RES850 Full Course (September 2018)

Week 1 discussion

DQ1 What is the relationship of the scientific method to the doctoral research process? How do theoretical paradigms (such as potential explanations of human social behavior) inform doctoral research? How might you apply this information to your own doctoral research?

DQ2 Focus on Research: Go to the Forums tab in the DC network and explore the list of active forums. Select one of the forums that you believe may be of value to you given your dissertation field of interest. Identify the forum topic you selected, and summarize the contents of the existing forum posts for that topic. Why do you believe this forum may be helpful to you? How might interaction in the DC forums be a meaningful activity during your dissertation process? Explain.

Week 2 discussion

DQ1 Using the DC Network, locate information about the Ten Strategic Points, the Prospectus, the Proposal, and the Dissertation. What is the purpose of each of these documents? How do you anticipate interacting with these documents? Explain.

DQ2 In light of the 10 Strategic Points, what insights do you have on your proposed dissertation topic? How are you currently formulating your research approach? Based on your current understanding of research methodologies, what hurdles or barriers are you going to need to address to move your research forward? (Research is not required to support your conclusions.) How will the information on finding a content expert (see “Finding a Content Expert” in topic materials) influence your research plans?

Week 3 discussion

DQ1 Using the information you provided in your application to the Doctoral Program, briefly describe a potential topic of interest for your dissertation. How do you believe this research will contribute to the body of knowledge in your field? How might reading the literature in your field assist you in choosing a topic? (Research is not required to support your conclusions.)

DQ2 What process would you use to determine what literature to use for your literature review? How does methodology of the study come into play? How might you use questions to determine what literature to use in your review?

Week 4 discussion

DQ1 Drawing upon your knowledge from LDR 800 Ethical Dilemmas and Stewardship, studies and literature research you have completed, and the readings in this module, reflect upon the role of ethics in the research process.

a) Discuss ethics concepts and principles that could apply to the conduct of your dissertation study.

b) Explain any concerns/uncertainties you have regarding ethical conduct during dissertation research.

DQ2 What are some of the ethical issues that can arise during a research study? What tools are available to research institutions to assure ethical compliance of the researchers?

Week 5 discussion

DQ1 At this point you should be narrowing in on potential topics for your dissertation. The specifics may not be targeted but you should know the general area you wish to research. Using the topic area you are considering, explain how the measurement concepts discussed in the text and readings could be used in your research. Why is it important to know the variables within your research study? What type of measurement instrument might you use for your study? Explain the benefits and possible drawbacks.

DQ2 In “The Practice of Social Research,” Babbie (2013) suggest the following research question as a simple example: Are social sciences teachers, natural sciences teachers, or arts teachers more beloved among students on a college campus?

To answer the research question, you might observe throughout a semester the attendance rates for a key course in each of the groups; review end of course surveys and compare average instructor ratings among the groups; or compare the number of cards, letters, and gifts received by faculty members in each group at the end of a semester.

Use Google or a search engine of your choice to conduct an internet search using the search question “What is alignment in research?” Select several sources from the search results list and read about alignment. Given the information in your reading, which of the methods suggested above may be good choices (align well with) and which may not bring about the desired results for the study Babbie suggested? Why? What does your consideration of these options tell you about operationalization and alignment? Why is that significant?

Week 6 discussion

DQ1 Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research methodology for your dissertation topic or topic area. (Research is not required to support your conclusions.)

DQ2 The reading, “Workplace learning strategies, barriers, facilitators and outcomes: a qualitative study among human resource management practitioners” presents an application of qualitative research methodology. Discuss whether or not qualitative research methodology is appropriate to this study. Discuss other types of methodologies that may have been appropriate for this investigation.

Week 7 discussion

DQ1 Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of quantitative research methodology for your dissertation topic or topic area. (Research is not required to support your conclusions.)

DQ2 The reading, “Unauthorized Fun at Work (Goofing Off): Predictors and Implications” presents an application of quantitative research methodology. Discuss whether or not quantitative research methodology is appropriate for this study. How might this research question have been addressed using qualitative research methods?

 

 

Week 8 discussion

DQ1 Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of mixed research methodology for your dissertation topic or topic area. (Research is not required to support your conclusions.)

DQ2 The reading, “Fostering Sustainability in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Transformational Leadership and Change Strategies” presents an application of mixed research methodology. Discuss whether or not mixed research methodology is appropriate for this study. What would be the advantages and/or disadvantages of investigating this research question from either a strictly quantitative or qualitative perspective?

