Through in-class exercises and presentations, homework assignments, and work on the design of at least one "applied research project" (that is, a project which joins theoretical issues with practical ones), at the conclusion of this colloquium students will be able to:

• Devise a research question and design a graduate-level research project with an applied component;
• Identify research strategies appropriate to a given question and the data desired as a research outcome;
• Distinguish between "theoretical" and "applied" research; between "qualitative" and "quantitative" research; and between "naturalistic" and "experimental" research;
• Recognize a variety of research methodologies and evaluate their strengths and limitations;
• Undertake bibliographic research and write a literature review, using the electronic library;
• Use the Internet and other databases as sources of data and communication:
• Devise strategies for collaborative learning; and
• Complete the Assessment Contract for at least one project in the Focus Area.