research rescue lab: a holistic view of the research paper

RESEARCH RESCUE LAB: A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

Dr. Kelley WoodSchool of Professional StudiesTrinity Washington University

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, Problems, Purpose, Significan

ce

Abstract Introduction

Literature Review

Research Methods

Results / Findings Discussion

It is a process from start to finishThe topic of your inquiry leads to the discussion


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• Topic of Inquiry– Investigate an 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 workplace relationships?

• Do the economic conditions in failed states yield more radicals interested in terrorism?


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• 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– Search intensively in the Trinity library

databases, your textbooks, and other reliable resources


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• Literature Survey– Ground yourself in the scholarly fields related

to this inquiry– The more you read and the more diverse your

readings, the better informed you will be – This stage is very important!

• You are mastering your topic of inquiry– Begin developing an annotated bibliography of

the material you are collecting• Organize it into logical groupings – categories and

subcategories• Start to organize the categories and subcategories

into a narrative


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• 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


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• Research Question(s)• Now that you are mastering the topic of

your inquiry, you know what to investigate more specifically– You might winnow out resources that are not

necessary to this narrower topic• Not to worry, you were informed by them and they

will continue to effect your perspective of the topic of inquiry

• Set them aside where you can find them just in case!


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• 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

– The more you know, the easier this will be!


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• Research Question(s)• 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!


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• Abstract• 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• Use a version of the ancient philosophical art of Syllogism– Major point (general context)– Minor Point (specific context)– Conclusion (statement of the problem)


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• 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,

recommendations, implications• All in 150 to 250 words!


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• Abstract – Playing it forward– Where will you use this?– 1 sentence regarding the general context of your

research topic of inquiry– 1 sentence of specific context

• The Introduction chapter’s preamble (background) section• The Literature Review chapter’s development of the

topic’s context, which starts the chapter– 1 sentence stating the research problem

• The Introduction chapter’s Statement of the Problem• The Literature Review section of the context of the

problem


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• Abstract – Playing it forward– 1 sentence stating the method of inquiry – 1 sentence describing the results or

findings• The Introduction chapter’s Research

Methods section • The Literature Review chapter’s guide to

Other Research and Methods section and • As a guide to the Research Methods

chapter


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• Abstract – Playing it forward– 1 sentence stating the method of analysis– 1 sentence describing the results or findings

• The Results or Findings chapter– 1 sentence describing the conclusions

• The Discussion Chapter– These two sentences in the abstract can be held

until you have completed the related chapters– Additionally, the Abstract can become a guide

to the Summary of the Discussion chapter• What a bonus!


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• 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


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• 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

• You will recognize this as the background section of other publishing styles

– 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.


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• 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 Question(s)

• Hypotheses (if quantitative or mixed-methods)– Research Method– Ethical Considerations– Definition of Key Terms– Delimitations– Limitations– Summary


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• Literature Review– This chapter builds your 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 your inquiry• Thus, it informs the data collection instrument • Mention each dependent and independent variable

(quantitative)• Or factor (qualitative)


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• Literature Review• Review of Other Research Methods

– Used in investigating similar topics• Theoretical Framework or Theoretical

Construct– This is a model of the theory of your inquiry– Describe and define the elements as they will be

used in your study– It finishes with a figure of the model as a visual

representation


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• Literature Review– Sections of the chapter

• Review of Other Research Methods – Used in investigating similar topics

• Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct

– This is a model of the theory of your inquiry– Describe and define the elements as they will be

used in your study– It finishes with a figure of the model as a visual

representation


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• Literature Review– Sections of the chapter

• Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct

– Use the model of the theory of your inquiry to determine the content of the data collection instrument

– See the example in the next few slides


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A Holistic View of the Research PaperTh

eory Varia

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Data Collection Instrum

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Becomes the…


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A Holistic View of the Research PaperTh

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Concept

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Concept

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• Research Methods– Determine and discuss the strategy for

collecting data– Think of this as the outline of your experiment,

which tests your model (research design) and its ability to reliably predict results

– Discuss how you will collect reliable and valid data in a way that can be replicated

– Develop the Data Collection Instrument• Is derived from the quantitative Theoretical

Framework , or the qualitative Theoretical Construct or Conceptual Map


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• Research Methods• Preamble – informed by the abstract and introduction

– Setting– Population/ Data Source – Research Design (Strategy) – informed by the

abstract and introduction• If quantitative – also include measurements for common

tests in this section– Data Collection Instrument Protocol

• Observation, Interview, Questionnaire, Survey– Data Analysis Strategy– Summary


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• 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– Appendices

• Now you can write your IRB Application!


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• After you collect data– Begin on the final two chapters!– Review the data collected as you go– Practice your data analysis strategy


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• Results (Quantitative and Mixed-methods)– 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– Analysis is reporting, describing, and defining your data

• You will use the scholarly skills of analysis– Define, describe, compare, contrast, differentiate,

illustrate, outline, relate, separate, and deconstruct


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• Results or Findings• Sections of the Chapter

• Preamble– Data Analysis Strategy -

informed by the research methods– Discussion of the Sample

(Discussion of Participants if qualitative)• Your actual participants


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• Results or Findings• Sections of the Chapter

– Data Coding and Analysis• Qualitative

– Discussion of the three stage coding process and examples of your findings

– Report and present what is in your data through descriptive and inferential analysis

• Theoretical Framework or Theoretical Construct– Relate some of your results or findings to each

variable or factor– Reliable, Replicable, Valid

• Summary


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• 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


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• Discussion– Sections of the Chapter

– Preamble• Research Questions - from the

introduction and the results or findings– Hypotheses (If quantitative show how the

alternate or the null were proven)– Discussion of the results or findings in addressing

the research questions– Present examples of data related to your

questions


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• Conclusions– What can be inferred from the data analysis

completed in the previous chapter?– Evidence based – data analysis is your evidence

• Recommendations - informed by the delimitations and limitations

• Implications - informed by the delimitations and limitations


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• Significant Learning (*Optional)• Summary

– In this summary you will summarize the whole research project

– Use your abstract as a guide and super size it into an informative narrative

research rescue lab: a holistic view of the research paper

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discussiona holistic

research paperdr

craft of research

topic of inquirythere

topic of inquirybegin

finishthe topic

topic of inquiryset

trinity library databases