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Directed Research Project (DRP). thesis based on original research.not a literature review.includes a literature review (Ch. 2).not a term paper.. Required References. Raimes, A. (2008) Keys for writers, custom edition (5th edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Custom Publishing. Perrin, R. (2007) Pocket guide to APA style (2nd ed.) Boston:Houghton Mifflin Publishing.Leedy, P.,
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1. ACC 590 Directed Research Project By Prof. Grant A. Wills, CPA, MBA, MSIS
2. Directed Research Project (DRP)
thesis based on original research.
not a literature review.
includes a literature review (Ch. 2).
not a term paper.
3. Required References Raimes, A. (2008) Keys for writers, custom edition (5th edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Custom Publishing.
Perrin, R. (2007) Pocket guide to APA style (2nd ed.) Boston:Houghton Mifflin Publishing.
Leedy, P., & Ormond, J.E. (2005). BUS 531: Research and strategic communication, custom edition. (8th ed.) Boston: Pearson Publishing.
Strayer University. (2006) Directed research project: Manuscript guidebook and project format. Washington, DC.
4. Problem Identification Research intended to solve the problem
Intended does not equal actually resolved
Problem selected has to be current
Problem must need to be solved right now!
Urgency makes the research relevant
Urgency makes the research interesting
5. Problem Identification Problems have histories—tell the story associated with your selected problem
Problem needs to be important enough to
Require your time
Require your energy
Meet a “community” need
6. Research Process
Students are expected to meet scheduled times to allow reviews of individual progress to the finalized thesis
Process is as important as the final product
Unlike a term paper, one should not wait until near the deadline to begin writing
Deadlines are specified…honor them
7. Grading Grades of A, B, C, and F awarded
Not a pass/fail experience
To achieve an “A” grade
Excellence in content and presentation
Meet all deadlines
8. Incomplete rather than Grade? Eliminates possibility of an “A” grade
Incomplete means that work is partially complete
Partially complete means 80% or more complete – 80% means the thesis is complete and only the defense is remaining
9. Plagiarism Paraphrased words and ideas must be cited
Summarized words and ideas must be cited
Directly quoted words and ideas must be cited
10. Plagiarism
Original work required
Not just a literature review
Not an essay
11. Plagiarism Results in grade of F
Could result in expulsion from program
Intended and unintended treated the same
No excuse for graduate students to not know what constitutes plagiarism
12. Plagiarism Hiring your research is unacceptable
Student Network Resources is an example of a source of research papers
You must do your own research
Your must do your own writing
You may have someone review your work for “form” (e.g., spelling, grammar)
You must create the content
13. Writing Requirements for Chapter One
14. Chapter One Consists of Seven Parts 1. Context of the problem
2. Statement of the problem
3. Specific research question and sub questions to address the problem
4. Significance of the study
5. Research design and methodology
6. Organization of the study
7. Tentative Reference List
15. 1. Context of the problem Background of the problem
History
Why the problem came into existence
How the problem came into existence
Who cares about this problem
What has been done about this problem
16.
Introduction to the problem
Current status of the problem
Why it is still unresolved
Why it is important that it be resolved
What has been tried to resolve the problem
17. How is this problem like some other problem?
Who is this problem troubling?
How is this problem causing trouble?
Why isn’t this problem resolved?
Who cares about this problem?
18. Definitions Define key concepts
Define key variables
19. 2. Statement of the Problem See chapter 3 “The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process” in the Leedy & Ormrod text (used in BUS 531).
Ask yourself the following:
What am I doing?
For what purpose am I doing it?
20. State the problem clearly and completely Your problem should be so clearly stated that anyone who reads English can read and understand it.
If the problem is not stated with such clarity then you are merely deceiving yourself that you know what the problem is.
21. Inappropriate Titles Impact of Enron
Future of the 150 Hour Requirement
Background of Sarbanes Oxley Act
Future of Accounting Education
Reputation of CPAs
Regaining Public Confidence in Auditing
The above do not address a current problem.
22. Think through the feasibility of the project that the problem implies Students sometimes rush into a problem without thinking through its implication.
It’s great to have ideas.
It’s much better to have practical ideas.
