New Resources in the Center for Research Quality

Today we have a guest post from Dr. Daniel Salter from the Center for Research Quality.

 

Thanks again for letting me “guest post” on this blog, Dr. Stadtlander. I thought I’d take this opportunity to highlight a few new items on the CRQ website that would be of particular interest to researchers just starting the dissertation.

 

Updated Dissertation Prospectus Guide

 

This past year, we conducted a formative evaluation to fine-tune our prospectus process, by seeking feedback from students, faculty, and program leaders. Students can expect a few key things in the updated Dissertation Prospectus Guide. Most importantly, the basic content expectations for writing the prospectus have not changed. Instead, we worked to clarify and update the guidance in the annotated outlines; to increase the fidelity between guides, the templates, and the dissertation; and to include some basic information on My Doctoral Research (MyDR). We have also provided some evidence-based "tips" on successful prospectus approval. You should download it now (from the PhD forms area) if you are in this phase.

 

Sources of Data for Research - A Primer

 

Because we are seeing a wider variety of projects at the University, we developed Sources of Data for Research. This primer provides some very general thoughts and guidelines for using all types of data in all phases of the capstone process. To organize these sources, a taxonomy was developed based on the nature of the data, their state of existence, and purpose for their collection. Examples are provided for each of the eight types of sources, many of which might not be considered as typical data collection strategies. This primer might help you “think out of the box” a little with your project.

 

Data Resources for Secondary Analysis

 

And speaking of sources of data, we have launched a new space devoted specifically for existing databases that student may access. You might be surprised to see what is available. Just remember that the perfect SPSS file is not sitting on some server somewhere, waiting for you to download it for your dissertation. Sometimes, a secondary analysis can take even more work than collecting original data.

 

Early IRB Consultation

 

Normally, addressing specific ethical challenges is part of proposal development. In projects involving vulnerable populations and/or sensitive topics, however, a student may benefit from a discussion with the IRB at the prospectus stage. To help students and faculty better perceive when such a formative discussion would be useful, the IRB has posted examples in “Red Flag Issues that Need an Early IRB Consultation” on the IRB FAQs and Guides section of our website. Lots of other good guides there as well, especially for clinicians and others working in the behavioral sciences.

 

 

Next time we will celebrate 2015!  Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu