9.4 Course Reflection

When I signed up for this course, Leadership Foundations in Research, I was intimidated from the very beginning. I was almost 9 months pregnant and I knew I would be challenged with more obstacles than normal since I was due to have her in the middle of the course. However, I continued to push myself through so that I would not allow myself to give up. I was too afraid I would continue to find more excuses down the road as to why I did not “need” my Masters degree; this was going to be only my second class.

On the first day of the class I was reading over the syllabus and I about had a nervous breakdown. I was not only going to be challenged with having a baby during class, but I was also going to be required to perform tasks that required me to do extensive research as well as learn the technology required to submit the assignments.  I am not “tech savvy” so everything required me to ask for help from someone. Once I got the hang of it I was able to continue as I normally would in any other class.

Now that we are in the final days of this class I have to say I have become an all around better student as well as critical thinker. In the beginning we were asked to define critical thinking and I was not able to grasp the meaning and truly understand what it is to think critically, however after many long nights of researching and studying I have improved my overall understanding. To think critically you are digging deeper than you would to just think about something. I have learned to process information as a system of thinking rather than just approaching it as a body of information. I have also learned a wonderful technique of using the SEE-I approach. I use this technique in everything I do!
To think critically you must think about the question from all aspects, not jumping to conclusions and pay close attention to all the details in order to formulate a well-rounded thought. To start the thinking process you should reflect on the thought from your own point of view and try to figure out why you think the way you do. Reflection to me is the key to thinking critically. It challenges the mind to ask yourself questions that you would have never thought of if you just thought regularly.

As you reflect you should apply your thought through the elements of reasoning, which are: point of view, purpose, question at issue, assumptions, implications or consequences, information, concepts and conclusions or interpretations. These elements can be applied in no particular order however you should “go around in a circle” when reasoning through your thought.

Next I learned to take my thought and apply it to the seven standards of thinking, these act as a filter to help you reason through your thought a little more in-depth. The seven standards are as follows: clearness, accuracy, importance or relevance, sufficiency, depth, breadth and precision. These were harder for me to understand, however, once we were required to apply each one in a task I was able to grasp what each meant a little better.

After applying your thought through the elements of reasoning and the seven different standards you can then put all of your thoughts together in a process called QEDS which is an acronym that explains how to apply each as a process through the discipline to answer the question. After breaking these processes down we were then able to put them together to write critically.

Now that I am reflecting I feel like everything makes sense. I am not going to pretend I knew what I was doing because I was actually very confused and irritated throughout the assignments. I was frustrated because I did not understand why we were doing them and also because I was challenging myself and this required me to think in ways I had never thought before. This was my ultimate challenge and obstacle, which is why I decided to write my research paper on the obstacles of critical thinking, but ended up approaching this matter from a preventative point of view. I wanted to find out if critical thinking could be easier if it were taught throughout an individual’s life. I do believe in my conclusion of the paper it could be.

As I complete this course I have definitely taken away more positive than negative. My Professor and University has provided me with a tremendous amount of knowledge and support and I have no recommendations to suggest.The topics of this course were very relevant going forward and I will be able to apply these skills throughout my life. I would have maybe planned out this class at a less challenging part of my life. The sleepless nights (homework and baby) have made this more challenging than I have ever imagined, but in challenging myself I have become a better person. I have improved my overall quality of life in every aspect. I am now a mind mapper, blogger and a better critical thinker!

8.3 Good Presentation Design

Conducting a good presentation is the key in successfully getting your message conveyed to your audience. In order to create a successful presentation you must first organize your thoughts. I would recommend creating a rough draft on paper writing down the different points you would like to present and then highlight the major points.