 

 

 

Week 2Assignment

10 Strategic Points Quantitative Study Extraction #1

In the prospectus, proposal, and dissertation there are 10 strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the research is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the research, are present in almost any research study. The ability to identify these points is one of the first skills required in the creation of a viable doctoral dissertation. In this assignment, you will identify and evaluate 10 strategic points in a published quantitative research study.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Review the Mulligan dissertation.

Locate and download “Modified 10 Points Template.”

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

APA style is required for this assignment.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Directions:

Using the “Modified 10 Points Template,” identify each of the 10 strategic points in this quantitative dissertation.

Complete the “Evaluation” section of the template by addressing the following questions (250-500 words) with regard to the 10 strategic points in the study:

Discuss the key points in the literature review and how the author used this section to identify the gap or problem addressed in the study.

Describe the variables under study and how they are a key component in this quantitative research study. You are not expected to understand the differences between variables at this point, but should be able to identify how they inform the problem, purpose, research questions and data collection instruments.

Describe the problem and how it informed the research questions under study.

Describe the quantitative design used and why it is appropriate for the identified problem and research questions. Support your response with a peer-reviewed citation from a research source.

Assess the appropriateness of the instruments used to collect data and answer the research questions as well as to address the stated problem.

Discuss how the problem statement informed the development of the purpose statement in this study.

Week 3 Assignments

10 Strategic Points Quantitative Study Extraction #2

In the prospectus, proposal, and dissertation there are 10 strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the research is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the research, are present in almost any research study. The ability to identify these points is one of the first skills required in the creation of a viable doctoral dissertation. In this assignment, you will identify and evaluate 10 strategic points in a published quantitative research study.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Review the Luckett dissertation.

Locate and download “Modified 10 Points Template.”

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

APA style is required for this assignment.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Directions:

Using the “Modified 10 Points Template,” identify each of the 10 strategic points in this quantitative dissertation.

Complete the “Evaluation” section of the template by addressing the following questions (250-500 words) with regard to the 10 strategic points in the study:

Discuss the key points in the literature review and how the author used this section to identify the gap or problem addressed in the study.

Describe the variables under study and how they are a key component in this quantitative research study. You are not expected to understand the differences between variables at this point, but should be able to identify how they inform the problem, purpose, research questions and data collection instruments.

Describe the problem and how it informed the research questions under study.

Describe the quantitative design used and why it is appropriate for the identified problem and research questions. Support your response with a peer-reviewed citation from a research source.

Assess the appropriateness of the instruments used to collect data and answer the research questions as well as to address the stated problem.

Discuss how the problem statement informed the development of the purpose statement in this study.

 

 

 

Week 4 Assignment

10 Strategic Points Qualitative Study Extraction

In the prospectus, proposal, and dissertation there are 10 strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the research is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the research, are present in almost any research study. The ability to identify these points is one of the first skills required in the creation of a viable doctoral dissertation. In this assignment, you will identify and evaluate 10 strategic points in a published qualitative research study.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

EdD learners ONLY: Review the Watkins dissertation.

DBA Learners ONLY: Revise the Groveunder dissertation.

Locate and download “Modified 10 Points Template.”

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

APA style is required for this assignment.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Directions:

Using the “Modified 10 Points Template,” identify each of the 10 strategic points in the qualitative dissertation for your discipline (EdD or DBA).

Complete the “Evaluation” section of the template by addressing the following questions (250-500 words) with regard to the 10 strategic points in the study:

Discuss the key points in the literature review and how the author used this section to identify the gap or problem addressed in the study.

Describe the phenomenon under study and how it is a key component in this qualitative research study.

Describe the problem and how it informed the research questions under study.

Describe the qualitative design used and why it is appropriate for the identified problem and research questions. Support your response with a peer-reviewed citation from a research source.3

Assess the appropriateness of the instruments used to collect data and answer the research questions as well as to address the stated problem.

 

Week 5 assignment

Using MAXQDA

For this assignment, assume the role of a researcher in the qualitative analysis phase of the study. The data are gathered imported into MAXQDA for analysis. At this point, there are parent codes and sub-codes. However, the software requires human intervention to move past codes to categories and subsequently themes. Clearly, a category of “interview guide topics” cannot be used in the presentation of research results. In this assignment, you will access MAXQDA and practice creating categories and themes.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Refer to the document, “Using MAXQDA Assignment Resource,” located in the Course Materials for this topic.

This assignment requires the use of MAXQDA software available in the DC. A link to the software is in the Course Materials for this topic.