Edit to clarify your writing.
23. From Page 56 of Leedy & Ormrod: Checklist: Stating the research problem (in terms of your primary research question).
Show other research students your work. Ask them to consider the question and then to give you their comments.
Rewrite your problem statement once again.
24. Sub Questions 1. Each sub question should be a completely researchable unit.
2. Each sub question must be clearly tied to the interpretation of the data.
3. The answers to the sub questions must add up to the totality of the primary question.
4. Sub questions should be small in number.
25. Identifying the Sub Questions 1. Copy the primary research question onto a clean sheet of paper, leaving considerable space between the lines.
2. Read the question critically to discover the areas that should receive in-depth treatment before the question can be answered.
26. 3. Make sure every sub-question contains a word that indicates the necessity to interpret data within that particular sub-problem, e.g.
Analyze
Discover
Compare
27. 4. Arrange the entire research question, which will now have the sub questions boxed off, into a skeletal plan that shows the research structure of the primary question.
You now have a structure of the whole research design.
28. Delimiting the Research What the researcher is not going to do is stated in the delimitations.
The limits of the problem should be carefully bounded for a research effort as a parcel of land is for a real estate transfer.
29. Relevancy Only a researcher who thinks carefully about the primary question and its focal center can distinguish between what is relevant and what is not relevant to the question.
30. Defining the Terms What precisely do the terms in the research question and the sub questions mean?
Each term must be defined operatively…as it is employed in relation to the researcher’s project.
31. Stating Assumptions Assumptions are what the researcher takes for granted.
Taking things for granted may cause much misunderstanding.
What we assume, others may never have considered.
Leave nothing to chance. State your assumptions.
32. Importance of the Project Of what use does your project have?
What practical value does the project have?
What good is it?
What is the use of it all?
33. Checklist on pages 66-67 of Leedy 1. Have you read enough literature relevant to your topic to know that your research project is worth your time and effort?
Have you discussed the value of your research effort with an expert?
Will your work advance knowledge relative to your topic?
34. What is good about your project?
What are the pitfalls of your project?
Do you have a plan to review the literature?
Do you have a plan for data collection?
Do you have a plan for data analysis?
Do you have a plan to interpret your data?
35. Questions to Ask Yourself Have two or three peers review your proposal?
Do they understand what you are proposing to do?
What questions do they have?
What concerns have they shared?
36. Page 68 (Leedy) … 8 steps 1. Complete the necessary background search.
2. Try to see the question from all sides
3. Think through the process.
4. Use all tools and resources at your disposal
5. Discuss your research project with others, especially with peers.
37. 6. Hold up your project for others to examine and comment on.
7. Actively seek information and constructive criticism that may help you accomplish your task.
8. Remember that your project will take time.
38. Review of the Related Literature See chapter four of Leedy & Ormrod text.
Searching the web
www.alltheweb.com
www.google.com
www.altavista.com
39. Evaluating, organizing, and synthesizing the literature Compare and contrast varying theoretical perspectives on your topic
Show how approaches to the topic have changed over time
Describe general trends in research findings
Identify discrepant or contradictory findings, and suggest possible explanations
40. Identify general themes that run throughout the literature You know enough to do a literature review
Be clear in your thinking
Have a plan
Emphasize relatedness
Review literature. Don’t reproduce it.
Summarize what you have said.
41. Your that first draft will not be your last draft. Ask others for advice and feedback.
42. Planning Your Research Design No matter what academic discipline gives rise to the research endeavor, the general research procedure is fundamentally the same:
A research question is posed.
The question is converted to a research project.
43. It is worth a quess. The researcher poses a temporary hypothesis or series of hypotheses.
The literature review is on for a possible solution.
Look for data.
Analyze data. Interpret data and draw conclusions.
44. Data Either the data seemingly resolve the problem … or not …
The data either support the hypotheses or not …
45. Research Planning and Methodology The research project should be such that it could be carried out by any competent person.
The research should be repeatable.
The researcher must isolate, or control, those factors that are central to the research problem.
46. Data The data should be susceptible to measurement.
Data are manifestations of reality. They are not reality.
Data are transient and ever-changing.
