Senior Honors Seminar II (CBA 499)
Course Content and Format: In addition to the introductory notes that apply to all of the Honors Seminars, the third seminar concentrates on data interpretation, writing/revising a research manuscript/report, and preparing the Honors Thesis for submission. These projects are presented to all faculty, CSULB Administration, and other interested parties (e.g., business associates, CBA Advisory Board) at the end of this (Spring) semester in the program. Visits by faculty and business professionals continue as an integral part of this seminar, although to a lesser degree than in the previous two honors seminars. If appropriate, discussion may continue regarding plans for careers/graduate school.
Required Textbooks/Course Materials: [Note: These may change so please check for updates.]
- Balnaves, Mark and Peter Caputi (2001), Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach, Sage Publications.
- Burns, Robert B. (2000), Introduction to Research Methods, Sage Publication
- Harris, Robert A. (2002), Creative Problem Solving, Pryczak Publishing.
- Holcomb, Zealure C. (2004), Interpreting Basic Statistics, 4th edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
- Lomand, Turner C. (2002), Social Science Research, 3rd edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
- Patten, Mildred L. (2002), Proposing Empirical Research, 2nd edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
- Patten, Mildred L. (2004), Understanding Research Methods, 4th edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
- Pyrczak, Fred & Randall R. Bruce (2003), Writing Empirical Research Reports, 4th edition, Pryczak Publishing.
- Salkind, Neil J. (2004), Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics, 2nd edition, Sage Publications.
Additional/Supplemental Required Readings: Reading lists are distributed prior to each visit by a faculty/business professional (i.e., they relate to the content to be presented by the visiting scholar or business executive). Students are expected to read such materials prior to class in order that they may make a valuable contribution to class discussion.
Optional/Supplemental Materials: Students interested in the ‘thesis track’ and/or sophisticated statistical analyses may also refer to:
- Hair, Joseph F., Jr., Rolph E. Anderson, Ronald L. Tatham, and William C. Black (1998), Multivariate Data Analysis, 5th edition, Prentice Hall.
- Levin, Irwin P. (1999), Relating Statistics and Experimental Design: An Introduction, Sage Publications.
- Pyrczak, Fred (2000), Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation, Pryczak Publishing.
Course Requirements/Assignments: This semester centers around completion of the Honors Thesis. Thus, students spend considerable time with the Director of the Honors Program (who teaches the seminar) making these manuscripts ‘perfect’ (i.e., in accordance with standards set forth by the Program Director, the CBA, and the University). In anticipation of the formal oral presentations of these works, time is allocated to preparing effective presentations, including designing effective presentation aids (e.g., visual aids, computer-based presentations). Class participation is required and is considered when course grades are assigned.