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 Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

3. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Topic of Inquiry • 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 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 Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

5. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Survey • Ground your self in the scholarly fields related to this inquiry • The more you read and the more diverse your readings, you will be better informed • You are mastering the topic of your inquiry • Begin developing an annotated bibliography of the material you are collecting • Organize it into logical groupings – categories! 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) • 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 • 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

8. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract • This is a concise statement of the roadmap to, or blueprint of, your research paper • This is not intended to be persuasive, rather it is intended to be informative • Thus, it should contain specific information regarding your research • 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 Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

9. 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 • All in 150 words! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

10. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • The preamble – background sections of the Introduction and the Literature Review • 1 sentence regarding the general context of your research topic of inquiry • 1 sentence of specific context • Statement of the problem in the Introduction and a section of the background you the Literature Review • 1 sentence stating the research problem • The Introduction’s research methods section and a guide to the Literature Review’s section on other research and methods and the Research Methods chapter • 1 sentence stating the method of inquiry • 1 sentence describing the results or findings Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

11. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • The preamble – background sections of the Introduction and the Literature Review • Statement of the problem in the Introduction and a section of the background you the Literature Review • The Introduction’s research methods section and a guide to the Literature Review’s section on other research and methods and the Research Methods chapter • You can see this outlines much of your proposal! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

12. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Abstract – Playing it forward • The Results or Findings Chapter • 1 sentence stating the method of analysis • 1 sentence describing the results or findings • The Discussion Chapter • 1 sentence describing the conclusions • These two sentences can be held until you have completed the related chapters Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

13. 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

14. 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 • 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

15. 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 Questions • Ethical Considerations • Definition of Key Terms • Delimitations • Limitations • Summary Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

16. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • This chapter build the 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 inquiry • Thus, it informs the data collection instrument • Mention each dependent and independent variable • Or factor Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

17. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Literature Review • Sections of the chapter • Preamble – informed by the abstract • A brief argument, moving from general to specific, that prepares the reader for engaging in the topic areas you have determined must be covered to support the Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • Sections and subsections as necessary to the argument • Case studies should include the subject of the case • Review of other research methods • Used in investigating similar topics • Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct • Describe and define the elements as they will be used in your study • Including a figure or model as a visual representation Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

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

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

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

21. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Methods • Determine the strategy for collecting data • Develop the Data Collection Instrument • Should be derived from the Theoretical Framework o Theoretical Construct Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

22. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Research Methods • Preamble – informed by the abstract and introduction • Research Design – informed by the abstract and introduction • Setting • Population/ Data Source • Your potential participants • Research Strategy/ Measurements • Data Collection Instrument Protocol • Interview, Questionnaire, Survey, Observation, • Secondary data, content or document analysis - How data sources will be selected • Data Analysis Strategy • Summary Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

23. 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 • Now you can write your IRB Application! Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

24. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Results (Quantitative) • 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 • 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

25. 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 • Your actual participants • Data Coding • Quantitative • Presentation and discussion of your tables and results • Qualitative • Discussion of the three stage coding process and examples of your findings • 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

26. 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

27. A Holistic View of the Research Paper • Discussion • Sections of the Chapter • Preamble • Research Questions - from the introduction and the results or findings • Discussion of the results or findings in addressing the research questions • Conclusions • What can be inferred from the data analysis completed in the previous chapter? • Evidence based – data analysis is your evidence • Recommendations, implications - informed by the delimitations and limitations • Summary • In this summary you will summarize the whole research project Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS