Introduction
The notion of praxis, or reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it (Freire, 1970), is at the heart of doing good research — theory informs practice, and practice, in turn, informs theory. NCLC 203 has introduced you to the nature and goals of social and behavioral research, as well as exposed you to a wide variety of research methods used in analyzing and exploring social issues. The learning goals for this assignment are to:
- Consider the effects of different ways of knowing on research and practice;
- Practice doing library and database searches to identify relevant research articles;
- Introduce you to the process of critiquing research methods, results, and interpretations;
- Deepen your understanding of research related to your specific seminar issue; and
- Evaluate the meaning of research results in light of your own beliefs and group research project
The Assignment
This is a three part project: 1) learn skills to locate contemporary research articles relevant to the class inquiry; 2) learn to evaluate, critique and synthesize these articles; and 3) reflect on the application of articles to group project as well as self as a knower and researcher.
Phase I: Locating Articles
Using the library research strategies reviewed in class, you are to select two research articles – representing two DIFFERENT inquiry traditions (qualitative, quantitative) related to the subject you are addressing in your RING. Selected articles must be approved by your seminar leader, as noted in the timeline below.
Phase II: Describing Research
For each article, examine the following elements of the study: introduction section and research question; literature review; presentation of research results; methods section; discussion of results. Provide a brief final reflection that integrates your findings and considers your own ways of knowing in how you interpret this research.
Phase III: Making Connections
The phase of the assignment is to write a 6-8 page paper situating the two studies you reviewed in your own experience and exploring connections to the work you are conducting in your RING. Please discuss your own perspective about the relevance of the research you reviewed. Possible areas for discussion may include: which inquiry tradition is more aligned with your own beliefs about knowledge and how people come to know?; how do your own experiences shape your critique of the articles and how you might apply any results?; how might you step out of your preferred way of knowing and consider the question from alternative viewpoints?; how does your learning from this assignment inform the work you are doing in the RINGS? What are possible practical applications of these articles?
Phase IV: Integrating Ideas
The final version of the praxis assignment integrates the draft developed in Phase 3 (total 7-10 pages), with a brief paragraph describing what changed as a result of the peer review process.
Timeline
| Due Date | Assignment | Guidelines and Expectations | |
| 2/3 | In-class writing | Reflect on different ways of knowing. | |
| 2/20, 11:00 pm | Phase I
Locating Articles (15 points) |
Locate two articles related to your RING topic. Submit Phase 1 completed form to Pebblepad gateway for faculty approval. The form should include full citations, and identification of methodology. Copies of each article should be attached.
Use skills from workshop on library searches, and reading on “how to research a social issue” to help locate articles. Your seminar leader will also have suggestions related to the community partner. |
|
| 3/3, 11:00 pm | Phase II
Describing Research (25 points) |
Complete Praxis 2 Worksheet that assesses elements of the research process applied to the two chosen articles.
Submit to Pebblepad gateway for faculty review. |
|
| 4/28, 9:30am | Phase III
Making Connections (50 points) |
In-class peer review. Bring a hard copy of your final paper draft to class. This full draft should include: revisions to the phase 2 worksheet, and reflection and discussion of the articles and their relevance to your RING research
For the peer review: Attach a list of 2-3 things you would like peer reviewers to help you with. |
|
| 5/6, noon | Phase IV
Integrating Ideas (60 points) |
Final version includes responses to the critiques in Phase 3 (total 7-10 pages), along with a brief paragraph description of what was changed as a result of the peer review process.
Due to Pebblepad gateway. |