Month: October 2018

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Unit 6

Part A

Evaluation of the Research Design for the research paper, The Influence of Servant Leadership on Restaurant Employee Engagement (Carter & Baghurst, 2014):

  1. A research design guides the conduct of the qualitative study – Rating 3 – the researchers cited a substantial amount of literature. The researchers utilized a phenomenology design.
  2. The choice of the research design is appropriate and justified – Rating 3 – the choice of the research design is appropriate. Utilizing a phenomenology design is a good approach toward answering the research question.
  3. Good qualitative data collection procedures are used – Rating 3 – the researchers utilized a focus group for the collection of data and previous company survey results.
  4. Good qualitative data analysis procedures are used Rating 3 – The researchers utilized a 7 step process to analyse the data.
  5. Good qualitative results and interpretations are reported – Rating 3 – The researchers reported the focus groups results as well as grouped participants when comments were similar in nature.
  6. The study used a rigorous research design – Rating 3 – the researchers included and built on former knowledge, referencing prior research as well as prior processes.
  7. The use of the qualitative research design addressed the study’s purpose – Rating 3 – the study fulfilled the intent and answers the research question.

Overall Quality of the research is high with a score of 21/21

Part B

Evaluation of the participants and data collection procedures for the research paper The Influence of Servant Leadership on Restaurant Employee Engagement (Carter & Baghurst, 2014)

  1. The sampling strategy is appropriate and justified – Rating 3 – the researchers conducted the focus group in a designated area the employees were comfortable with and was convenient. The researchers provided references to previous studies that indicated that it was justified. They also provided references regarding other best practices such as confidentiality agreements and length of time the focus group was convened.
  2. The sample size is appropriate and justified – Rating 3 – The researchers had a small group with relevant experience. The group was further reduced by creating two separate focus groups.
  3. The data types are appropriate – Rating 3 – the data types were appropriate.
  4. The data are gathered using rigorous qualitative procedures – Rating 3 – the researchers utilize open ended questions to encourage dialogue in the group.
  5. Data collection issue are handled ethically and thoughtfully – Rating 3 – the researchers ensured the participants had the opportunity to sign a confidentiality agreement and ensured the names of the participants would not be included in the final research report.
  6. The selected participants are information rich – Rating 3 – Employees included in the survey had a minimum of 5 years’ experience working at a restaurant that was recognized for servant leadership.
  7. The database provides extensive and credible information about the central phenomenon – Rating 3 – the findings included extensive information about the focus group, what questions were asked, responses, common themes, etc.

Overall rating 21/21 – High Quality

Part C

Evaluation of the data analysis and findings for the research paper The Influence of Servant Leadership on Restaurant Employee Engagement (Carter & Baghurst, 2014)

  1. The analysis process used rigorous qualitative procedures – Rating 3 – the researchers documented, recorded and transcribed comments from the focus group. The researchers also found common themes and followed a 7 step process to analyse the data.
  2. Strategies were used to validate the findings – Rating 3 – as part of the 7 step process in evaluating the data the researchers clustered core themes, identified invariant constituents.
  3. The findings include a description of the people, places, or events in the study – Rating 3 – the researchers describe the participants and why they were appropriate to participate in the focus groups.
  4. The findings include appropriate themes about the central phenomenon – Rating 3 – 5 themes were reported.
  5. The findings relate multiple themes to each other – Rating 3 – the researchers reported the relationship amongst the themes.
  6. That data analysis represents a good qualitative process – Rating 3 – the data analysis was credible and accurate results were gathered.
  7. The findings provide a good exploration of the central phenomenon – Rating 3 – the findings provided information for discussion, suggestions to further research and a conclusion.

Overall assessment is 21/21 High Quality

Part D

As a consumer of research reports the most important aspects one needs to consider in the methods and results section of a high-quality qualitative research report include:

  • The researchers share the method they used to obtain the results.
  • There is a clear description of the overall design.
  • Researchers provide details on participants and why they were considered qualified.
  • Information in the literature includes how the data was collected and analyzed.

Elements of this section that raise questions and may be confusing:

While evaluating the participants and data collection I was confused by what is meant by data types. I’m looking for more information on data types utilized in qualitative research.

How can you apply this knowledge to your work context or current leadership experience?

