ABSTRACT
One of the first courses I took as a doctoral student was in research methods. Somewhat to my surprise, I found it very exciting. Research reports that had appeared mysterious and complex became comprehensible. By the end of the course, I felt that perhaps I, too, could conduct studies that might yield interesting and useful results. Unfortunately, many students approach their first research methods course with apprehension. They fear that it will require a good background in mathematics, be technical, and seem boring. If well taught, however, students exit their first research methods course with a feeling of exhilaration and sense of accomplishment. They leave being able to understand and evaluate the logic of research reports. With a bit more training, they are able to contribute to a stream of research findings themselves.
