Research Rescue Lab: A Holistic View of the Research Paper

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Research Rescue Lab: A Holistic View of the Research Paper

Dr. Kelley WoodSchool of Professional StudiesTrinity Washington University

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Dr. Kelley D. Wood Trinity Washington University SPS

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A Holistic View of the Research Paper

Topic of Inquiry

Literature Survey

Research Questions Abstract Introductio

nLiterature

ReviewResearch Methods

Results / Findings Discussion


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?


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


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!


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


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!


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


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!


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



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!



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


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


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.


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


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


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


18+A Holistic View of the Research Paper

Theory

Variable or

Factor

Concept

Concept

Concept

Variable or

Factor Concept

Concept

Concept

Becomes the…



Data

Collection

Instrument

FactorQuestio

n

Question

Question

Factor

Question

Question

Question

Becomes the…



Theory

Variable or

Factor

Concept

Concept

Concept

Variable or

Factor Concept

Concept

Concept

Data

Collection

Instrument

FactorQuestio

n

Question

Question

Factor

Question

Question

Question


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


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


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!


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


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


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


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

Research Rescue Lab: A Holistic View of the Research Paper

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