In my current role, I can see a qualitative research report being of considerable value. As a leader in an indigenous organization, there is not a great deal of research conducted on indigenous economic development in Canada. Many First Nations are new to economic development and work closely with their lands and resources department on rights and title issues. As the rights and title legal climate is constantly changing, so too is the economic development front and therefore indigenous businesses need to quickly adapt. One unique approach my company has taken is to maintain a strategic mandate despite the current legal climate. The approach is to operate the business in a humble way, and to stick to key principles such as capacity building. By doing so my company has built a very unique operation that is not found amongst many other nations. At this point in time my nation is receiving interest from other nations, banks, lawyers and others working in the field of indigenous economic development, to better understand our business model. I do believe it is a business model that can be shared with other nations that are struggling to get economic development off the ground. Recently I’ve been in discussions with a researcher whom is interested in studying our business model and I believe a qualitative research report would be the most appropriate, given the lack of literature available on the topic. I now feel more confident and better equipped to work with the researchers to develop a study on our business model. It will also be interesting to not let my biases slip in, but will look to the experienced researchers to implement methods to prevent this from happening.

My question to my classmates I am curious to know is, how you too might have managed your biases when participating in a qualitative research study or when reading a qualitative study?

References

Danon Carter, & Timothy Baghurst. (2014). The Influence of Servant Leadership on Restaurant Employee Engagement. Journal of Business Ethics, (3), 453. https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2420/10.1007/s10551-013-1882-0

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Unit 5 – response to post

Question from awalkinthewoods: Out of curiosity, and this may seem like a silly question, but how much do you think your current position and your background education play into your preference for either Quantitative or Qualitative research? Do you think either of those things even play a role or is it solely dependent upon what you are currently trying to achieve (either an explanation or further exploration)?

I think both our work experiences and personal experiences can play a role in the preference for quantitative or qualitative research. Naturally we prefer things we can understand and make sense of. I also believe there is a perception that quantitative data is more credible and scientific in nature and so biases can exist between one or the other. In considering a quantitative or qualitative research reports however, I believe that either or can be credible in nature and differ in quality. In my own work context I can see value in either a quantitative or qualitative approach, but sometimes it comes down to what would be the best way to collect the information to draw a conclusion. There are many factors to consider such as availability of participants, quality of participants or how much time is available to collect the research. Also as we’ve learned, sometimes the research question will drive whether a quantitative or qualitative research report is more suitable.

Another factor comes to mind in terms of a preference is dependent on what current information is available. For example my child has a disability and currently there is a great deal of scientific research with quantitative data to support intervention. That said there is also new and emerging research literature that is available and should not be ignored. Having said that it comes down to budget and how I want to spend my hard earned dollars. In the case of my child I’ve elected to follow the quantitative research literature that is available that provides the most amount of evidence in supporting my child’s ability to improve. Perhaps if I had an unlimited budget I might consider looking at some of the early qualitative research papers that are pointing toward some new types of therapy.

I guess in the end whether it be a qualitative or quantitative research preference, our life experiences, hunches as to the outcomes, time restraints, how far we want to delve into the research, how much current literature on the topic is available, whom the authors are and how driven we are to seek an answer will create biases on whether we prefer qualitative or quantitative research. Hopefully after completing this course we will learn that they both have their value in furthering science based research.

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Unit 4 – blog responses

  I think you ask a very important question that can benefit the rest of the students. First I applaud your humble response. You made me feel much better as I too have been experiencing the same level of difficulty in keeping up with personal demands and school. I would like to send you prayers and positive thoughts to keep going forward. You’ve accomplished so much thus far and the reward will be worth it.

Now moving back to addressing your question. I’m not sure if my response will be helpful but I will do my best to respond. I see you are looking to have the following questions answered: Do you have a mental method, or another method of following all of the concepts and hypotheses being introduced?

In thinking about your question I can relate a personal experience that helps me. I’m not sure however if this will be helpful in your circumstance. In my experience I have more exposure to qualitative research as opposed to quantitative when it comes to my work or school experiences. I feel like informally in life, though we are exposed to both qualitative and quantitative research if we look closely. For example, I mentioned that in my work and school interests I have experience in more qualitative research. At home however I have a child with a disability that is in a program that is dependent on data or quantitative research. When I’m finding a topic difficult to understand or foreign, I try and put it in the context of what I do know in order to make sense of it all. It also helps me to stay focused by engaging my own personal thoughts. I find if I can relate the material  to a personal experience I will also be more likely to remember the material. I won’t lie it does require my extra care and attention and can be frustrating at times. Unfortunately though, like in life there are times when we have to learn and understand the material. I believe we all have gifts in life where our strengths and weaknesses will shine through. Just because it is a weakness though doesn’t mean we are incapable.

Best of luck ACHSAHS-SPRINGS with your continued learning.

