Research Rescue Lab: A Holistic View of the Research Paper

1. Research Rescue Lab: A Holistic View of the Research Paper Dr. Kelley Wood School of Professional Studies Trinity Washington University

2. A Holistic View of the Research Paper It is a process from start to finish The topic of your inquiry leads to the discussion Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

3. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Topic of Inquiry • Investigate an interest in a topic related to your career field • This is the overarching question that motivates your research • Does transformational leadership in the federal government agencies provide opportunities for advancement? • Does social media use promote and facilitate better workplace relationships? • Do the economic conditions in failed states yield more radicals interested in terrorism? Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

4. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Topic of Inquiry • Discuss this topic of inquiry with your advisor, program chair, and instructors! • Watch and listen for clues that might help you focus your topic • Search intensively in the Trinity library databases, your textbooks, and other reliable resources Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

5. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Survey • Ground yourself in the scholarly fields related to this inquiry • The more you read and the more diverse your readings, the better informed you will be • This stage is very important! • You are mastering your topic of inquiry • Begin developing an annotated bibliography of the material you are collecting • Organize it into logical groupings – categories and subcategories • Start to organize the categories and subcategories into a narrative Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

6. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Question(s) • Now that you are mastering the topic of your inquiry, you know what to investigate more specifically • You are narrowing your topic of inquiry • Moving from broad issues that cannot be resolved within the constraints of your semester • To narrow, focused issues that you can resolve within the constraint of your semester Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

7. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Question(s) • Now that you are mastering the topic of your inquiry, you know what to investigate more specifically • You might winnow out resources that are not necessary to this narrower topic • Not to worry, you were informed by them and they will continue to effect your perspective of the topic of inquiry • Set them aside where you can find them just in case! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

8. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Question(s) • This can be difficult, especially if you have not spent enough time mastering your topic of inquiry • There is a direct relationship between the time spent in gaining mastery and the relative ease of completing this project • The more you know, the easier this will be! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

9. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Question(s) • I recommend following along with the exercises in: • Booth, Colomb, & Williams (2009). The Craft of Research. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press • Several are on reserve and in the stacks of the library on campus! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

10. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract • In APA style we have 150 words in which to accomplish this task • You must be economical, concise, and coherent • Continue to polish this as you revise drafts of your paper • Use a version of the ancient philosophical art of Syllogism • Major point (general context) • Minor Point (specific context) • Conclusion (statement of the problem) Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

11. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract • 1 sentence regarding the general context of your research topic of inquiry • 1 sentence of specific context • 1 sentence stating the research problem • 1 sentence stating the method of inquiry • 1 sentence stating the method of analysis • 1 sentence describing the results or findings • 1 sentence describing the conclusions, recommendations, implications • All in 150 to 250 words! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

12. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • Where will you use this? • 1 sentence regarding the general context of your research topic of inquiry • 1 sentence of specific context • The Introduction chapter’s preamble (background) section • The Literature Review chapter’s development of the topic’s context, which starts the chapter • 1 sentence stating the research problem • The Introduction chapter’s Statement of the Problem • The Literature Review section of the context of the problem Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

13. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • 1 sentence stating the method of inquiry • 1 sentence describing the results or findings • The Introduction chapter’s Research Methods section • The Literature Review chapter’s guide to Other Research and Methods section and • As a guide to the Research Methods chapter Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

14. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • 1 sentence stating the method of analysis • 1 sentence describing the results or findings • The Results or Findings chapter • 1 sentence describing the conclusions • The Discussion Chapter • These two sentences in the abstract can be held until you have completed the related chapters • Additionally, the Abstract can become a guide to the Summary of the Discussion chapter • What a bonus! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

15. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Introduction • This is the roadmap to, or the blueprint of, the first three chapters - the proposal • The purpose of this chapter is to inform your readers by outlining the proposal Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

16. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Introduction • Begin each chapter with a preamble or preface • This is especially important in the introduction, which provides the background and the build up to the statement of the problem • You will recognize this as the background section of other publishing styles • In all other chapters the preamble informs the reader of what lies ahead in the chapter • End each chapter with a summary • Remind the readers of the highlights of this chapter before they move on to the next. Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

17. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Introduction • Chapter sections • Preamble – informed by the abstract • Statement of the Problem – informed by the abstract • Purpose of the Study– informed by the abstract • Significance of the Study– informed by the abstract • Theoretical Perspective • Research Question(s) • Hypotheses (if quantitative or mixed-methods) • Research Method • Ethical Considerations • Definition of Key Terms • Delimitations • Limitations • Summary Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

18. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • This chapter builds your argument, through logic, that is the basis of the study • The result of this is the Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • You will use several forms of essay to accomplish this • Compare and contrast, informational, descriptive, argumentative, etcetera • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • This outlines the theory of your inquiry • Thus, it informs the data collection instrument • Mention each dependent and independent variable (quantitative) • Or factor (qualitative) Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

19. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • Review of Other Research Methods • Used in investigating similar topics • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • This is a model of the theory of your inquiry • Describe and define the elements as they will be used in your study • It finishes with a figure of the model as a visual representation Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

20. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • Sections of the chapter • Review of Other Research Methods • Used in investigating similar topics • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • This is a model of the theory of your inquiry • Describe and define the elements as they will be used in your study • It finishes with a figure of the model as a visual representation Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

21. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • Sections of the chapter • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • Use the model of the theory of your inquiry to determine the content of the data collection instrument • See the example in the next few slides Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

22. A Holistic View of the Research Paper Becomes the… Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

23. A Holistic View of the Research Paper Becomes the… Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

24. A Holistic View of the Research Paper Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

25. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Methods • Determine and discuss the strategy for collecting data • Think of this as the outline of your experiment, which tests your model (research design) and its ability to reliably predict results • Discuss how you will collect reliable and valid data in a way that can be replicated • Develop the Data Collection Instrument • Is derived from the quantitative Theoretical Framework , or the qualitative Theoretical Construct or Conceptual Map Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

26. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Methods • Preamble – informed by the abstract and introduction • Setting • Population/Data Source • Research Design (Strategy) – informed by the abstract and introduction • If quantitative – also include measurements for common tests in this section • Data Collection Instrument Protocol • Observation, Interview, Questionnaire, Survey • Data Analysis Strategy • Summary Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

27. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • The Proposal • Written in future tense as you propose to accomplish this research • Sections of the Proposal • Title Page • Abstract • Table of Contents • Introduction • Literature Review • Research Methods • Appendices • Now you can write your IRB Application! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

28. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • After you collect data • Begin on the final two chapters! • Review the data collected as you go • Practice your data analysis strategy Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

29. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Results (Quantitative and Mixed-methods) • Data should reflect the Theoretical Framework • Or • Findings (Qualitative) • Data should reflect the Theoretical Construct • The purpose of this chapter is simply to report on the data you have collected • Analysis is reporting, describing, and defining your data • You will use the scholarly skills of analysis • Define, describe, compare, contrast, differentiate, illustrate, outline, relate, separate, and deconstruct Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

30. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Results or Findings • Sections of the Chapter • Preamble • Data Analysis Strategy - informed by the research methods • Discussion of the Sample (Discussion of Participants if qualitative) • Your actual participants Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

31. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Results or Findings • Sections of the Chapter • Data Coding and Analysis • Qualitative • Discussion of the three stage coding process and examples of your findings • Report and present what is in your data through descriptive and inferential analysis • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • Relate some of your results or findings to each variable or factor • Reliable, Replicable, Valid • Summary Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

32. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Discussion • Should address the research questions • This is the main event • You will use the scholarly skills of Synthesis and Evaluation • Synthesis - categorizes, combines, compiles, composes, creates, devises, designs, explains, organizes, plans, rearranges, reconstructs, relates, reorganizes • Evaluation - appraises, compares, concludes, contrasts, criticizes, critiques, defends, describes, discriminates, evaluates, explains, interprets, justifies, relates, summarizes, supports Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

33. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Discussion • Sections of the Chapter • Preamble • Research Questions - from the introduction and the results or findings • Hypotheses (If quantitative show how the alternate or the null were proven) • Discussion of the results or findings in addressing the research questions • Present examples of data related to your questions Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

34. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Discussion • Sections of the Chapter • Conclusions • What can be inferred from the data analysis completed in the previous chapter? • Evidence based – data analysis is your evidence • Recommendations - informed by the delimitations and limitations • Implications - informed by the delimitations and limitations Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

35. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Discussion • Sections of the Chapter • Significant Learning (*Optional) • Summary • In this summary you will summarize the whole research project • Use your abstract as a guide and super size it into an informative narrative Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS