Research Topics in Leadership
Research Topics in Leadership
Spring 2013
Austin Lee Nichols
Classroom: MAT 151 Class Time: TR 7-8
Office: 413C Phone: 2603-2004 Email: austinleenichols@phbs.pku.edu.cn
Course Materials
Text:
Plano Clark, V. L., & Creswell, J. W. (2010). Understanding research: A consumer's guide Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education (ISBN: 9780131583894)
Course Overview
Leadership is a multidisciplinary academic field of study. As an academic area of inquiry, the study of leadership has been of interest to scholars from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds. Leadership studies have origins in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology), in humanities (e.g., history and philosophy), as well as in professional and applied fields of study (e.g., management and education). Together, these areas have contributed over 100 years of research to help us understand and improve leadership. In this class, we will focus on this research and use it as a framework for understanding current leadership practice and to prepare you for future leadership positions.
Reading Assignments
For the first week of class, we will discuss the assigned text. This will allow us to better understand the research articles that we focus on for the remainder of the course. Each week after that, we will cover one article related to a different area of leadership. It is necessary to read each article before we discuss it in class. Your ability to ask meaningful questions, contribute to discussion, and to incorporate new knowledge into what you already know is entirely founded on reading the articles before class. I know how easy it is to fall behind in readings (or not to read them at all). If you hope to receive a good grade, it is necessary to attend class AND complete the assigned readings beforehand.
Grading
Exam 20%
Leading Group Discussion 30%
In-Class Participation 50%
TOTAL 100%
Exam (20%). Leadership research is built on ideas. The ideas originated from scientists from around the world doing research. For this course, the ideas and their application are more important than the people who generated the ideas. Thus, with a few exceptions, I will not require you to memorize the names of researchers or the dates that studies were conducted. The exam will each instead consist of 50 multiple-choice items and will focus on the core theories and findings from each article. No make-up exams will be allowed except for verified reasons that you discuss with me before the date of the exam.
Group Discussion Leader (30%). During the first week of class, students will form groups. Each group will lead discussion aimed at discussing leadership topics relevant to the assigned research article. The group should read the article in advance, read the relevant background research, and then come prepared to lead the class in discussing those leadership topics and the details of that specific article.
In-Class Participation (50%). Classroom discussion represents a unique opportunity for you to develop and enhance your confidence and skill in articulating a personal position, reacting “on the spot” to new ideas, and receiving and providing critical feedback from a group of assertive and demanding colleagues. This is an opportunity that all of you are encouraged to seize. The grade assigned for your classroom contribution is a careful assessment of the value of your input to the classroom learning. Emphasis will be placed on both the quantity and quality of contribution. Within 24 hours of the end of class, you must summarize the contributions that you made to the discussion and email it to me at AustinLeeNichols@phbs.pku.edu.cn.
Spring 2013
Austin Lee Nichols
Classroom: MAT 151 Class Time: TR 7-8
Office: 413C Phone: 2603-2004 Email: austinleenichols@phbs.pku.edu.cn
Course Materials
Text:
Plano Clark, V. L., & Creswell, J. W. (2010). Understanding research: A consumer's guide Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education (ISBN: 9780131583894)
Course Overview
Leadership is a multidisciplinary academic field of study. As an academic area of inquiry, the study of leadership has been of interest to scholars from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds. Leadership studies have origins in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology), in humanities (e.g., history and philosophy), as well as in professional and applied fields of study (e.g., management and education). Together, these areas have contributed over 100 years of research to help us understand and improve leadership. In this class, we will focus on this research and use it as a framework for understanding current leadership practice and to prepare you for future leadership positions.
Reading Assignments
For the first week of class, we will discuss the assigned text. This will allow us to better understand the research articles that we focus on for the remainder of the course. Each week after that, we will cover one article related to a different area of leadership. It is necessary to read each article before we discuss it in class. Your ability to ask meaningful questions, contribute to discussion, and to incorporate new knowledge into what you already know is entirely founded on reading the articles before class. I know how easy it is to fall behind in readings (or not to read them at all). If you hope to receive a good grade, it is necessary to attend class AND complete the assigned readings beforehand.
Grading
Exam 20%
Leading Group Discussion 30%
In-Class Participation 50%
TOTAL 100%
Exam (20%). Leadership research is built on ideas. The ideas originated from scientists from around the world doing research. For this course, the ideas and their application are more important than the people who generated the ideas. Thus, with a few exceptions, I will not require you to memorize the names of researchers or the dates that studies were conducted. The exam will each instead consist of 50 multiple-choice items and will focus on the core theories and findings from each article. No make-up exams will be allowed except for verified reasons that you discuss with me before the date of the exam.
Group Discussion Leader (30%). During the first week of class, students will form groups. Each group will lead discussion aimed at discussing leadership topics relevant to the assigned research article. The group should read the article in advance, read the relevant background research, and then come prepared to lead the class in discussing those leadership topics and the details of that specific article.
In-Class Participation (50%). Classroom discussion represents a unique opportunity for you to develop and enhance your confidence and skill in articulating a personal position, reacting “on the spot” to new ideas, and receiving and providing critical feedback from a group of assertive and demanding colleagues. This is an opportunity that all of you are encouraged to seize. The grade assigned for your classroom contribution is a careful assessment of the value of your input to the classroom learning. Emphasis will be placed on both the quantity and quality of contribution. Within 24 hours of the end of class, you must summarize the contributions that you made to the discussion and email it to me at AustinLeeNichols@phbs.pku.edu.cn.