 

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Unit 3 – Comments on a walk in the woods

I enjoyed reading the blog from awalkinthewoods, Unit 3 assignment. First I’d like to comment that I like all of the humble responses from all of the students regarding their APA writing experience. The part that I found most interesting about awalkinthewoods post is the experience of attending a speaker event where the speaker provided references for speaking points. We’ve learned about APA writing but I cannot recall reading about speaking engagements. In any case I do think it it is courteous and professional to give credit in a speaking engagement and can add credibility to the speech. There are some APA rules I can see that might have some relevance such as the section on Permission to Quote, Reprint, or Adapt. “You may need written permission from the owner or copyrighted work if you include lengthy quotations or if you include reprinted or adapted tables or figures” (American Psychological Association 2010). Perhaps a little excessive for some audiences however if presented at a major conference where there are a number of subject matter experts its best to air on the side of caution. Thank you awalkinthewoods for sharing this important lesson.

References

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

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Week 2 reply to student post

Would you prioritize research about first nations people done by local authors over the same topic done by outside researchers? What are the advantages and inconveniences of either choice? By E. depressing

I feel qualified to answer the question regarding researching first nations by local authors or by outside researchers. I am a First Nations person and work for my community for the economic arm as described in my opening blog. I will do my best to share my thoughts based on my experience.

Advantages of a local authors:

  • First nations pass down traditional knowledge orally and are careful to share information only with those that are most trusted. There are many examples of local authors that have long standing relationships with indigenous communities and are trusted to share the information respectfully. An example of this type relationship is often with archaeologists. Many communities will work with an archaeologist for their entire career as they are trusted with traditional knowledge and have the best interest of the nation at heart. The archaeologist will also often assist with supporting rights and title and so have quite a bit of experience in conducting research on behalf of a nation.
  • There are some quality local resources that are great sources. A good place to start is call a local indigenous community and ask if their lands department can recommend some local, credible books. Indigenous lands departments can be a great help, in particular in tracking down older publications.

Inconveniences:

  • The amount indigenous subject matter experts might limit your availability of quality research.
  • In thinking about rights and title you need to be careful in examining your sources. There is a great deal of misinformation out there that stems from nations wanting to strengthen their rights and title claims. By utilizing an outside researcher you will likely get a more objective viewpoint.
  • Also be careful that you examine the sources of the researchers. As an indigenous person I often get frustrated with the references and citations even from some of the most qualified researchers. I’ve seen history change because of propaganda of individuals further their rights and title.
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Week One – Reply to other students

“Question from Lara – A parting question for you…

As a leader within your organization, do you find it difficult to challenge past practices that team members continue to use that are no longer justifiable? How do you initiate integrating evidence based changes? What research sources do you use most frequently to build your knowledge base?”

To answer this question I can say that yes sometimes I am challenged at times with past practices that team members continue to use that are no longer justified. I say sometimes because as I grow and learn about Indigenous traditional teachings I become less skeptical and open to practices that I may not have been aware of.

Prior to coming home from my community I came from a very structured environment with sound business practices. The business functioned like a well oiled machine however looking back, I can honestly say that the people working there were not happy. While on the surface it may have been successful I can’t help but think how much more successful it could have been if the employees felt engaged and happy.

In the case of indigenous community practices there is not much research available but instead anecdotal evidence that has been passed on orally from generation to generation. While I think it is important to integrate evidence based changes, I also think it is also important to acknowledge that just because the research isn’t available doesn’t mean that the practice is not right. In the end we all need to work together to be successful and so forcing employees to change without involving them in a discussion first, will only lead to unhappy employees. As leaders I think we need to be open as well that we may not always have the best answer available.

In leadership in my community we live by the seven traditional laws “Since time immemorial, we live by the seven traditional laws that guided our ancestors: health, happiness, generations, generosity, humbleness, forgiveness and understanding” (Kwantlen First Nation, time immemorial). Understanding in this case can go a long way to achieving employee engagement.

References

Unknown (time immemorial). The Kwantlen First Nation [online reference]. https://www.kwantlenfn.ca/

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Unit 5, Assessment

Part A    

In the guidebook, Understanding Research by Plano-Clark and Creswell (2015), they provide the following explanation to describe the differences between Quantitative and Qualitative research:

“In quantitative research the research problem tends to call for:

  • An explanation of the relationship that exist among variables,
  • A measurement of trends in a population” (Plano-Clark and Creswell, 2015, p. 59).

