Presented to the Western Illinois University College of Education and Human Sciences

Research Symposium April 25, 2011

Kerrie Bishop, LEJA Graduate StudentAdvisors: Professor Jill J. MyersDr. Kenneth A. Clontz

From Topic to Title to Thesis: Formulating an Idea into a

Research Project

Writing a Thesis is Like Playing Baseball

Like Baseball?

Your committee is comprised of not only coaches, but also of team players and umpires

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started or getting that “perfect hit” (Chapter I)

The bases are like the rest of the thesis (Chapters II, III, IV, &V), stages you accomplished as you go

Most of the work is getting to 3rd base (Chapter IV), then you’re in the “homestretch” (Chapter V)

Some may strike out; others get the home run Your readers are like the fans of a game

This Presentation

This presentation discusses the process of completing a master's thesis. I include the initial consideration of selecting a topic, determining specifically what and how to study it, researching prior findings, conducting the research, and reporting on the findings.  Specific considerations, processes, issues, and the research design of this researcher's thesis are included to assist current or future graduate students with their research.

Choosing a Topic to Study

What are your interests and what do you expect to find?

What prior research has been completed on your topic?

Is your topic too broad or too narrow?

What type of research will you conduct?

Research Choices

Exploratory research-structures and identifies new problems

Constructive research-develops solutions to a problem

Empirical research-tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical evidence

Research Types

There are 2 distinct types of research: Primary research-the collection of data

that does not yet exist

Secondary research-summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research

Research Methods

In social sciences, 2 research methods can be applied, depending on the properties of the subject matter and on the objective of the research:

Qualitative research-the understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior (qualities)

Quantitative research- systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships (quantities)

Complete the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Process

What kind of research are you conducting? What are you studying? Human Subjects? Are they within a special or protected

population? Secondary data? Documents? Exemptions?

Choosing Your Thesis Committee Members

Choose professors with knowledge, expertise, or an interest in the topic

Who will chair the committee? What direction can the chair give you for

formulating the thesis? Other committee members: What assistance

can they provide? Do all members of the committee work well

with each other?

Setting Up the Thesis Chapters

Chapter I: Introduction Chapter II: Literature Review Chapter III: Research Methodology Chapter IV: Data Presentation Chapter V: Summary, Conclusions, and

Recommendations*It is important to follow all of the guidelines

of the Graduate School!

Chapter I

Introduction to the topic and why it is important to study it

What has been written about it? Include interesting aspects about the topic Popular readings and scholarly work should

be included Include history, statistics, prior research Tell the reader what kind of study you are

conducting

Chapter II

Theoretical Orientation Definitions relevant to the topic must be included Begin by conducting a general search to

determine what has already been written on the topic

Discuss past significant findings on the topic Include the pioneering researchers’ works, if

possible Search for articles and books within recent years

Chapter III

Methodology: What method of research are you going to choose?

Are you conducting survey research, analyzing secondary data, or conducting an experiment?

Time constrictions - Can you get your data? What are your independent and dependent variables

(IVs and DVs) What are your hypotheses? What statistical package are you going to use? SPSS,

Microcase, and PSAW? Any limitations to your research? Reliability? Missing

data? Low response rates?

Chapter IV

Frequency tables: Are there enough findings to conduct statistical analyses?

Collapsing variables and recoding: How to do it Running statistics: Is there a correlation, a

relationship between the variables? Include descriptive statistics and tables Is there variance within your variables? Include means and medians for variables with

numbers (i.e., age, income amounts, time amounts)

Chapter V

Summary of your findings Are your findings statistically significant

within the existing body of literature? Are there disagreements and why? Policy statements: How can others use the

data and findings? Research limitations Recommendations for future research Tie everything together and write the abstract

This Researcher’s Thesis in Progress

Titled: Factors Associated with Help-Seeking Adult Domestic Violence Victims: An Exploratory Study of Client Intake Information in Four Midwestern Counties

My exploratory study examines information compiled through adult client intake forms completed by advocates of a domestic violence agency by responses given to them from victims seeking various forms of assistance

Summaries of the intake forms from two full fiscal years (July 01, 2008 to June 30, 2010) are being analyzed to determine whether the services domestic violence victims seek and receive are dependent on other variables (i.e., type of violence experienced, the relationship to the offender, and victim and offender demographic information)

SPSS is being utilized for statistical analysis The following slides contain the forms used by the domestic violence

agency when completing intakes of domestic violence victims seeking assistance

Independent Variables &Dependant Variables

Independent Variables (IVs) Dependent Variables (DVs)*Victims’ Sex Services Sought*Victims’ Age Services Received*Victims’ Ethnicity **Primary Presenting Issue*Victims’ Race **Other Presenting IssuesVictims’ Employment StatusVictims’ Education LevelVictims’ Marital StatusVictims’ Pregnancy StatusVictims’ # of Dependents**Primary Presenting IssueOffense Location**Other Presenting IssuesVictims’ Income SourceReferral Source*Victims’ Special NeedsOffenders’ SexOffenders’ RaceRelationship to Offender *major independent variablesOffenders’ Age **can be an independent variable or aOffenders’ Visitation Rights with Children dependent variable

Any Questions?