47. The Purpose of Research To explain and predict
To confirm and validate
To test a theory
48. Nature of the Research Process Quantitative
Focused
Known variables
Established variables
Static design
Context-free
Detached view
49. Nature of the Research Process(cont.) Qualitative
Holist
Unknown variables
Flexible guidelines
Emergent design
Context bound
Personal view
50. Methods of Data Collection Quantitative
Representative, large sample
Standardized instrument
Qualitative
Informative, small sample
Observations, interviews
51. Form of Reasoning Used in Analysis Quantitative
Inductive—to come to a conclusion based on facts
Qualitative
Deductive—process of reasoning where conclusions are based on reasoning
52. Statement of the Problem Read literature
Tells what is already known
Tells what is still unknown
Attend professional conferences
Experienced researchers like to discuss topics
IMA or AICPA meet monthly
Seek advice of experts
53. Leedy & Ormrod, pages 51-54 What am you doing?
For what purpose are you doing it?
State the question clearly and completely.
Think through the feasibility of the project that the question implies.
Say precisely what you mean.
Edit your work.
54. Significance of the Study Why this study is important?
Historical review
Current conflict
Potential future problems
Who will benefit?
55. Research Design and Methodology How the research will be conducted
Qualitative
Quantitative
Survey, questionnaire, interviews, …
Minimum of 5 interview or 10 survey respondees
Primary and secondary sources
56. Organization of the Study Develop a research and writing schedule.
Outline the different phases.
Work backwards on timeline from when the draft of the DRP is due.
57. Timeline Backward 11th week: Final bound & signed copies
10th week: Electronic Version of final DRP
• 9th week: Power Point slides as Oral Defense
8th week: Complete DRP in draft form
… see syllabus
4th week: Draft of Chapter 2 & Revised Chapter 1
3rd week: Draft of Chapter 1
58. Deadlines are the Last Possible Dates for Submission You may make your deadlines earlier, but not later.
Missed deadlines eliminates the possibility of earning an “A” grade.
59. Reference List Cited sources only
APA citation format
Not a bibliography of all possible sources
Would have to be pages and pages…
Could never include every source impacting your research.
60. Contents of the Final DRP Preliminary pages
Title page
Abstract
Table of contents
List of tables
List of illustration
Individual chapters
Appendices
Works cited
61. Oral Defense PowerPoint presentation of key points of the DRP
Minimum of 15 slides
Maximum of 30 slides
62. Oral Defense All research chapters must be complete according to the design in Chapter One.
The Conclusion must address the research question.
The Conclusion must be justified by the research findings reported in the Summary section.
63. Questions as to Purpose What do you want to know? Why?
Who or what are the sources of your information or data? Why?
What kind of information or data are you gathering? Why?
What is your timeline? Why?
What is the significance of your work? Why? How?
64. Statement of the Problem See the Directed Research Project Guidebook.
First sentence states the research topic.
Subsequent sentences present the structure of the problem.
65. Primary Research Question See the DRP Guidebook.
State your expectation and compare to your findings, which may be:
Qualitative and
Quantitative.
66. Significance of Study
Explain why…
See Page 10 of the Guidebook.
67. Research Design & Methodology See Page 11 of the Guidebook.
Quantitative
Objective strategy
Qualitative
Subjective strategy
68. Organization of Study Present research chapters and sections in brief
Four or five sentences that indicate what you will do in the research process.
Describe how the total research effort will be presented.
69. Proposed Reference List At least 10 potential sources
Published within the last two years
Older sources must be significant (seminal)
Alphabetical order by author last name
Consistent format – APA, See page 186 of Keys for Writers.
70. Evaluation of the DRP Did the student do what was offered in the proposal?
Did the student do what was supposed to be done?
Did the writing style ensure effective communication, purpose, clarity, and understanding?
71. Citations “Whether the DRP research effort quotes, paraphrases or summarizes, it is important to record the extracted original source material properly…” See DRP Guidance
72. Pages 19, 20, 21 of Manual
Section 8 presents the DRP format requirements.
These are very specific…a check list…must be adhered to.
73. Questions? What questions do you now have?
Please email questions to me at any time.
I am online every day.
I am only a click away.
gawillscpa@myactv.net