Doctoral Studies Orientation Applied Research Center (ARC)

1. Doctoral Studies Orientation Applied Research Center (ARC)

2. The Applied Research Center (ARC) Overview

3. ARC Faculty Executive Dean of Research & Evaluation: Maryellen Maher, Ph.D. Program Professors of Applied Research: • Soledad Argüelles, Ph.D. • Alex Edmonds, Ph.D. • Elda Kanzki-Veloso, Ph.D. • Tom Kennedy, Ph.D.

4. Coordinator Ruth Chernet Research Associates (IRB) Jennifer Dillon Silvia Orta Ashley Russom Research Assistant (FFR) Robert Greene Research Assistants I: Camille Coke Administrative Assistants: Keisha Fairclough Katie Lyewsang Professional Staff

5. New Education Major (EdD) Nine Areas of Concentration • Educational Leadership • Healthcare Education • Higher Education • Human Services Administration • Instructional Leadership • Instructional Technology and Distance Education • Organizational Leadership • Special Education • Speech-Language Pathology

6. Minors • Adult Education • Autism • Community College • Conflict Resolution • Curriculum Development • Gerontology • Human Resource Development • Urban Education

7. Education Major:Applied Research Course Requirements • Core Seminar: • Methods of Inquiry (6 credits) • Research Elective (3 credits)

8. Transferable into Education Major:Applied Research Course Requirements • Program Evaluation/Policy Analysis (this course is only offered for students who are transferring to the EdD major, and have already taken Research Design and Methods.)

9. Applied Research Electives • Statistical Methods • Measurement, Testing, and Assessment • Survey Research • Qualitative Research • Advanced Program Evaluation* • Advanced Statistics* • Single Subject Research • Mixed Methods *pre-requisite required

10. Applied Research Center “Stats” • Total number of Applied Research course sections taught (2005-2006) • Fall 2006: 59 sections • Summer 2006: 80 sections • Winter 2006: 74 sections • Fall 2005: 77 sections • Summer 2005: 55 sections • Winter 2005: 56 sections

11. Applied Research Center “Stats” • Total number of committee chairs = 325+

12. Visit Our Web Site--Updated Frequently! http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/arc

13. The Applied Dissertation Process Benchmarks, seminars, committees, and other useful terms

14. The Applied Dissertation • Is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive account of a scholarly investigation designed to answer one or more research questions. • Has as its purpose to improve practice in education and human services. • Is required for all Fischler School of Education and Human Services (FSEHS) doctoral students. • Consists of a total of 12 credits.

15. Purpose of the Applied Dissertation • Provides an opportunity for the student to engage in scholarly research activities • Provides evidence of the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate data • Demonstrates the student’s knowledge of the literature • Displays the student’s ability to discuss fully and coherently the meaning of results • Makes a contribution to the field/profession

16. Benchmarks of the Applied Dissertation Process • Concept Paper (2 credits) Students should register in their 2nd term • Proposal (5 credits) Students should register in their 3rd term • Applied Dissertation (5 credits) Students should register in their 5th term

17. Overview of the Workshops • Each benchmark is linked to a workshop designed to assist the student with the development of each document/benchmark • These workshops can be found in the ARC Web site in the form of PowerPoint presentations with their respective recommended activities • The workshops are facilitated by the student’s Applied Dissertation Committee Chair

18. Suggested Timeline 3-year Plan • Concept Paper (approved by the 12th month) • Proposal (approved by the 24th month) • Applied Dissertation (final approval by the 36th month)

19. Suggested Timeline 2-year Plan • Concept Paper (approved by the 6th month) • Proposal (approved by the 12th month) • Applied Dissertation (approved by the 24th month)

20. Grading System • Each benchmark will carry a grade of: Pass or No Pass • Concept Paper • Proposal • Applied Dissertation

21. ARC AD Organizational Chart

22. Serves as liaison to chairs, members and doctoral students Coordinates and supervises applied dissertation process Oversees the assignment of applied dissertation committee chairs and members Provides professional development and supervision for committee chairs and members Serves as applied dissertation chair/member Teaches R&E courses Serves as internal consultant Roles and Responsibilities of the Program Professor of Applied Research

23. Committee Process • Students should submit “Dissertation Interest Form” • Those in the Education Major (enrolled Fall 2005 or after) should look for the “Student Interest Form-The Education Major” link on the ARC Web site (sometime within the first term to be assigned by the end of the term) • Students must have the following information before they can complete the Dissertation Interest Form: • Their complete NSU e-mail address • Cluster number or name • Name of Field Associate responsible for their cluster • Students who do not know their field associate name should contact the Office of Enrolment Services at • (954) 262-1546 • 1-800-986-3223, Ext. 1546

24. Committee Process Cont. • Committee Chair and Committee Member are assigned by Program Professor or Team Leader • By the end of first term • Students will receive e-mail confirmation of committee assignment • Student should immediately contact Committee Chair to begin seminar one activities

25. Provides continued guidance, instruction, and support to the student Communicates regularly with the student Communicates regularly with team leader, committee member, and ARC staff Ensures that the student follows APA and ARC guidelines Reviews student’s IRB protocols before submission Updates the NSU Applied Research Tracking database Submits student’s grade Roles and Responsibilities of Committee Chair

26. Provides feedback to the committee chair Reviews and critiques students’ documents following the committee chair review Provides critique to chair after concurrence, who then forwards it to student Responds to documents within required time lines Transmits reviews of documents directly to the committee chair, not to the student Roles and Responsibilities of Committee Member

27. Applied Dissertation Process ↨ Product

28. 1st Term Student submits online Dissertation Interest Form (ARC Web site) Team Leader assigns student to Applied Dissertation Committee Chair and Member (CCM) Student attends DSO 2nd Term Student registers for Seminar 1: Concept Paper (CP) Student works on Concept Paper w/CCM NO CCM approve CP YES Student submits IRB forms Student works on Proposal w/CCM Student registers for Seminar 2: Proposal (P) IRB approves forms NO CCM approve P NO YES YES Student begins data collection and analysis 5th Term CCM approve AD Student registers for Seminar 3: Applied Dissertation (AD) Student works on Applied Dissertation w/CCM YES Student initiates Final Approval Process NO

29. The Applied Dissertation

30. Considerations in Selecting a Research Topic • Evaluate potential topics against the following: • Personal interest • Organizational support • Ethical considerations • Significance of study • Contribution to the field • Time requirements • Scope/Breadth/Depth • Economic factors

31. Sources of Research Topics • ERIC, PsycINFO, Medline • Journals, books, and dissertations in your field • Conferences/workshops/presentations • Recommendations for further research • Coursework • Organizational leadership in work setting • Work setting experiences • Consultations with experts in the field • Distance Library Services (DLS)

32. Concept Paper • Approximately 10 to 12 pages in length (excluding references and title page) • Should contain • Title page • Introduction—Nature of the Problem • Background and Significance of the Problem • Preliminary Literature Review • Initial Research Question or Questions • Brief Description of Methodology and Research Design • Anticipated Outcomes • Timeline • References

33. Title Page • See Style Guide for the Applied Dissertation for format of the title page http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/arc/online_guides/index.htm • Should describe your proposed applied dissertation succinctly • Useful in locating your applied dissertation in key word searches • Should not be lengthy (not to exceed 10-12 words). See pages 10-11 of the APA manual for further guidelines • Title may change during the applied dissertation process

34. Introduction—Nature of the Problem • A problem is an actual situation that is hindering the overall effectiveness of an organization • The impact of the problem on the organization should be clearly stated • If the problem is too broad, the student may choose to address only certain aspects of the problem (be concise and focused) • The problem should be stated in the form of a declarative sentence

35. Introduction—Nature of the Problem (cont.) • State the purpose of the proposed study, for example: • “The purpose of this project is to evaluate the distance education program at NSU.”

36. Background and Significance of the Problem • It is supported by available documented evidence that the problem exists (no data should be collected at this point) • Define major issues related to problem • Provide a brief description of • The setting (if applicable) where the problem exists and where the study will take place • The profile of the organization and other pertinent general background information

37. Background and Significance of the Problem (cont.) • Describes the student’s role within the organization • Problem is in range of student’s influence • Includes other salient information

38. Preliminary Literature Review • This succinct review of current literature should: • Provide further contextual background • Reveal issues related to your study • Describe similar problems in other organizations • Provide significance to your approach to the study

39. Initial Research Question or Questions • The research question is vitally important in a study • It serves as a “signpost” for the reader, foreshadowing the specific details of the study • Reflects the problem that the researcher wants to investigate • In quantitative studies, these typically fall into one of three categories: descriptive, comparative, and correlational • In qualitative studies, these are typically exploratory in nature, describe experiences

40. Brief Description of Methodology and Research Design • This section will define how you are going to address the research question or questions • The student should • Present an overview of the methodology • Describe the appropriateness of the methodology • Explain the rationale for selecting the methodology

41. Anticipated Outcomes • Description of expected results of the study • Detail the importance of conducting the study as well as possible impact on practice and theory

42. Time Line • One of the key components of your AD • Go from end point to the beginning • Deadlines are liberating

43. References • Must be according to APA style guidelines • List only those cited in narrative

44. Narrowing the Focus Research Topic Statement of the Problem Research Question

45. Examples Distance Education Increased demand for online education What are the characteristics of DE learners?

46. Examples Lo-Carbohydrate Diets So many diets available! How does Atkins compare to South Beach?

47. Examples HRT Benefits vs. Risks What are the effects of treatment?