210 likes | 315 Views
Research Rookies Meeting. Monday, October 7, 2013 6:00pm-8:00pm FML Staff Lounge & Room 297. Meeting Agenda. Dinner & Discussion with NLAs Proposal Deadline Bookmarks Simmon Scholars Internship Credit Research Variables & Operationalization Office of Research Compliance
E N D
Research Rookies Meeting Monday, October 7, 2013 6:00pm-8:00pm FML Staff Lounge & Room 297
Meeting Agenda • Dinner & Discussion with NLAs • Proposal Deadline • Bookmarks • Simmon Scholars • Internship Credit • Research Variables & Operationalization • Office of Research Compliance • Small Groups • Blog Prompt • MAP-Works
Proposal Deadline Proposals are due Friday, November 15, 2013 Submit to ugresearch@niu.edu
Bookmarks • Research is Rad! Bookmarks • Kiran Gill & Kyle Mondron
Simmon Scholars • STEM students • Essay to apply • Additional responsibilities: • Blogging • Class presentations with NLAs • $500 stipend at completion of program
Internships • Internship notation on transcript • In-line with President Baker’s career success campaign • Partnering with Career Services • 120 hours
Research Variables & Operationalization • Dr. Gregory Barker • Director of Testing Services • Ph.D. in Psychology, Northern Illinois University
Variables and Operationalization Independent vs. Dependent Variables Manipulated vs. Selected Independent Variables Variables often start as concepts Theoretical creations based on observations that cannot be observed directly Indicator A reflection of the variable we wish to study Dimensions A specifiable aspect of a concept
Variables and Operationalization Operationalization - The process of specifying precisely how you will define and measure the variables in your study
Variables and Operationalization Things to consider as you Operationalize Range of Variation Degree of Precision Exhaustive Mutually exclusive
Choose the appropriate design Are you conducting an experiment? • Investigates the effect of an Independent variable (treatment) on a Dependent variable (outcome) • USUALLY involves some form of Pretesting and Postesting • USUALLY involves comparison of AT LEAST two groups • Experimental and Control – What are these? • Usually involves Random assignment to Experimental and Control Conditions
Your Research Three major questions for your research: • What do you hope to discover? • What you will increase/decrease/change? • What relationship do you hope to discover? • What variable(s) do you hope to identify? • Who/what will you study? • How will you measure it?
Your Research Research topics should be specific, clear, and manageable. • Stop ALL smoking • Reduce smoking • Reduce smoking among high school students
Your Research Reduce the proportion of students at a specific high school who report cigarette use in the past 30-days using a social norms intervention. Cigarette use will be measured using specific questions from the annual student health survey administered every spring.
Your Research • Choose an area in which you are interested • Make your goals realistic • Go to the journals – READ! – Try to extend previous research – Don’t reinvent the wheel • Who/what are you testing? What is your population? • How will you get a sample?
Your Research • Make sure you can state your hypothesis and predictions simply • Consider how you are going to measure your outcome – MAKE SURE YOU CAN! • Start thinking about your independent and dependent variables • Operationalize your variables carefully • What is your research design?
Research Compliance & Integrity • Jeanette Gommel • Animal Research • Biosafety • Human Subjects • http://www.niu.edu/orci/
Small Groups • Update on progress • MAP-Works • Class attendance • Test anxiety • Time management activity
Blogs • 1-2 thoughtful paragraphs • 6-8 sentences per paragraph • Include picture, if possible • All content should represent RR program in appropriate manner
Blog Prompt Blog about your faculty mentor. Have you found one yet? If not, are you close to finding a mentor? If you have found a mentor, have you selected a research topic? What will you be researching?
MAP-Works • If you have not completed MAP-Works: • Take survey before you leave