Seminar 1Prof. Robyn Walker

Discuss an example of Applied Research Review course expectations Discuss Week 1assignments

There was Marsh’s supermarket in Troy, Ohio, and there was an assistant manager who had heard that the owner of his little store was going to expand to another, and he wanted a shot a becoming the new manager.

Motivations for applied research:•Curious•Solve a problem•Advance career•Etc.

The Assistant manager noticed that there was a problem—checkout lines.All the customers complained, and, when one of the two expert checkers who knew all the items and all the prices were out, the checkout lines became VERY long.

• Only labels• Prices stuck on by

stocking clerks that could fall off or forgotten

Applied research begins with a problem statement that evolves

Asked manager if I could do this investigation along with my other duties. At first he wanted to call in an objective outside consultant. But I said that I knew the context of the problem, the clerks, and the situation better than any outsider could without considerable effort.

Applied researcher is involved vs. traditional/objective researcher.

Said that I had to be careful that my research and solution wouldn’t be biased or overly subjective.But I assured my boss that if I carefully thought it through and systematically and logically continually checked my work against a standard, I could overcome this problem.

Applied research requires the researcher to use a standard methodology of data collection and analysis

Boss said to go ahead but to avoid reinventing the wheel, I should check out what other stores were doing to solve this problem, and look at the grocery store magazines in my office.

Applied research at a Master’s level requires a literature review.

At first I thought I could frame my research to see if the addition of new knowledgeable clerks would solve the problem.

Boss said NO—too expensive.

Back to the drawing board I guess.

Applied research is iterative—you try something, see if it works, and if it doesn’t, go back and try something else. Learning what won’t work is sometimes as valuable as knowing what does. This is where you will probably send a lot of your time and effort.

Then you come up with the idea of bar codes and scanners so that the knowledge of all the expert clerks could be transferred to computers and smart labels.

But the other clerks object because such bar codes and computers would undermine their expertise and make them expendable. You explain that with the new equipment they would now be “computer literate” and thus due a raise.

Applied research always takes place in a context that demands cooperation and requires good political and communication skills to enlist cooperation.

• You have identified a problem and written a problem statement

• You have created a nearly complete literature review

• You have created a draft research plan/proposal that includes some preliminary choices of methodology for data collection and analysis

• You have identified a potential solution to the problem and a program to solve it

• You are ready to ask for IRB approval of your research since it involves humans

You already have a running start with all the materials created in LS 504. You will learn more about data collection and analysis and continue to revise and refine your research proposal to include a discussion of program implementation and evaluation.

That in a nutshell is the story of your graduate student existence over 20 weeks of two courses: Part 1, LS 504 and Part 2, LS 698.

There will, of course, be•Assignment samples available in doc sharing•Step-by-step walkthroughs and explanations in the seminars•Readings in Webliography•Guidelines by the APA on how to professionally format, write, and use references in your graduate-level work•Discussion board for us to explore all of these issues

• Then read the material offered and demonstrate your understanding of it in the db, seminar participation, and assignments

• Stay connected and participate• Meet deadlines so that work

assignments snowball and create more and more problems

• Talk to me—I have office hours, there is e-mail, there is db. I will work with you.

George J. Laurer was the actual guy who invented the bar code system in 1973, and it was indeed used in Marsh’s Supermarket in Troy Ohio in June 1974.

• Post initial post BY Friday• Post on 3 separate days• Post to 3 different peers (4

responses minimum.)• Light tone, but professional• At least 50 words in length• Advance the discussion as it

relates to research! Not just compliments or agreement–Questions– Shared Experiences–Research (share a website!)–Gently challenge views

Golden Rule! Be polite! Some tone issues: All

caps=shouting; occasional emoticon on DB okay

Readability: Do Not Copy/Paste large amounts of reading on board. (KIS: Keep it Simple!)

• Assignments: APA & Proofread• Professional• Do Not “Wing It”• Proposals: Lengthy• Name all assignments with your

last name and assignment: e.g., Walker_ProblemStatement.docx

• In essence, using another person’s words, ideas, or results as one’s own

• Copying sources verbatim or simply rephrasing without proper acknowledgement

• When in doubt, use quotes, include references and citations

• University subscribes to a third-party plagiarism detection service

is a serious offense and may result in the following sanctions: •1st offense: Failure of the assignment in which the action occurred. •2nd offense: Failure of the class in which the action occurred. •3rd offense: Expulsion or permanent dismissal from the University.

For readings look at the webliography

Look at the final research proposals to see where you will wind up

For readings from the Kaplan Library, access them via the Home Page and NOT from within the class

• Post on db four substantive responses on three different days

• Complete and post Unit 1 Assignment

BE SURE TO• Attend next Sunday’s seminar in

which I will discuss the SMART approach to problem statements

Write a 3-4 page paper in which you do the following:Explain the major characteristics of applied researchAnalyze how those characteristics differ from those of traditional (basic) researchDiscuss any similarities or connections between the two types of researchIdentify specific research topics from this unit’s readings and activities and discuss whether those topics would qualify as applied research or traditional research topics

Include a title page with full name, class name, section number, and date

Include an introductory and concluding paragraph and demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard American English

Use research and examples from sources to support your discussion

Cite all sources on a separate reference page at the end of your paper and cited within the body of your paper using APA format