Refer to “Getting Started Video Tutorial” found in the Course Materials for this topic.

Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

This assignment requires that at least two additional scholarly research sources related to this topic, and at least one in-text citation from each source be included.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Directions:

Complete this assignment according to the directions in the document, “Using MAXQDA Assignment Resource.”

 

 

 

 

Week 6 assignment

Original Research 10 Strategic Points Draft

In the prospectus, proposal and dissertation there are ten key or strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the research is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the research. The ten strategic points emerge from researching literature on a topic, which is based on or aligned with, the defined need in the literature as well as the researcher’s personal passion, future career purpose, and degree area. You have practiced identifying the ten points in published studies, the next required skill is to define the ten points for an original as yet conducted research study. In this assignment, you will consider a potential gap in the literature that is emerging from your ongoing reading in your field of interest including

including no less than five specific research studies, and you will draft the 10 Strategic Points for a potential dissertation research study based on that identified gap.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Important note: Successful completion of this assignment does not indicate that this topic and the related 10 Strategic Points have been approved for use as your dissertation research study topic.

Locate and download “10 Strategic Points Template with Instructions” located in the DC (https://dc.gcu.edu/dissertation/dissertation-templates/10_strategic_points_template/strategicpointstemplatewithinstructions2014docx) and use it to complete this assignment.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Directions:

Consider a potential gap in the literature that is emerging from your ongoing reading in your field of interest including no less than five specific research studies. Using the information from those research studies, state the potential gap that you identified and describe how it emerged from the studies you read.

Based on that identified gap, draft the 10 Strategic Points for a potential dissertation research study.

 

 

Week 8 assignment

Literature Review Resources

Successful completion of a doctoral dissertation requires significant amounts of independent reading on the research topic. This allows the doctoral learner/researcher to become familiar with the scope of the topic and to identify gaps or tensions within the existing literature on the topic. These gaps and tensions become the source of the dissertation research. In this assignment, you will read and annotate potential sources in your dissertation field of interest. Those demonstrating the most merit to the best of your understanding of the topic at this time should be added to your RefWorks list for potential inclusion in the literature review section of your dissertation.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Locate the assignment submission for “Literature Review Resources” from your previous course. You will be adding to this document to begin building a running literature review.

It is recommended that you engage in this activity throughout the duration of this course.

Instructors will be scoring your submission based on the number of unique sources identified in the list submitted.

Download the resource Literature Review Resources Tool and use it to complete the assignment.

Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.

Refer to the resource, “Preparing Annotated Bibliographies,” located in the Student Success Center, for additional guidance on completing this assignment in the appropriate style.

Directions:

Read at least 10 empirical articles in your general dissertation field that you have not read previously.

In the “Literature Review Resources” document that you submitted in the previous course, provide the following for each source that you are adding to the document:

The APA-formatted citation.

A brief annotation of the key points of the source.

An indication of whether the source has been added to (Y) or excluded from (N) your RefWorks list.

Highlight the additions to the document so your instructor can readily identify them

Literature Review Resources

One of the most important aspects of your research will be how you organize your resources. RefWorks is an optional citation management software tool you can sign up to use that helps organize your citations. To find out more about how to sign up for your free, optional RefWorks account, review the information here:

http://libguides.gcu.edu/refworksandendnote

 

Week 8 assignment

Original 10 Strategic Points Revision

In the prospectus, proposal and dissertation there are ten key or strategic points that need to be clear, simple, correct, and aligned to ensure the research is doable, valuable, and credible. These points, which provide a guide or vision for the research. The ten strategic points emerge from researching literature on a topic, which is based on or aligned with, the defined need in the literature as well as the researcher’s personal passion, future career purpose, and degree area. Previously, you drafted the ten strategic points for a potential dissertation research study based on an identified gap in the literature. In this assignment, you will practice the doctoral dispositions of valuing, accepting, and integrating feedback and reflecting on those inputs as you revise your draft of the ten strategic points created in the preceding assignment.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

Important note: Successful completion of this assignment does not indicate that this topic and the related 10 Strategic Points have been approved for use as your dissertation research study topic.

Locate the draft of the 10 Strategic Points that you created in the preceding assignment and the feedback from your instructor and use them to complete this assignment.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Directions:

Reflect on the feedback provided by your instructor on the draft of the 10 Strategic Points that you previously completed. Integrate that feedback as well as your own new ideas into a revised draft the 10 Strategic Points for the potential dissertation research study.