“In qualitative research problems tend to call for:

  • An exploration because little is known about the problem,
  • A detailed description and understanding of a phenomenon” (Plano-Clark and Creswell, 2015, p. 59).

“In quantitative research, researchers identify research problems that call for an explanation of the relationships among variables” (Plano-Clark and Creswell, 2015, p. 59).

“Qualitative Research is best suited for research problems that call for the need to explore and learn from participants because important variables are unknown or insufficient for describing a phenomenon” (Plano-Clark and Creswell, 2015, p. 59).

Assessment of qualitative research

Research Report select written by Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston (2014).

  1. The choice of the research design is appropriate and justified – Rating 3 – the research design was based on previous collection method and were tested against previous results for accuracy. The researchers utilized previously tested collection methods and resulted were tested against previous results for accuracy. As stated “The ESLB scale (Winston & Fields, n.d.) was chosen for its design, brevity, and reliability” (Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston, 2014, p. 74). Also chosen was Laschinger et al.’s (2010) CWEQ II, because it “extends an existing model of workplace empowerment and integrates Kanter’s (1977, 1993) theory of structural power in organizations and Spreitzer’s (1995) notion of psychological empowerment” (Laschinger et al., 2010, P.5). So yes the research design is appropriate and justified.
  2. Good quantitative procedures are used to select and assign participants – Rating 2 – the researchers checked with an outside review board to receive approval prior to the data collection. The researchers selected adults 18 years of age, employed at small businesses. They also worked with a college and received permission to work with adult business students. While the procedure as to selecting participants was approved, it could have been improved by including a larger population base, participants from across the country and also diverse populations.
  3. Good quantitative data collection procedures are used – Rating 2 – A survey link was sent to 156 participants and 130 of the surveys were received. Of the 130, 116 were useable. My reasoning for a score of 2 is because it is not clear how the survey was controlled to ensure that it was in fact the employees and not supervisors responding. For example if the survey was passcode protected it could have ensured the further step in ensuring the data collected was in fact from the intended participants. It was also not described why some of the respondent’s survey results were not useable.
  4. Good quality data analysis procedures were used – Rating 2 – as indicated in the research paper “The Pearson Product-Moment (PPM) correlation coefficient (r) was used to measure the relationship between the participant’s perceptions of their supervisor’s servant leadership and overall empowerment, as well as each empowerment subscale” (Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston, 2014, p. 75). The data could have been better controlled by using a unique passcode to ensure the participants were the correct participants that were requested to participate in the study. A survey link was sent to participants, likely for efficiency but the report does not address control measures that were in place for accuracy.
  5. Good quantitative results and conclusions are reported – Rating 3 – the researched provided a table indicating the result of their study and then further went on to discuss the results of the scores in more detail.
  6. The study used a rigorous research design – Rating 2 – The research design could have been improved by including a larger population based, samples from different parts of the country and more information on the demographics of those that participated in the research.
  7. The use of the quantitative research design addressed the study’s purpose – Rating 3 – As stated in The Relationship Between the Servant Leadership Behaviors of Immediate Supervisors and Followers’ Perceptions of Being Empowered in the Context of Small Business “The purpose of the study was to measure the relationship between followers’ perceptions of the servant leadership of their immediate supervisor and followers’ sense of empowerment in the context of small business” (Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston, 2014, p. 70). Also as quoted under the heading of Small Business, according to Wang and Pouziouris (2010) “There has been little written about small business leaders and servant leadership, and according to Wang and Poutziouris (2010), “research on the leadership in the small business domain remains immature” (p. 350). So yes the research addressed the studies purpose.

Overall score is 17/21 which indicates an adequate quality overall quantitative research report.

Part B

Quality criteria for data collection utilizing research by Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston (2014)…

  1. The sampling strategy is appropriate and justified – Rating 2 – The researcher’s strategy was to utilize email to send the surveys out. There were no details about controls in place to ensure the surveys were completed by the right group. The strategy was not very detailed and appeared like the researchers were looking for a quick turnaround.
  2. The sample size is appropriate and justified – Rating 3 – “The sample size of 116 resulted in a power of 100%, (using Howell, 2013) suggesting the sample size was more than adequate to support the correlation found” (Van Winkle, Allen, Devore & Winston, 2014, p. 76).
  3. High quality instruments are used to gather data – Rating 1 – the instrument used it appears to gather data is an emailed survey. The survey was sent to business owners and employees recruited on campus. There are a number of concerns with this method in that there is not mention on how the surveys were controlled and that steps were put in place to ensure employees were able to complete the survey as opposed to business owners. There is also no mention of anonominity and so the participants may have not been truthful in their responses out of fear of owner retribution.
  4. The data are gathered using ethical quantative procedures – Rating 3 – there does not appear to be any issues related to ethics.
  5. The data are gathered using standardized quantative procedures – Rating 3 – yes the data included previously recognized quantative procedures and the results shared in a table.
  6. The study has a high level of internal validity – Rating 3 – The study utilized numerous other quantitative studies and build on former knowledge. Also the study utilized former knowledge in reviewing the data and comparing result of previous data.
  7. The study has a high level of external validity – Rating 3 – the authors are qualified with credential suitable for this type of report. The report is also published by a respectable and well known Journal publication which means the study would have undergone a peer review.

