1 - Purposes of research
In we identified the priority issues you noted in Ironridge with a short reason why. This week the instructor will divide the class into four (4) collaboration committees so that each committee can discuss a different top priority issue from Week 1 that the instructor has identified.
THIS IS NOT A GROUP PROJECT OR GROUP ASSIGNMENT. Each student will be graded individually based on their performance. Since we usually participate in collaborative committees in the practice setting to discuss priority issue, this format will allow our class to discuss four priority issues within the same discussion board.
Each student will need to post twice (once by Wednesday deadline at 11:59 p.m. MT and a peer response to someone in your collaborative committee). In your collaborative committee, discuss what information you will need to know about the issue? What types of research would be most useful (descriptive, explanatory, predictive, prescriptive)? What databases are the most helpful? Please place all committee discussion in the discussion thread forum so everyone can benefit from the discussion.
2 - Theory and Variables
Review the differences in descriptive, explanatory, predictive, and prescriptive studies and select one of the predictive or prescriptive articles you find. What are the independent variables (IV), dependent variables (DV), and mediating variables (MVs) you find in the article? How do determining IVs, DVs, and MVs help you discern the theory tested in the research? In your particular article, what risk factors are identified or what recommendations are provided?