The Ph.D. Inquiry Methodology Program is dedicated to the advancement of social and behavioral research by critically evaluating, improving, and developing methodological theory and methodologies so that phenomena of interest can be more soundly investigated and better understood. Students can choose to focus on a quantitative, qualitative, or an integrated program of study. The program is designed to be flexible enough to handle a wide variety of student interests (e.g., statistical modeling, measurement, advanced psychometrics, methodological theory, evaluation, ethnography, philosophy of social science, hermeneutic-reconstructive analysis, discourse and narrative analysis, critical ethnography and feminist research), but rigorous so as to ensure that its graduates can meaningfully contribute to the study of social and behavioral research.

Degree Requirements (90 cr.)

The degree requires 75 credit hours completed before 15 dissertation hours. To reach 75 credit hours, the student will exceed the minimum credit requirements identified below. The additional hours will be determined through consultation with the advising committee.

• Y521 Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• Y515 Foundations of Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• Y600 Methodological Implications of Social & Psychological Theories (3 cr.)

• Y510 Action Research I (3 cr.)
• Y611 Qualitative Inquiry in Education (3 cr.)
• Y612 Critical Qualitative Inquiry I (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y613 Critical Qualitative Inquiry II (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y624 Discursive Psychology Approaches to Discourse Analysis (3 cr.)
• Y630 Narrative Theory and Inquiry (3 cr.)
• Y631 Discourse Theory and Analysis (3 cr.)
• Y633 Feminist Theory and Methodology (3 cr.)
• Y671 Knowledge, Reflection & Critique in Methodological Theory (3 cr.)
• Y672 Communicative Action Theory (3 cr.)
• Y673 Discursive Psychology as Theory (3 cr.)

• Y502 Intermediate Statistics Applied to Education (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y527 Educational Assessment and Psychological Measurement (3 cr.)
• Y603 Statistical Design of Educational Research (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y604 Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y617 Psychometric Theory (3 cr.)
• Y627 Seminar in Educational and Psychological Measurement I (3 cr.)
• Y637 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• Y639 Multilevel Modeling (3 cr.)
• Y645 Covariance Structure Analysis (3 cr.)
• Y655 Longitudinal Data Analysis (3 cr.)

• Y500 Computer Lab for Educational Inquiry (1 cr.)
• Y650 Topics in Inquiry Methodology (3 cr.)
• Y660 Affinity Research Group (3 cr.)
• Y590 Independent Study or Research in Inquiry Methodology (1-3 cr.)
• Y690 Advanced Independent Study in Inquiry Methodology (1-3 cr.)
• Y750 Seminar in Inquiry Methodology (3 cr.)

• Y525 Survey Research Methodology (3 cr.)
• Y535 Evaluation Models & Techniques (3 cr.)
• Y635 Methodology of Educational Evaluation (3 cr.)

Minor Requirements (12-18 cr.)

The minor must have integrity in its own right and must complement the major. The minor field must demonstrate wholeness within itself and contribute to the student's overall doctoral program. Minors are normally formulated within a single program area. However, an interdisciplinary or individualized minor is also possible. Interdisciplinary or individualized minors require a written description of the minor's underlying theme along with a rationale for each course's contribution to that theme through the Minor Justification form. This form should be submitted and approved by the Graduate Studies Office prior to enrolling in the minor courses.

Students will select a minor field of study to complement their study of inquiry methodology. Because inquiry methodology interfaces with substantive areas of study it is important for students in inquiry methodology to develop understandings in at least one such area so that they grasp the complexity of methodology in use. The minor serves to develop students’ substantive area of interest. Major area courses (those within the Inquiry Methodology program) may not be used in the minor.

Elective Requirements (6 cr. minimum)

Educational research is multidisciplinary, and students have a broad range of research interests and career plans which requires flexibility for their programs of studies. The program, therefore, enables students to tailor their electives in consultation with their Advisory Committees.

Electives may be taken in fields inside or outside the School of Education.

Early Inquiry Experience

To satisfy the program requirements, the student must carry out an independent research project as an early inquiry experience. The resulting research report must be read and approved by the major members of the program of studies committee. This project must be completed before advancing to candidacy and is expected to be completed in the first three years. A master’s thesis can be considered but must meet the same approval process.

Dissertation Requirements (15 cr.)

• Y795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
• Y799 Doctoral Thesis in Inquiry Methodology (12 cr.)