Overall score 18/21 indicating a high quality collection of quantitative data.

Part C

Evaluation of the data analysis and results utilizing research by Van Winkle, Allen, DeVore & Winston (2014)…

  1. The data was rigorously scored and prepared – Rating 3 – The data was collected using a 5-point Likert scale and so the score was outlined prior to the participants responding to the survey.
  2. Good descriptive analysis were conducted – Rating 3 – The analysis was well written and shared in the results, discussions and findings section. References were providing drawing a correlation to previous known knowledge and newly found knowledge.
  3. Good hypothesis testing procedures were used – Rating 0 – It does not appear that the authors provided any hypothesis.
  4. The results are comprehensive – Rating 1 – I felt the authors had the opportunity to research and provide more analysis then they did. The results shared were minimal and perhaps without having a number of hypothesis to be researched, it did not require extensive results to be shared. I feel like this is a missed opportunity.
  5. The results include sufficient information – Rating 1 – again I did not feel the report provided sufficient information and left me wanting to know more such as how the results might have differed by gender, age and race.
  6. The data analysis represents a good quantitative process – Rating 3 – the author’s analysis in the discussions and findings did correlate back to the quantitative process that was followed.
  7. The results provide a good explanation of the study’s purpose – Rating 3 – the results did indicate that the study’s purpose was met.

Overall quality 14/21 indicating adequate quality results for the data analysis and results, likely pointing back to gaps in collection of data.

Part D

As a consumer of research reports, the most important aspects needed to consider in the methods and results section of a high quality quantitative report is citing literature that includes models of how to design a study and how to collect and analyze data. If a research paper utilizes previous successful methods, the information and results are more likely to be credible and measurable. Detailed information about how the information is collected and what controls are in place to ensure credible data is also equally important.

The collection of data appears to be time consuming and difficult for the average person to have access to collection models that ensure anonominity, security and reliability of the data in a quantitative report. The other skillset that is needed of researchers is mathematical skills that can explain the data in an anonymous way. Depending on the field of study this could potentially prohibit individuals from participating in a research report if not comfortable in a mathematical setting.

One thing that is evident in creating a credible qualitative research report is that it takes time to set up collection methods and to think through potential gaps in the research. Also taking time to think about a hypothesis in advance may help to shape what data is collected. In my current role as a leader, having the time to create a research report is not likely however having the ability to read research reports on industry trends is essential. In particular in reading research reports on leadership styles and trends that effect employee morale and productivity.

What kinds of research tools are available and accessible to an amateur researcher, for the collection of qualitative data?

References

Howell, D.C. (2013) Statistical methods for psychology (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

Kanter, R.M. (1977) Men and woman of the corporation. New York, NY. Basic Books.

Laschinger, H., Gilbert, S., Smith, L., & Leslie K. (2010). Towards a comprehensive theory of nurse/patient empowerment: Applying Kanter’s empowerment theory to patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 18, 4-13

Plano-Clark, V., & Creswell, J. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer’s guide (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Spreitzer, G.M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442-1465. doi:10.2307/256865

 

Van Winkle, B., Allen, S., DeVore, D., & Winston, B. (2014). The relationship between the servant leadership behaviors of immediate supervisors and follower’s perceptions of being empowered in the context of small business. Journal of Leadership Education, 13(3), 70-82.

Wang, Y., & Poutziouris, P. (2010). Leadership styles, management systems and growth: Empirical evidence from UK owner-managed SMEs. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 18(3), 331-354.

Winston, B.E., & Fields, D. (n.d.) Development and evaluation of a new parsimonious measure of servant leadership. Manuscript under review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unit 4, Assessment

Part A

In both quantitative and qualitative studies, researchers review literature at the beginning of the study’s research process. In the case of quantitative research, researchers use the literature to substantiate the research problem. The literature is then used to prescribe the direction or intent of the study. On the contrary, quantitative research does not focus on the literature to prescribe specific variables or hypotheses, choosing instead to inform the overall approach.

