WELCOME TO MSA 699 TECHNICAL SUPPORT For more

WELCOME TO MSA 699 TECHNICAL SUPPORT: For more information, go to the tutorial at http: //www. cmich. edu/academics/off_campus_online/Bb_CMU/Student_Tutorials/Pages/defaul t. aspx Problems with Collaborate set up or your technology? Call the CMU IT Help Desk 1 -800 -950 -1144 extension 3662 or 989 -774 -3662.

INTRODUCTION - OVERVIEW • Capstone brings together all course learnings. • Demonstrate critical thinking and application. • Complete primary analysis of data • Descriptive or inferential statistics • Can be financial analysis.

INTRODUCTION cont’d • KISS method [e. g. , focused data collection, not multiple venues unless absolutely necessary]. • Formulate testable research questions [not objectives] and then answer them from the data. • This is the first of two ALL-students chats for this course. Both will be archived. • A separate one-on-one chat session will be scheduled.

INTRODUCTION cont’d • RRA process provides institutional approval. Must include RRA form. When not using publicly available secondary data, will include organizational permission letter, data collection form [e. g. , survey, with separate CMU consent letter]. See Part 2 of Student Guide. ALL must do. • You must receive approval email message from Main Campus before collecting primary data. https: //www. cmich. edu/colleges/cgs/GSMasterof. Sciencein. A dministration/GSThe. Department/Pages/Research_Review. aspx

INTRODUCTION cont’d • IRB is other institutional approval option. Less likely to be used. • Post course materials to Black. Board, except for RRA package which may be sent to my personal email.

INTRODUCTION cont’d • Pay attention to course schedule to assure timely grading for final grade submission. Target 14 days before course ends [July 31, 2015]. • Needs to be related to your area of concentration. • Note that there are 2 Parts to this course. In Part 1 we work together to reach agreement on what you are doing. In Part 2, you implement the agreement and finalize your research effort.

INTRODUCTION cont’d • Incomplete grade is possible for an extension until November 4, 2015 if 50% of course requirements are met. No extension beyond that. • See two examples of reports in my collection at Global Campus Library Service [GCLS].

WRITING CONSIDERATIONS • Write at the graduate level • Follow Student Guide for the MSA 699 Capstone Project for content, format, etc. This is a no-brainer!!!!

WRITING CONSIDERATIONS cont’d • Strive for APA compliance, especially in-text reference citing. Use reference citing software in Word. • Support ALL factual statements in ALL chapters with an in-text APA compliant reference.

WRITING CONSIDERATIONS cont’d • Report title MUST identify one of seven research typologies from Student Guide. E. G. , “A Program Evaluation of…. ”. This communicates your direction to yourself and your first and second readers, establishes an expectation for content, and increases likelihood of success [a. k. a. , higher grade]. • Chapters’ content MUST consolidate sections from chosen typology and 5 standard academic chapters. See the matrix and typology outlines in course materials.

CHAPTER INSIGHTS Discussion of Frontpieces • Executive summary [not to exceed 2 pages; often written last]. • Title page with conforming title, etc. • Table of contents, tables, etc.

CHAPTER INSIGHTS cont’d Discussion of Ch 1 contents • Tell general story • State specific, testable research questions • Cite literature • Pagination

CHAPTER INSIGHTS cont’d Discussion of Ch 2 contents • Must identify issues/variables, not critique articles. • Hint: link directly to specific, testable research questions from Ch 1. • Use section headers to identify issues/variables and focus reader’s attention. • Discuss what others have found in your subject area. • Discuss how others have conducted research in your subject area [direct tie to Ch 3].

CHAPTER INSIGHTS cont’d Discussion of Ch 3 contents • Discuss variables from Ch 2. • Specifically indicate how you will answer your stated research questions. • Identify what statistical analysis you will use for EACH data element to be analyzed [with stats text reference]. • Indicate any decision points necessary. • Cite reference from stats book.

CHAPTER INSIGHTS cont’d Discussion of Ch 4 contents • In-depth discussion of the results of your data analysis. • Specific results from the analysis for each stated research question. Discussion of Ch 5 contents • Summary, conclusions and recommendations as drawn from the literature review and your data analysis [DO NOT introduce new literature here].

CHAPTER INSIGHTS cont’d Discussion of Appendices contents • Data collection instruments [survey, consent letter, etc. ] • Raw data in table format • Collection of all responses to open-ended survey questions.

HICCUPS • Inability to get written organizational permission to access data/resources. • Failure to follow specifications of Student Guide, including identifying one of 7 research typologies in report title and follow the associated research typology. • Lack of advanced detailed planning for completing primary analysis of primary or secondary data. • Failure to link research to area of concentration.

COURSE OPERATIONAL PLAN • See Timetable in course materials. Staged for successful completion. • Continuing communications and negotiation in Discussion Forums. • One Collaborate chat [TBD] to answer individual questions and assess progress.

RESULT Over the last two years: • Student awareness of grading rubric. • Through continued interaction, a better product [85% achieve a grade between A and B-] and a higher completion rate [90 -95% of my students complete this course]. • Recognize that the student is ultimately responsible for meeting the course requirements and completion in a timely manner [course ends August 14, 2015].

TIME FOR QUESTIONS