INTEGRATED STUDIES PROC 6000 COURSE
METHODOLOGY AND PROCESSES
APPLIED RESEARCH AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL
Webster University
Metro Campus
WASHINGTON, DC
Guidelines
• Class attendance
• Timely submission of assignments
• Visit class website daily
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All emails through class website or webster.edu
Assignments submitted within the website
Discussion forums available
More about class website on next page
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Student Learning Assessment
The PROC 6000 Course will be assessed using Webster's
Assessment Tool. This must be completed by each student
prior to the end of the term and consists of an ungraded
assessment of all 6000 courses ongoing within Webster during
this academic year. The results are non-attributable; however,
the entire assessment must be completed and submitted at the
same time you submit the final written project prior to
completion of this course. The Assessment will be uploaded
into the Assessment Assignment Area. We will discuss it
further during our class sessions.
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WEBSTER UNIVERSITY INTEGRATED STUDIES
RESEARCH GOALS ARE:
• STUDENTS SHOULD ACQUIRE AN APPRECIATION OF
APPLIED RESEARCH AS A METHODOLOGY
• STUDENTS SHOULD GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH APPLIED
RESEARCH
• STUDENTS SHOULD DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF
APPLIED RESEARCH IN THEIR FIELD SO THEY CAN SOLVE
MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.
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PROC 6000 Process Flow
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APPLIED RESEARCH COMPONENTS
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APPLIED RESEARCH
• Aims to develop recommendations on
management problems
• Based upon an actual situation analysis
• Develop a premise to focus research
• Uses primary/secondary research to resolve
business problems
• Does not seek to discover new theory
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SECONDARY RESEARCH (DEVELOP
MODEL)
• Libraries
(http://libguides.webster.edu/Procurement)
• Government
• Trade Associations
• Private Firms
• Existing Case Studies
• Historical Research
• Case Studies
• Internet
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PRIMARY RESEARCH (VALIDATE MODEL)
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Descriptive Survey
Historical Survey
Quantitative Study
Experimental Study
Empirical Analysis
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DEVELOPING A SITUATION ANALYSIS AND
PREMISE
• Situation Analysis – analysis of a given
situation is usually a situation that warrants a
change. Use your own knowledge and
experience plus secondary research to develop
your analysis.
• Premise – a statement used in applied research
stating what is expected to be found in the
research, or what will result after the
prescribed action is taken.
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More about the Premise
A. Source of Premise
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Lectures and reading in courses
Exploratory reading on a particular topic
Practical, on the job, problem awareness
Reading specifics prior research
Prior research experience
B. Narrow the premise
C. Clarify the premise
D. State the premise precisely
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PRIMARY RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
• QUALITATIVE – SUBJECTIVE
• HISTORICAL – SURVEY
• QUANTITATIVE –
STATISTICAL/EXPERIMENTAL
• EMPIRICAL - OBSERVATION
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Structure and Assignments
Week Section
Description
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(Draft)
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Situation Analysis: Describe the situation your project will explore.
Note: Your completed situation analysis will include a description of
the industry, the organization involved, its culture and the
competitive environment together with the issue to be explored in
your project. (Example: A description of a workplace with declining
productivity.) Also, include those factors that caused you to select
your particular subject.
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(Draft)
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Premise: Present a concise positive statement of what you propose to
substantiate by the completion of the research project. Qualitative
terms must be defined, and the premise should be measurable
(Example: That productivity has been improved by Human Relations
training.) In the example premise, the following terms would be
defined in a presentation entitled "Definitions" immediately
following the premise statements: a)Productivity, b) Improved, & c)
Human Relations Training
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(Draft)
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Disclaimers or Study Limitations: Because the student realistically
can deal only with limited variables, there should be statements of
other variables not entertained in the study which could distort
results or findings. (Example: The impact of unexpected massive
layoffs.)
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Structure and Assignments (cont.)
Week Section
Description
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(Draft)
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Work Plan I - Applied Research Methodology: This section tells
what primary and secondary research methodology will be used in
the paper. Blank survey instruments should be included.
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(Draft)
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Work Plan II - Core Course Content: This section should contain a
discussion of which components from each core course were
applicable and integrated into the project. It is expected that the
student will use this section to be introspective about what he/she has
learned in the program and carefully detail the subject matter which
facilitated accomplishment of the project. It is recognized that the
student may utilize only limited portions of content from various
courses. If a particular course did not apply, state why. A significant
focus of the student's evaluation will be the demonstrated ability to
synthesize, apply and integrate the learning experienced in the core
courses of the Webster program.
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(Draft)
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Project Development: The student will include a Project Plan
consisting of a Gantt Chart depicting planned vs. actual progress for
completion of this effort.
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Structure and Assignments (cont.)
Week Section
Description
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Draft)
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Abstract of 3 to 5 pages: The abstract to be presented will be a brief
synopsis and will include a summary of the project, the situation
analysis, premise, study limitations, work plan, key findings,
conclusions, acceptance, rejection or modification of the premise,
and recommendations. (Two copies to be given to instructor at time
student presents oral report.)
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Actual Paper: The body of the paper will be 20-30 pages of original
work. Use appropriate academic or business style.
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Bibliography/Footn0te5 or Endnotes: Any presentation style is
acceptable as long as it is consistently applied
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Research Documentation: Questionnaires, tables, exhibits, charts
and other inclusions must be provided as part of the project paper and
may be placed in an appendix to your paper.
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1-10
Finalize all previously submitted drafts (Sections 1-7) and submit
Final Paper in one complete Microsoft Word format.
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Protocols
While any appropriate academic writing style and
format may be proposed by the student, the
Webster University - Bolling AFB Campus
recommends that "A Manual for Writers", by Kate
L. Turabian, APA, or another guide acceptable to
the instructor.
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Protocols (cont.)
• Include a Table of Contents.
• Clearly label each section and topic.
• Start each new topic on a separate sheet.
• Number the pages.
• Provide the footnotes and bibliography in a
consistent fashion.
• Pay particular attention to spelling, grammar and
punctuation.
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Protocols (cont.)
• Give appropriate recognition to any quotations or
content presented which may not be the student's
own original work product.
• Make all submissions in typewritten format,
double spaced on 8.5" x 11" paper in a suitable
binder.
• Understand that the original work and abstracts
will remain in the possession of Webster
University.
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Protocols (cont.)
• Demonstrate understanding of the findings as
evidenced by your conclusions, reassessment of
the premise, and recommendations.
• Assess your findings in relationship to the
literature, but more importantly, to your own
original premise.
• Recommend follow up actions or further study
based on your findings
• Offer a copy of your work to any company which
offers their resources to you in doing your
research.
• Honor requests for anonymity
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Questions?
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