Evaluating the Statement of Problem in the Research Report:

Article reviewed is Servant leaders inspire followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization (Hunter et al., 2013). The following is an evaluation of the statement of problem in the research report.

  1. The topic is interesting – Rating 3 Excellent – Immediately in the abstract the authors indicate their purpose which was “…to test the relationship between personality, servant leadership, and critical follower and organizational outcomes” (Hunter et. al., 2013, p. 316). The topic is most interesting as there has not been enough research conducted on the effects of a servant leadership style.
  2. The study addresses at least one clear problem – Rating 3 Excellent – Again in the abstract it indicated the “Leader agreeability was positively and extraversion was negatively related to servant leadership, which was associated with decreased follower turnover intentions and disengagement” (Hunter et. al., 2013, p. 316). As well in the introduction the point is made that most research to date has focused on construct development and points to the research studies that support this.
  3. Important of the problem justified – Rating 3 Excellent – Yes, several references are provided to support the evidence of the importance of the problem. These references can be viewed in the Introduction section of the report.
  4. There are deficiencies in the knowledge about the problem – Rating 3 Excellent – In the article the author provides 10 hypothesis to demonstrate that the research is needed and not yet available to support the hypothesis.
  5. There are audiences that can benefit from this knowledge – Rating 3 Excellent – Absolutely the knowledge would be of value to many different audiences. The research is showing that a servant leader can impact company attrition, a more favorable service climate for example.
  6. The passage clearly argues that the study is warranted – Rating 3 Excellent – yes the introduction describes information currently not available in other research studies and also points out why organizations could benefit from the research.
  7. The passage is well written –Rating 3 Excellent – I would describe this research study as professionally constructed, east to follow and a fair written report based on the study conducted.

Total score is 21 which indicates the report is of high quality.

Overall assessment is that the report is nicely formatted, has excellent evidence why the research was needed and clearly demonstrates that the research is new.

References

Hunter, E. M., Neubert, M. J., Perry, S. J., Witt, L. A., Penny, L. M., & Weinberger, E. (2013). Servant leaders inspire servant followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization. Leadership Quarterly, 24(2), 316-331.

Part B 

Literature review

Article reviewed is Servant leaders inspire followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization (Hunter et al., 2013). The following is an evaluation of the literature review.

  1. The review includes relevant literature – Rating 3 Excellent – the review is comprehensive and includes numerous sources throughout. Every statement is backed by previous literature and references as to where to find the literature.
  2. The review examines sources that are recent and of high quality – Rating 3 Excellent – sources listed are leading researchers known for their work on servant leadership. There are also recent references listed and so yes the sources are up to date.
  3. The literature review is appropriately document – Rating 3 – Excellent – I could not find any errors or omissions with the citations. All appear to be carefully documented.
  4. The literature is thoughtfully synthesized – Rating 3 – Excellent – Yes the literature is organized into major themes and is carefully identified by the use of headings.
  5. The literature is critically examined – Rating 3 – Excellent – the researches included a heading called strengths, limitations and future research and in this section identified issues with potential deficiencies, strengths and weaknesses.
  6. The study has a strong foundation in literature – Rating 3 – Excellent – the study utilized previous successful methods in conducting its research as well as provided references to previous literature.
  7. The use of the literature fits the study’s overall research approach – Rating 3 – Excellent – Yes the literature justifies the problem and provides major variables. In the introduction it points to the support as to why previous literature is missing information, as well as the report includes 10 hypotheses.

Overall score is 21 which means the literature is of high quality. Overall assessment is that the literature provides evidence of lots of previous references where the new research can be built upon.

References

Hunter, E. M., Neubert, M. J., Perry, S. J., Witt, L. A., Penny, L. M., & Weinberger, E. (2013). Servant leaders inspire servant followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization. Leadership Quarterly, 24(2), 316-331.

Part C

Purpose Statements and Research Questions

Article reviewed is Servant leaders inspire followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization (Hunter et al., 2013). The following is an evaluation of the statement of the purpose statement and research questions.

