Kregg Aytes Professional Scholarship The road to making intellectual contributions to the Academy

Step One: What is Interesting? What phenomenon, issue, or question is of interest to you? What phenomenon, issue, or question is of interest to you? Talk to colleagues Talk to colleagues Your co-workers Your co-workers Across campus Across campus Colleagues at other universities Colleagues at other universities Formulate a preliminary research question or proposition Formulate a preliminary research question or proposition

Step Two: Review Relevant Literature Goal is to: Goal is to: Identify relevant theory Identify relevant theory Identify other similar studies Identify other similar studies Determine “referent disciplines” Determine “referent disciplines” Refine your research proposition/question Refine your research proposition/question Find the right keywords Find the right keywords Follow citation links Follow citation links Contact authors of relevant research Contact authors of relevant research

Step Three: Design the Study Types of Research – determined by nature of the question Types of Research – determined by nature of the question Descriptive (does not infer causation) Descriptive (does not infer causation) Often uses qualitative techniques Often uses qualitative techniques Correlational (does not infer causation) Correlational (does not infer causation) Often uses quantitative techniques Often uses quantitative techniques Causal (often used to test hypotheses derived from theory) Causal (often used to test hypotheses derived from theory) Usually uses quantitative techniques Usually uses quantitative techniques

Step Three: Design the Study Types of Research Methods: Types of Research Methods: Survey Survey Questionnaire Questionnaire Interview Interview Use existing data Use existing data Case study Case study Goal is to use multiple sources to “triangulate” and develop a logical explanation for events Goal is to use multiple sources to “triangulate” and develop a logical explanation for events Experiment Experiment Laboratory Laboratory Field study Field study

Step Four: Conduct the Study Use existing measurement tools (e.g., questionnaires) whenever possible Use existing measurement tools (e.g., questionnaires) whenever possible Particularly if conducting causal research, get the help of someone trained in appropriate research methodologies Particularly if conducting causal research, get the help of someone trained in appropriate research methodologies Get approval from Human Subjects Committee Get approval from Human Subjects Committee Conduct a pilot Conduct a pilot

Model for Causal Research From

Validity – the issue of “proving” causality From

Step Five: Writing the Paper Goal is to develop a compelling story: Goal is to develop a compelling story: Here’s what’s known in this area (literature review) Here’s what’s known in this area (literature review) Here’s what’s not known Here’s what’s not known The question/proposition The question/proposition Explanation of research design and implementation (methodology) Explanation of research design and implementation (methodology) Analysis and results Analysis and results Conclusion(s) Conclusion(s) Implications and future research Implications and future research

Step Six: Sharing the Results Conferences Conferences Great place to get feedback Great place to get feedback Find colleagues with which to collaborate Find colleagues with which to collaborate Generally higher rate of acceptance than journals Generally higher rate of acceptance than journals Journals Journals Which journals did you find useful in your literature review? Which journals did you find useful in your literature review?

Value of Conducting Research Intellectually stimulating Intellectually stimulating Gain new perspectives Gain new perspectives Answer questions of interest Answer questions of interest Inform institutional problem-solving process Inform institutional problem-solving process Indicator of professionalism Indicator of professionalism