: operationalization and control of potential confounding variables
- Research designs (controlled case studies, experimental studies)
- Data collection methods (behavioral observation, questionnaires, interviews)
- Data analysis methods (basic descriptive and inferential statistical analysis procedures)
- Different Approaches to Empirical Studies: Testing Hypotheses vs. Generating Hypotheses
Seminar
The seminar “Empirical Research for Special Education Teachers” serves to deepen and practice the content covered in the lecture “Introduction to the Fundamentals of Research Methodology.”
This includes, in particular, the following topics:
- Characteristics of science
- Sources and reading strategies
- Research design, operationalization, sampling—practical application
- Data collection methods
- Statistical fundamentals – in-depth explanations
- Categorical data – Chi² – practical application and interpretation of results
- Correlations – practical application and interpretation of results
- Regressions – practical application and interpretation of results
- Mean comparisons – t-test and ANOVA – practical application and interpretation of results
- Nonparametric tests – practical application and interpretation of results
Module Content
Based on the requirements for quality assurance and evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology, the courses in the area of research methods present basic concepts of scientific theory as well as qualitative and quantitative methods in a function-oriented manner. Methods of statistical description and analysis are taught and practiced for independent application. Selected methods are explored in greater depth.
Module objectives and competencies to be acquired according to the module handbook (new examination regulations)
Students are familiar with the methods, data collection techniques, and procedures for data preparation and analysis used in the relevant research fields. They can review and evaluate the quality of empirically obtained results and scientific studies. They are able to interpret common forms of presentation of empirical data (tables, graphs, etc.) and possess basic skills for creating textual and non-textual representations of empirical data. They are familiar with measures of central tendency, concepts of hypothesis testing, and specific procedures (such as ANOVAs, t-tests, correlation/regression, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal-Wallis tests). They possess basic knowledge of test theory, quality criteria, questionnaire development, and methods of item construction in surveys.
Semester Schedule
All courses in the module are offered in the summer semester and (in addition to the requirements specified in the module handbook) are currently also offered in the winter semester.
Module exam
The module exam is offered twice per semester (once toward the end of the lecture period or at the beginning of the break, and once toward the end of the break).
Exam registration: Registration via KLIPS 2.0 is mandatory for every module exam. Students must register for the module exam in KLIPS 2.0 no later than six weeks before the exam date. Without a valid exam registration, students are not eligible to take the exam. Students who have not properly registered for the exam via KLIPS 2.0 are not entitled to take the exam. Registrations outside the deadlines may only be accepted by the relevant examination offices in approved exceptional cases for a valid reason.
Exam Withdrawal: Students may withdraw from the exam no later than two weeks before the respective exam date without providing a reason. Withdrawals outside the deadlines may only be processed by the relevant examination offices in approved exceptional cases for a valid reason.
Contact Persons
If you are already attending one of our courses, the respective instructor is of course available as your primary contact. Otherwise, please feel free to contact Dr. Matthias Krepf with questions regarding course content and Dipl.-Jur. Stefanie Ström with organizational questions.
Raum
207
Aachener Straße 197-199
50931 Köln (Besuchsadresse)
Brieffach
9
Adresse
Frangenheimstraße 4
50931 Köln
Sprechstunde
nach Vereinbarung
Raum
201
Aachener Straße 197-199
50931 Köln (Besuchsadresse)
Brieffach
9
Adresse
Frangenheimstr. 4
50931 Köln
Sprechstunde
nach Vereinbarung