  1. The study’s purpose is clearly specified – Rating 3 Excellent – The abstract clearly states the purpose of the report. Additionally the introduction clearly states the reason why previous reports do not contain information related to the research questions.
  2. The focus of the study is appropriate – Rating 3 Excellent – Yes the focus of the study is clear and concise. The researchers kept the focus clear and examined to major qualities of servant leaders – agreeableness and extraversion versus introversion personalities.
  3. The overall intention of the study is appropriate – Rating 3 Excellent – The intent is precise and to the point. It outlines what studies have focused on to date and what this particular research will focus on and what gaps the research will serve to answer.
  4. The participants and sites are appropriate – Rating 3 Excellent – the people identified completing the surveys were clearly identified. So too were their demographics as well as possible deficiencies or impacts to the outcomes were identified.
  5. The purpose is narrowed through appropriate research questions and or/hypotheses – Rating 3 Excellent – yes each hypothesis explained the theory and why the theory was appropriate to the study.
  6. The purpose follows logically from the statement of the problem and literature review – Rating 3 Excellent – The hypothesis indicated what outcome the research team was wanting to learn more about. Additionally the hypothesis utilized previous research study methodologies.
  7. The purpose is consistent with the study’s overall approach – Rating 3 Excellent – the research questions and hypothesis were narrow and specific, based on literature and applicable theory, predetermined and remain fixed during the study. The questions asked of the participants were based on previous research questions.

The overall score is 21 – High quality. The report was a qualitative report based on specific questions that were formulated from previous research. Findings of the research were supported by providing statistics and correlations.

References

Hunter, E. M., Neubert, M. J., Perry, S. J., Witt, L. A., Penny, L. M., & Weinberger, E. (2013). Servant leaders inspire servant followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization. Leadership Quarterly, 24(2), 316-331.

Part D

The most important points one needs to consider for determining if a research report is of high quality includes

  • Credibility of researchers
  • Previous research on the top with list of literature references
  • APA formatted and published report.
  • Headings and well-structured report
  • Evidence of new problems presented and lack of knowledge
  • Indication of gaps in research and where more knowledge in the future is needed.
  • References and citations included

The information prior to working on Unit 4 that I was aware important to identify if the research is well written is the essentially the same principles applied to any style of writing. A credible author with respected knowledge on the top. The information is organized in a well thought out manner and that any information that has the backing of previous research be included and given proper credit for. New information or knowledge gained includes the formatting specific to APA style writing and that like most written documents, you need to capture the reader’s attention immediately to encourage them to read on. Perhaps one new concept is the indication in the research regarding the gaps in the research and where further research can be conducted. While this was news to me that this is something that should be included in all research reports, intuitively I believe that most human beings have a bit of skepticism and would more likely support the research if the flaws were included.

The information that was easy to remember and learn was related to the writing style of a research study. It would seem logical that a well thought out research question, with justification as to why the new knowledge is needed as well as including this information in an organized fashion, would be appealing to a reader. Answering the who, what, why, when is part of human curiosity and would serve well in a research paper as it does in any written material. The part difficult to remember is the APA reference formatting. There are a number of different accepted rules to follow which is important to get correct. It certainly helps having a guidebook to reference, particularly when there is a type of formatting not regularly used. It’s this attention to detail that takes time and patience, as well as a lot of proof reading. While this is perhaps the most tedious and difficult part it is important to give credit for previous knowledge. Sufficient time should clearly be allocated for reviewing and editing references and citations.

In considering my current roll and applying the knowledge gained, the APA style of writing can be adapted to many types of written reports. It’s important to sometimes slow down writing and carefully consider any points wanted to get across. In providing previous knowledge and evidence it is much easier to instill change to the most skeptic reader. It also shows a level of respect to those being given credit for previous knowledge.

Putting out a quality research paper obviously takes time and patience. In a business setting and in considering a major organizational shift or change, how much time on average do you think should be dedicated toward putting together a quality research paper?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unit 3 Blog

Part 1

My previous experience with APA writing is very limited, although I do require writing a number of business documents in my current employment. I would describe myself as an amateur with lots to learn.

The importance of learning the APA scholarly style of writing in the context of my leadership in an indigenous business include:

  • It’s important that former knowledge be respected and acknowledged by giving credit to the author or research contributor/participant. This knowledge in an indigenous setting can have impacts on indigenous rights and title. For example when putting together traditional knowledge, references that include former academic publications is often used as evidence.
  • Using the APA style encourages one to take an objective approach to any given topic. As a leader in my organization decisions can impact employees and community. These decisions can be detrimental if not carefully thought through.
  • APA serves as a good reminder that the answers to some questions require time and thorough investigation. By presenting a clear and precise analysis, often the right decision or direction will reveal itself.
  • In a leadership role one will be subjected to judgement based on their writing skills. Learning to keep to the point and be concise in writing is essential.
  • A leader can be required to write extensive reports, tenders or other documents. These documents can be shared with employees or with shareholders and again instills a level of confidence if properly formatted.
  • Often leaders are responsible for company liability and do not want to find themselves or the company they are working for in a plagiarism legal problem. By following APA guidelines this can be avoided.
  • My organization has been working with scholarly people in putting a traditional knowledge document together which is intended to be published in the near future. I look forward to now to going back to this document and determine if APA formatting was followed.

