And Engineering
Current Literature and Research in Occupational Safety and Health
SFT 630
Spring 2004
TEXT: No text book required
Computer
Requirements: Ability to utilize the
Internet, Excel Spreadsheet and word
Processing
software.
Instructor: Dr. Allan Stern
212
Communications Bldg
Office
hours: As posted or by Appointment
Phone: (304) 696-3069
Email: Stern@marshall.edu
Course Description:
An analysis and study of selected works of national and international authors concerning significant works in occupational safety and health.
Objectives:
The focus of this course is to develop skills in obtaining appropriate information in safety and health issues. Students will be required to sharpen their research skills. Students will be able to validate information, and identify the most critical aspects of safety and health information to make improved decisions. Some additional objectives of this course are:
1. Identify major sources of current literature in safety and health
2. Review current research in occupational safety & health and gain a degree of technical competence
3. Gain insight into available publications which provide aid in safety and health management
4. Become familiar with the various organizations which promote safety and health through their research and publications
5. List and describe common terminology used in research
6. Evaluate current research in safety and health
7. List and explain the major types of research
8. List types of publications in which safety and health materials are found
Grading &
Attendance:
This class will only have approximately 12 sessions over a period of four weeks. Please refer to the course schedule to see which dates we will be scheduled to meet in the class. You are expected to attend if at all possible. Excessive absences will count toward a lower final grade.
Homework 100 points
Article Reviews 25 points
100 – 90 A
89 - 80 B
79 - 70 C
Homework assignments need to be turned in on the due date(s). no exception.
Late assignments will
not be accepted!
It is the
responsibility of the students to know the status of his/her grade throughout
the semester. There are no “extra
credit” assignments
Assignments
Questions about research that needs to answered to begin with.
1. Define research
2. Under what conditions are scientific laws valid?
3. Define inductive and deductive reasoning – give an example of each.
4. What is meant by empirical proof?
5. What is the relationship of quantification to research?
6. What is the role of theory in research?
7. What is the relationship of pure and applied research? Give examples.
8. Explain the likenesses and differences between the research scientist and the philosopher? How can
their writings reflect their beliefs?
9. Name John Stuart Mills’ five cannons pertaining to research and explain their impact on present day
science.
10. Explain how systematic research can be used in the social sciences.
11. Why is access to relevant data necessary for scientific research?
12. How do privacy issues affect present day research?
13. How can appropriate data be secured?
14. What is the role of a hypothesis in developing a problem?
15. Explain how
validity and reliability are important in research studies.
16. Define limitations and delimitations and explain their purposes in preparing for study.
17. Why is sampling essential in most research?
18. Why should sampling be representative?
19. How can errors be minimizing in sampling?
20. What would you consider the first problem in sampling?
21. Compare sampling based on probability and non-probability design. Which is most desirable,
Explain.
22. Name three types of sampling designs and explain the function of each.
23. What are statistics?
24. Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics.
25. Why is the level of confidence important in statistical problems?
26. Under what conditions would you accept or reject a null hypothesis? What is a null hypothesis?
Can a null hypothesis be proved? Explain.
27. Explain the importance of the electronic computer in resolving statistical problems in research.
28. Under what conditions if any, might a difference be large enough to cause rejection of a null
hypothesis?
These questions can help you evaluate a research paper?
1. What is the research design? Why is it important to a problem?
2. Was the problem stated clearly?
3. Did the author show evidence of understanding the problem?
4. Was the scope of the problem clearly delineated?
5. Were the hypotheses clearly stated. Could they be tested? Explain
6. Was the proposal for the acquisition of data consistent with the basis on which the problem was to be
solved?
7. Was the research designed to provide valid and reliable data? Explain
Individual Assignments
This is an individual assignment. This assignment should be typed (12 size fonts & 1.5 spacing) and proofread (spelling mistakes will not be tolerated). You need to turn in a copy of the article to me. The article should have been published after 1994. You are to be prepared to give a 10 minute oral presentation regarding your article. Your presentation is not to be read word for word from your summary. Make copies of your summary or paper for other students along with article.
a) What was the purpose of this article?
b) Do you agree with what the author said?
c) What are the limitations of this article?
d) What are the benefits of this article?
e) Do you feel that the author covered the subject matter sufficiently, explain why or why not?
f) What other things would you have included in this article?
Research articles we will be looking for during the course of the next semester can possibly be found in the following list of various magazines and research journals. This is by far not a complete list.
1.
Ergonomics News
2.
Sound and
Vibration
3.
Workplace
Ergonomics
4.
American
Journal for Public Health
5.
Chemical
Engineering Process
6.
Process Safety
Progress
7.
Environmental
Solutions
8.
NFPA Journal
9.
Industrial Fire
World
10.
Materials
Handling Engineering
11.
Engineering
News Record
12.
Family Safety
and Health
13.
International
Risk Management
14.
Applied
Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
15.
Occupational
Hazards
16.
Plant
Engineering
17.
Occupational
Health and Safety
18.
Journal of
Safety Research
List of research topics
Chemical Safety Respiratory Protection
Ergonomics Workplace Violence
Bioterrorism/Security Smoking and Cancer
Food Additives Holistic/Alternative Medicines
Molds and Toxins Food Safety
Stressors to the body Other research
Medical Devices Asbestos and Lung cancers
Behavioral Safety
Agricultural Safety
Blood borne Pathogens
SFT 630
Schedule
Spring 2004
Orientation
February 3 Research
February 10 Research Questions start
February 17 Research Questions
February 24 Articles (to be determined)
March 2 Articles
March 9 Articles
March 16 Spring Break
March 23 Articles
March 30 Articles
April 6 Articles
April 13 Articles
April 20 Articles
April 27 Articles
May 4 Last Class