PROFESSIONALISM, PROFESSIONALISM, RESEARCH & WRITINGRESEARCH & WRITING
Julia R. Miller, Ph.D.Julia R. Miller, Ph.D.
Kappa Omicron NuLeadership Conclave &
UndergraduateResearch Conference
August 6, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois
PROFESSIONALISPROFESSIONALISMM
What is Your Definition?
DEFINITIONS OF DEFINITIONS OF PROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
Expectation to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and a responsible attitude toward recipients, the profession, society. This includes abilities to:
Demonstrate respect, compassion, integrity and altruism in relationships with students, colleagues and other stakeholders;
DEFINITIONS OF DEFINITIONS OF PROFESSIONALISM PROFESSIONALISM (Con’t)(Con’t)
Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to gender, age, culture, religion, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, beliefs;
Adhere to principles of confidentiality, scientific/academic integrity, and accountability;
Recognize and identify deficiencies in personal and peer performance.
Professionalism. (2005).http://users.umassmed.ed/colin.swales/prof.htm
DEFINITIONS OF DEFINITIONS OF PROFESSIONALISM PROFESSIONALISM (Con’t)(Con’t)
Maximizing knowledge Being innovative Showing constant improvement Sharing knowledge Ignoring distractions and losses Producing quality work Understanding the importance of communication,
appearance, and mannerisms Possessing a good attitude Keeping up with ethics and legal issues Comprehending programmatic thrusts
Withrow, S. (2005). Defining Professionalism in IT. http://uk.builder.com/manage/work
PROFESSIONAL GOALSPROFESSIONAL GOALS
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else.”
– Yogi Berra
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
PROFESSIONAL GOALSPROFESSIONAL GOALS
When Alice encounters the Cheshire Cat in wonderland, she asks, “Would you tell me, please which way I ought to walk from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t care where—” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you walk,” said the Cat. “—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation. “Oh , you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
— Lewis Carroll
PROFESSIONALISPROFESSIONALISMM
What are Your Goals?
How do professional goalschange over time?
PROFESSIONALISPROFESSIONALISMM
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
Guiding Principles for Researchers Systematic Inquiry: Researchers conduct systematic,
data-based inquiries. Competence: Researchers provide competent
performance to stakeholders. Integrity/Honesty: Researchers ensure the honesty
and integrity of the entire process.
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONALISM PROFESSIONALISM (Con’t)(Con’t)
Respect for People: Researchers respect the security, dignity, and self-worth of respondents, program participants, clients, and other stakeholders with whom they interact.
Responsibilities for General and Public Welfare: Researchers articulate and take into account the diversity of interests and values that may be related to the general and public welfare.
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Predict Build general laws
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Add To The Knowledge Base Confirm findings Replicate others’ work Reinterpret previously collected data Clarify structural and ideological connections
between important social processes Strengthen the knowledge base
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES Have a Personal, Social, Institutional,
and/or Organizational Impact Deconstruct/reconstruct power structures Reconcile discrepancies Refute claims Set priorities Resist authority Influence change Promote change Promote questioning Improve practice Change structures Set policy
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Measure Change Measure consequences of practice Test treatment effects Measure Outcomes
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Understand Complex Phenomena Understand phenomena Understand culture Understand change Understand people
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Test New Ideas Test innovations Test hypotheses/objectives Test new ideas Test new solutions
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Generate New Ideas Explore phenomena Generate hypotheses/objectives Generate theory Uncover relationships Uncover culture Reveal culture
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Inform Constituencies Inform the public Heighten awareness Public relations Enlighten Hear from those who are affected by
treatment/program Describe the present Comply with authority
RESEARCH PURPOSESRESEARCH PURPOSES
Examine The Past Interpret/reinterpret the past Acknowledge past misunderstandings Reexamine tacit understandings Examine Social and historical origins of
current social problems
Abbas, T. & Teddlie, C. (2003). Handbook of Mixed Methods In Social & Behavioral Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
RESEARCH PARADIGMS:RESEARCH PARADIGMS:QUALITATIVE and QUALITATIVE and QUANTITATIVEQUANTITATIVE
Qualitative/Naturalistic Paradigm Qualitative data (narratives, descriptions) Naturalistic inquiry Case Studies Inductive analysis Subjective perspective Close to programs Holistic contextual portrayal Systems perspective focused on interdependencies Dynamic, ongoing view of change Purposeful sampling of relevant cases Focus on uniqueness and diversity Emergent, flexible designs Thematic Content analysis Extrapolations
RESEARCH PARADIGMS:RESEARCH PARADIGMS:QUALITATIVE and QUALITATIVE and QUANTITATIVEQUANTITATIVE
Quantitative/Experimental Quantitative data (numbers, statistics) Experimental designs Treatment and control designs Deductive hypothesis testing Objective perspective Aloof from the program Independent and dependent variable Linear, sequential modeling Pre-post focus on change Probabilistic, random sampling Standardized, uniform procedures Fixed, controlled designs Statistical analysis Generalization
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
WRITING and WRITING and PROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
“They say that figures rule the world.I do not know if this is true, but I do
Know that figures tell us if it is well or poorly ruled.”
– Goethe, German Philosopher and Author(1747-1882), 1814
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
WRITING and WRITING and PROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
“Unless one is genius,it is best to aim at being intelligible”
– Anthony Hope, British Novelist(1863-1933)
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
WRITING and WRITING and PROFESSIONALISM : PROFESSIONALISM : REPORTING OUTCOMES / REPORTING OUTCOMES / RESULTSRESULTS Strive for balance when writing by providing multiple
perspectives While focusing on simplicity in presenting information.
Be clear to reduce confusion, uncertainty or misinterpretation. Make comparisons carefully and appropriately. Write in a manner to assist stakeholders with statistical
thinking and reasoning. Interpret numbers and qualitative data to have meaning. Interpret statistics and qualitative data with the understanding
that there a varying degrees of error.
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
WRITING and WRITING and PROFESSIONALISM : PROFESSIONALISM : REPORTING OUTCOMES / REPORTING OUTCOMES / RESULTSRESULTS
Recommendations should clearly follow from and be supported by findings.
Distinguish different kinds of recommendations.
Multiple options rather than recommendations may be more useful.
Include benefits, costs of making changes and costs and risks for not making changes.
Focus on actions within the control of intended users.
Exercise political sensitivity in writing.
Be careful and deliberate with wording.
Allow time to write well. Develop strategies for recom-
mendations to be taken seriously. Show future implications of
recommendations. Remember that outcomes and
recommendations may have different meaning for different stakeholders.
Make sure to formulate well written, carefully derived recommendations and conclusions.
Ten useful and practical guidelines:
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
SUMMARYSUMMARY
Research, Writing and Professionalism
Inform problem solving and decision making to maximize knowledge
Clarify options and assist with priority setting Identify what is and what can be Provides opportunities to exchange facts, ideas and
innovations with colleagues Influence and impact change Provide information useful for stakeholders and policy
makers within textual boundaries of time, place, values and politics
Friends To Adopt and Select Friends To Adopt and Select When We Are Planning and When We Are Planning and
Analyzing Our Professionalism, Analyzing Our Professionalism, Research, and WritingResearch, and Writing
Six Honest FriendsSix Honest Friends Six Honest Serving Friends Who
Taught Me All I Know: What Why When How Where Who
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.