Hi DCR - A question arose this morning about whether we require you to get a dataset from your mentor. Here are the relevant instructions from Assignment 2:
Make an appointment to meet with your mentor
sometime in the next 2 weeks. It often takes a while to get
on your mentor’s calendar, and you’ll benefit from an appointment with this
timing for a variety of reasons. One
purpose will be to get general advice on your research question and
protocol. Another is to discuss things
you will need later in the course that your mentor may be able to provide—a
dataset from an existing study, a data collection instrument or a
questionnaire, and a grant proposal (these will be needed for assignments 6
& 7). Finally, there are probably
all kinds of other things about which your mentor can advise you – start (or
continue) building that relationship.
The answer is NO - getting a dataset from an existing study is not required for this course. HOWEVER, it might be required for you to actually do the study you are planning. If your mentor does have a dataset that you could get access to, that's potentially a great opportunity for you to do an additional analysis that might also be publishable (even if it's not the study you are designing for DCR). And having access to a dataset IS required for other courses in our program...so it's worth asking your mentor about in any case!
Have a great small group session today. I'll be available as usual this Friday for office hours.