Category: Unit 10

How can I know that I can trust what I am reading?

You can trust what you are reading in two simple steps:

Step 1. Enroll in LDRS591.

Step 2. Read Understanding research: A consumer’s guide.

In all seriousness, it is difficult for one to trust what they are reading and be 100 percent certain in the truthfulness or reliability. For example, I know I parked my truck outside my house, and it is likely it is still there. But, I cannot be 100% certain it is still there without physically seeing it or touching it. Even then, I cannot be 100% certain as one could argue my senses are deceiving me and the truck is in fact not where I believed I had parked it. However, when it comes to research there are some things one can do to increase the likelihood that the research studies they are reading can be trusted:

1. Examine the authors of the study.
2. How was the study published? Research the journal. Was it peer reviewed?
3. Who funded the study?
4. Are there any known biases?
5. Use your mind – think critically and learn how to evaluate arguments and research methods.

How do I know the research has been performed competently?

Can I copy and paste my first answer?

Plano-Clark and Creswell, provide an excellent guide to evaluating research studies. I would pay close attention to the introduction and methods section. Did the authors choose an appropriate research design? How did they collect their data? How were participants selected? How was the data analyzed? These are just some of the questions I would ask myself insinuation with the tables provided by Clark and Creswell in Understanding Research: A consumer’s guide.

How do I know the research is reported honestly?

I don’t. I wasn’t there recording the answers. I haven’t seen the original surveys. But I can examine the method of the research. What research design was used and why was it chosen? Who were the participants and why were they chosen? Did the authors explain and justify their tools of analysis? These are just some of the questions one can ask when determining the reliability of a research study.

How do I know the findings presented are consistent with what other researchers would conclude?

Complete a literature review of the topic you are studying. Is that why are final assignment is a formal literature review? It is all making sense now! : )

Discussion Question:

We can all agree LDRS 591 will leave a lasting impression on our professional lives, but how has LDRS 591 affected your personal life? For example, have any long-held personal beliefs you thought to be true were being supported by faulty evidence or a lack of evidence altogether?

One final question. How many times did you spell “Learning Activity” incorrectly as your prepared your blog posts?  I’ll confess it was a 50/50 chance I would type “LEArning Atvity.”

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.  1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

The Bible is clear, as Christians we must not only have reasons that support our beliefs but also be prepared to defend our faith. In other words, our faith is based on evidence and fact, not on subjective feelings. Likewise, as a someone that strives to be a transformational servant leader, my decisions must be rooted in evidence.

If your beliefs and decision are based on evidence, it will increase your credibility not only as a leader but also as a person. As a result, it will increase the trust others place in you, which will improve your influence and ability to lead effectively.

Why re-invent the wheel? Many leaders had come before us and solved many similar problems we are currently facing. If there is a proven solution supported by evidence, you would be foolish not take it into account. I find far too often people waste their time trying to find a solution to a problem that has already been solved.

There was something else, but it slipped my mind so I will continue with some unfiltered thoughts of evidence-based decision making. We assume our doctors are making decisions rooted in evidence. If we care about our followers and developing those around us, then we ought to base our decisions on evidence as well. Finally, don’t try to be a hero. As I mentioned before there are already a ton of solutions available to many of our problems, if our decisions are founded on evidence then it is more likely you’ll find your choices are aligned with best practices.

Everyday everyone makes decisions imagine what the world would look like if everyone made those decisions based on evidence instead of emotion. What a world it would be.

In unit 1, I discussed the factors that influence my decision-making process as a leader. I explained how my personal beliefs and values, the mission, vision, and value statement of the organization, research, and the examining the big picture all play a role in my decision making.

First, I would ask myself, “Is my decision consistent an faithful to my faith in Christ?”.

Second, “Does my decision align with the mission, vision, and values of the organization?”

Third, “Is my decision aligned with best practices? Does evidence support it?”

Finally, “Does my decision support the overall growth of the organization?”

As the course comes to an end my overall approach to making decisions has changed very little. However, the course has refined my research skills which have allowed me how to be more efficient at locating relevant and reliable sources, it introduced different research designs and provided a thorough overview of APA.

Time is our most valuable commodity, and the course has provided many helpful tips that I can use to maximize my time when attempting to locate relevant articles but also evaluate them. Online databases can be overwhelming, but if one has the right tools to navigate them, then they can become a powerful tool when conducting research. LDRS 591 has not only provided those tools but also allowed each one of us to apply them and witness how valuable they can be.

As I mentioned, time is valuable, and once it is gone, we can never get it back. I often find myself reading and scanning articles longer then I ought to. The course has taught us how to efficiently and effectively evaluate each section of research studies to determine if it is worth the time one must spend to read and comprehend it. There is no point citing a study that is not credible or reliable, LDRS591 has shown me how to determine the credibility and reliability in a time-efficient manner.

Perhaps the most important thing I learned was how I could apply the research in my personal and professional life, specifically action research. I could spend hours upon hours reading a research study about this and that, but what good is it if I cannot apply it to our personal or professional lives? Action research provides a simple model anyone can use in their own lives to solve real problems they are facing.

Unit 10 Learning Activities