Part 2

Areas of weaknesses in my writing is knowing the correct APA formatting style intuitively. I believe this will come with time, however to be accurate I will utilize the tools available to ensure it is correctly formatted. Tools such as online resources, textbooks and APA example papers. Another area I would like to learn more about is in conducting research. This is not an area that is a requirement of my current position and so throughout this course I’m looking forward to increasing skills and competency of APA style research.

APA style writing is extensive and covers many professions where research can get quite complex. An example of this I would believe to be in a clinic trial setting in monitoring human behavior. While interesting, it is not an area I can see will benefit me, in my current career path. Are there any books that are specific to APA style writing for business that can be recommended and or utilized as a quick reference document?

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Unit 2 – Blog

Unit 2 Blog

Part A

While considering the research question “What is the best model of indigenous economic development that will help build a healthy and thriving community” the following challenges were identified:

  • Currently there is little information available to First Nations on what are best practices when it comes to creating economic development entities in Canada. Some entities are focused on creating economic wealth through rights and title while others are focused on capacity building or both. Within Canada many First Nations are also only now, starting up economic development companies and so scarce sources are available thus explaining why little research has been conducted.
  • While researching, it was necessary to broaden the search to include “tribal indigenous economic development” as in the U.S.A., the word tribal is more widely used. Also due to a government decision allowing indigenous communities in the U.S.A to open gaming on reserves, many nations have been participating in successful businesses ventures for a longer period of time. This has resulted in more sources of scholarly information published in the U.S.A.
  • While searching some specific journal and article sources, specifically targeting indigenous topics, a number of indigenous driven organizations were found. An example is the UCLA American Indian studies center which may prove to be an excellent source of information in the future.

Part B

The following is an evaluation of a journal called “Realizing the Potential: Global Perspectives on Indigenous Economic Development” related to the targeted research question in Part A:

Author – The Author is Canada’s public policy forum. The public policy forum is a non-profit indicating that its purpose is to improve the quality of government through dialogue. In evaluating any one specific author, it was not indicated and so it required further investigation as to whom the forum was made up of. The forum participant names listed appeared to be mainly from industry as opposed to being identified as indigenous participants. That said each participant was not identified as indigenous or non-indigenous specifically. It was from company or job titles only that it could be surmised that a participant was indigenous. For example one participant was listed as a Chief.

Currency – The article was published in May of 2014 and so moderately current.

Purpose – Not clearly stated however upon reading the information it became apparent that the purpose was to educate businesses wanting to forward projects in the traditional territories of First nations, by providing guidance on approaches. Also it was intended to encourage businesses, in particular in the resource sector, to establish joint ventures and or support other indigenous economic development.

Publication type/process – The publication I would classify as an article and not scholarly in nature. The publication was the outcome of a public forum and based on the opinions of the forum participants. The article was not peer reviewed.

Biases – Project partners included oil and gas companies as well as resource extraction companies. Listed also as forum participants included representatives from these groups. The title of the article is perhaps misleading as it might lead one to believe that the ideas are presented as options that might be of value to indigenous communities involved in economic development. However given the lack of indigenous participants and the project partners core business activities, this article does not factor or consider a comprehensive indigenous perspective.

References

Realizing the potential : global perspectives indigneous on economic development. (2014). Ottawa, Ontario : Canada’s Public Policy Forum, [2014]. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat05965a&AN=alc.1353928&site=eds-live

Part C

In considering what sources of information are needed to conduct research on the question, “What is the best model of indigenous economic development that will help build a healthy and thriving community”, it is apparent that there is minimal scholarly information available on the topic. This has required creativity in searching for key words as well as broadening the search to worldwide sources such as Australia and the United States. The research will to require local surveys and interviews from local indigenous communities as well as industry professionals. The web is also a source for consideration as legislation requires indigenous communities to post audited financial statements. These financial statements will not necessarily answer research questions specifically but will point to indigenous communities that can be targeted for survey’s or interviews.

In consideration of a research question where there is difficulty in locating scholarly sources, does one give up on a topic one is passionate about and is seeking answers for, or is it better to get excited about the topic and take on the challenge?