Discussion Question

Please provide a 200-word response to each student response below. Be sure to research/cite/reference sources in each discussion.

1st Post:

The most importance steps assessed initially include step wo the creation of a search query and step three, the identification of relevant literature sources. While step one is the most crucial step, at the graduate level and course work, understanding and the capability of creating key words and phrases to search has been developed. When looking at most important steps, the order of importance established by Hyatt and Roberts, 2019 reveals the essential flow. Effectively conducting a literature search, the calculated steps affords the researcher the opportunity to expand a search by focusing on key words associated with a dissertation topic. Because certain key words in phrases in a search query will produce an overabundance of information, step three begins the process of identifying the key literature for the chosen dissertation topic (Hyatt and Roberts, 2019).

            In step two in the course reading, the importance of noting credibility of the source prompts the researchers to beware of trustworthy literature. For an example, a query on the internet yields information from anyone and fact check is not necessary for the information.  Therefore, when the researcher transcends into step three, the development of pertinent material. Data bases become key in the literature search. The guess work on the credibility of the source being reliable increases. The data bases include collegiate libraries, discipline specialized published works, and access to secondary resources (Hyatt and Roberts, 2019). 

Hyatt, L. & Roberts, C. (2019).  THE DISSERTATION JOURNEY: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Writing, and Defending Your Dissertation [eBook, 3rd edition]. Corwin. https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B07H4sV5J6&ref_=kwl_kr_ivrec_1

2nd post

Of the ten steps to getting started in our text, I chose #1 “purpose” and #3 “key variables” to begin my dissertation research (Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, p.114) For the two most important steps to starting the literature review, I chose #1 “identify key words or descriptors” and #2 “create the search query” (Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, p.116). 

The purpose of my research is to qualitatively determine perceptions of faculty 1) knowledge of assessment 2) role of the faculty member in assessment 3) formative and summative assessment in online courses 4) assessment as part of the institutional effectiveness plan. Depending on the subjects, I may use a case study. Either way I plan on using an existing instrument. I am looking specifically for an open-ended instrument to be followed up with telephone interviews. In the dissertation I found last week, three theories and a model were used as underpinning for the study: “the Continuous Cycle of Teaching and Learning Transactional Distance Theory, transformation reflection theory, expectancy-value theory, and the Community of Inquiry Model” (Pottinger, 2021, p. 5). Pottinger (2021) used a case study approach with a group of 15 full-time online faculty at various colleges within the same southwestern American university. The investigator also used observation as she was an embedded observer in these faculty member’s online courses. 

As a former medical librarian (I have had a long and varied career in my 61 years), I understand the importance of “identifying key words or descriptions” (Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, p.116). When creating my search query in the ProQuest Central database, I used Boolean logic to specify my search with the word AND. My search strategy was faculty perspectives AND student outcomes AND higher education AND qualitative study AND United States. I used limiters of dissertation, English, and 2020-01-01 to present. As a note to all, when searching ProQuest Central do not check peer-reviewed or no dissertations will appear. I learned this the hard way and not even the virtual librarians could figure out what I was doing wrong. 

 

Leedy, P. D., Ormrod, J.E. & Johnson, L.R. (2019). Practical research: Planning and design. Pearson

Middaugh, M. F. (2010).  Planning and assessment in higher education: Demonstrating institutional effectiveness. Jossey-Bass

3rd Post:

As I progress with the “preparation” of my dissertation (Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, p.115) I must move on to the next two steps. These next steps include # 3 “evaluation of relevant resources” and #4 “search and collect relevant materials” (Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, p.120, 123). Evaluation of relevant resources takes me right back to my time as a medical librarian and my work with many different database subscriptions. The mistake would be for me to rule out databases such as Cinahl (the databases for nursing and allied health) just because this is not a medical topic. In fact, I may be able to find a few good resources here because there could be important educational leadership topics in nursing like assessment and online learning. Also, when I was in graduate school, I worked for the HaPI database. I will be going here to the Health and Psychosocial Instruments database to look for survey instruments and questionnaires to see what resources are available rather than re-inventing the wheel. I will also look at instruments used in the dissertation I already found on my topic to see if 1) I would want to use them or a version of them 2) see if these instruments are available for use. 

To search and collect relevant materials, I will be looking for the following: historical aspects of faculty roles, importance of study, gaps in the literature, and room for future research. When I do the literature review, I will start broad and then funnel to the narrow. Historical works to be collected are the changing of faculty roles with online learning, moving of faculty away from working at only one school, and movement toward teaching only instead of the use of release time for assessment and other tasks (Middaugh, 2010). The importance of the study will include faculty perceptions of assessment: including who should be responsible and how it should be completed in the online setting. Gaps in the literature may include materials which show the differences between formative and summative assessment, evolving role of faculty in the assessment process, and how assessment impacts institutional effectiveness and meeting accreditation criteria. I am not yet sure where future research will lead yet, but this will reveal itself as I delve into existing literature resources. 

Leedy, P. D., Ormrod, J.E. & Johnson, L.R. (2019). Practical research: Planning and design. Pearson

4th Post:

Based on personal experience and assessment, steps three and four become key in the next phase to a successful literature review process. Once the topic focus yields pertinent literature, the researcher ensures the material generate credible material. The study earns the respect and trust of the reader. The reader/audience desires credible information. Poorly audited/proofed information from random sources creates educational and scientific backlash. Literature from primary sources provide trust. The reader has access to fact check. This generates continues research support from the community/stakeholders. Knowing how to organize the literature with a tracking system proves to provide the researcher efficiency. Holding onto the key words and phrases that yield literature of specific interest, this allows for continued focus ongoing searching (Hyatt and Roberts, 2019).

            Having the dissertation committee/advisor onboard, the researcher gains better understanding into organization and bibliographic style. In step five, critical reading and summarizing the readings becomes foundational. Writing a review/summary of the literature read necessitates providing credibility. The readings organized in a coded or matrix format creates a grand view for the researcher highlighting common trends and themes in the literature (Hyatt and Roberts, 2019).