week 4 responds
arnita
weekrespondscled745.docxBryan Pate
4:16pmJul 22 at 4:16pm
The first and third chapters of the dissertation serve to “[set] the stage for your study” and guide the reader in “[moving from the general to the specific” (Roberts, 2010, 123). In addition to this. The researcher thoroughly describes the process of the research being conducted including design, population and sample, instrumentation, data collection procedures, data analysis, and limitations. It is important that both of these elements of the dissertation do well in guiding and convincing the reader the validity of the topic being researched and the researched conducted itself. Essentially, it serves to authenticate what follows it.
Upon first glance, it would appear that these two chapters are very similar to the research profile as they contain many of the same elements. The difference, however, is mostly found in the detail and purpose of each.
According to Dr. Gary Bredfeldt, the research profile “gives you [a] 30,000 foot view on your work” (Liberty, 4:15). It is intended to be a concise overview of your study that may easily be used as a general overview for outside readers or a point of reference for the researcher. Conversely, the introduction and methodology portion of the dissertation should be precise and detailed in their approach so as to leave no gaps in the research process this would deem it invalid (Roberts, 2010).
The research profile is a useful process and tool for the dissertation writing process for a couple of reasons. First, it helps the researcher to remain focused as it acts as a “thinking and organizational tool” (Liberty, 2:38). Because the profile is able to offer detail while still remaining brief, the writer is able to quickly and efficiently discern what new elements and directions of research are relevant to the topic at hand. In addition to this, the profile is a great tool to use as an “conversation and advising document” (Liberty, 3:12). Since it is a brief description of the research purpose, questions, and methodology, outside voices who have no direct relationship with the research are able to provide adequacy and appropriate counsel, as they will have a clear understanding of the direction and focus of the study.
Since this document can also act as a sort of outline to the study, the remainder of the prospectus and eventually the dissertation is essentially expanding on the work of the research profile. It allows the writer to have a full picture perspective on each decision that is made.
Citations
Liberty. Developing the Research Profile [Video].
Roberts, C.M. (2010). The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation. Corwin Press.
5:57pmJul 22 at 5:57pm
The two documents are very close in nature. The easy way to describe the research profile is the job description for the job you are marketing. The research profile is different in its function in that it does not have the robust explanation of the job. The similarities are what the job entails, and the differences are the descriptive elements within the document. For example, both cover the essentials: problem statement, purpose statement, research questions, delimitations, defined populations, sampling of that population, methodological design, proposed instrumentation, and limitations of generalization. However, the Research Profile required the research to identify the range of competencies possessed by the research or needed for them to attain to accomplish the job described. It also required the five essential sources of research that are relevant to the research wanted to conduct. The Dissertation on the other hand required definition of terms used in the study, significance of the study, and chapter summary. It also wanted the research to identify ethical considerations for the study. The last difference would be the formatting for the two documents. The Research Profile is APA light in comparisons to the Dissertation.
The difficult of research design is that it requires the research to define a specific problem that exists. It also requires that the researcher narrows that problem to a specific phenomena or measurable problem. It also requires the researcher to determine the methodology to measure or understand the problem. This requires understanding the problem in such a way that the person can determine best perspective to measure or understand the research problem. The Dissertation uses the Research Profile as a guide to complete the problem. Once the Research creates a research profile it informs the prospectus and the project in and of it itself. Therefore, the importance of the Research Profile is significant. It provides a clear pathway for the research. It creates a simple elevator speech to communicating the work the researcher attempts. You can derive interest and support because you can share the problem set with clarity and in a succinct manner.
This is instrumental to success in the dissertation process. It focuses the efforts of the research by containing the endeavor to a specific workflow. This process also contains the work to intent of the problem. This process also removes shotgun researching, where the person spends tremendous amount of time understanding information not pertinent or germane to the problem. It also conducive to deriving support from peers, faculty, and librarians.
