Powerful+Research+and+Conceptual+Bases+-+Objectives,+Methods,+Evaluation

Powerful Research - Objectives
To understand how research is judged. To be able to build an element of risk into research. To understand uses and of various data analysis techniques, such as analytic induction, constant comparison, thematic analysis, critical analysis, narrative analysis, phenomenological analysis, and policy analysis. To recognize when ontological, epistemological and methodological aspects of research are congruent. To understand approaches and evolutions of topic selection and why this is important to building congruence in research. To understand how congruence is achieved in fitting together the research questions, data gathering, data analysis, literature review, and conclusion making. To relate ones’ sense of conviction, mission, and cultural awareness to the research approach. To know why one must sometimes turn around and collect more data. To understand selected interpretive stances, e.g., phenomenology, symbolic interactionism, and semiotics, and their roles in shaping data analysis techniques. To be able to use critical interpretive stances, such as critical women, race, and class studies. To think imaginatively about the nature of the conclusions of one’s dissertation in light of one’s mission and audience. To be familiar with a variety of conceptual bases of research, e.g., behavioristic, idealistic, essentialistic, existentialistic, pragmatic, critical, humanistic. To master criteria of good research and to be able to analyze research according to those essential criteria. To explore online and social media as viable ways of advancing one’s research.

Instructional Methods
The seminar will consist of a blend of lecture, individual reflection, and group work. The main focus of this seminar is on participants’ research. Resources include one’s own data, online texts, various online materials, lecture presentations and peer collaboration. Moreover, emphasis will be placed on a wide assortment of online resources, some unfamiliar to participants.

Regular grading system, based upon participants’ self-evaluation and instructor evaluation of the literature review and mastery of course material. All evaluation questions concern the extent to which one’s dissertation research has been improved.

Literature Reviews - Objectives
To understand various literature review techniques, such as thematic analysis, critical analysis, consequence analysis and goal analysis. To be able to identify seminal works in one’s own discipline or field of study. To maximize the use of meta search engines, library resources, and open learning libraries. To recognize why and when certain literature review approaches are most appropriate. To understand the interpretive nature of reviewing literature and how the terms and quality of the interpretation evolve over the course of a study. To understand how congruence is achieved between literature reviews and various aspects of a research manuscript. To understand how one’s conceptual base shapes the nature of the literature review. To think imaginatively about the nature of the conclusions of one’s dissertation in light of one’s mission and audience. To be familiar with a variety of conceptual bases of research, e.g., behavioristic, idealistic, essentialistic, existentialistic, pragmatic, critical, humanistic. To be able to explain one’s ontological bearings, methodological approaches, and epistemological understandings and the relationship of those aspects to one’s own research. To explore online and social media as viable ways of advancing one’s research.

Instructional Methods
The seminar will consist of a blend of mini-lectures, individual reflection, and group exercises. The main focus of this seminar is on participants’ research, especially data analysis, and how to get it done. Participants will move forward through a series of exercises designed to advance congruence. Resources include one’s own data, online texts, various online materials, lecture presentations and peer collaboration.