Next you should begin creating the lay out of the power point slides, only if that is the route in which you are choosing to present, as this is route in which I am discussing within this blog. Each layout should follow a similar theme throughout in order to show that the slides are a part of one presentation. In order to distinguish one slide to the next you should break the text up and group thoughts together. Any graphic art displayed should be up-to-date pictures or examples; as this will help keep the audience’s eye from wondering off of your presentation. Using sounds and animation can be a bit overwhelming so I would suggest keeping them to a minimal, however adding in short clips from movies and such keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

In the organization of the slides I would recommend keeping your ideas one per slide. This will help you keep the audience from being confused and will allow you highlight the main thoughts. Keep your slides simple and free of clutter. Too much text on a page will overwhelm the audience and will prevent them from understanding what your key points are, think about it as “less is more”. If possible always include a personal story or anything that can tie the information you are conveying to something the audience can relate to. This will keep them thinking while you are discussing.

Once you have completed your slides start practicing for the big presentation. This will allow you time to figure out where your difficulties are, in essence in presenting. For example if you find yourself pausing in the wrong spots or find difficulties annunciating certain words you will be able to catch these obstacles before going in front of your audience. As you practice remember to remain calm, keep good eye contact and do not rush. As you go through each slide with your audience do not read word for word, as this will bore your audience. They can read and do not want someone to read to them. Most of the time I can read faster then the presenter can read aloud so I tend to read ahead, and if the presenter will not offer me anything other than straight text I will stop listening all together.

In conclusion always think from your audience’s point of view. If you feel your presentation is boring your audience will too, however if you find yourself excited they will be excited. I have sat through many countless presentations throughout life and only a handful actually captivated me enough to pay attention the entire way through.  Following these recommendations will not make you an amazing presenter, however they might improve your skills!

7.3 Quantitative Research Reflection

Some researchers or social scientists in the world believe there are patterns and regularities that occur in society in human behaviors, which are not random, as some others tend to think. These researchers want to find out why these patterns exist in order to explain them. Once they are able to explain the patterns they turn their explanations into a theory developing a hypothesis about the relationships to find out if theory is valid. The researchers will use a process called quantitative research. In order to research quantitatively, the researcher will abide by a generalized sequence as follows: observe events from afar not letting the participants know of their presence or distribute a questionnaire, they then arrange and summarize the data, analyze and finally draw conclusions from their research findings.

These researchers ask two types of questions using either descriptive research in order to find out what happens or exists in society, or they may use explanatory research in order to find out why something exists or happens in society. Using this type of social research can help in the developments of comparing or classifying the data collected. The researchers will then research the questions using either empirical or theoretical research. Empirical research has an object to study, such as a problem of reality; where theoretical research studies problems that are related to concepts, perspectives or theories in the discipline.

In order to explain why something is the way it is a researcher will use the quantitative research method. This method is based on the idea that social phenomena can be quantified, measured and expressed numerically. This information will then be analyzed usually by statistical methods, which will only provide the researcher with limited information as it only provides quantities and some level of statistical significance, if there is any at all.

Once the information has been analyzed thoroughly the information can then be classified into variables or observation units, which are then transformed into a data matrix. Variables are what can be observed or measured and observation units can be a number of things such as an individual, group etc. In order to determine the observation unit the researcher will use a process called sampling where he or she will study a sample group from the population in order to represent the entire group, as it is impossible to measure everyone. The sampling is random in order to provide the most accurate results producing minimal errors. Quantitative research method then allows the researcher to compare groups and or other variables chosen to provide the audience with an explanation of the social phenomena.

Performing quantitative research can be a tedious but informative task. If paired with another type of research called qualitative research the results will be able to be a balance in explaining not only the why, but the how as well.

http://qualitativeresearch.ratcliffs.net/
Rose & Sullivan 1996, 10
PDF slides on Quantitative Research Methods  Tero Mamia

Qualitative Research

In order to understand something better a researcher may choose to study it qualitatively, meaning he or she will look at the situation more in depth while trying to understand why it is the way it is or how it got to be that way. Qualitative researchers usually follow a sequence: observe and ask questions, record what’s been said or done, research is then interpreted by the researcher, the entire process is repeated, a theory is formed from data collected thus far and finally a conclusion is formed. In order to complete these processes the researcher may choose to collect the data by performing open-ended interviews, direct observations or use written documents.

With Qualitative research the researcher has the freedom to choose whomever they would like to study as it depends on what is needed from the research. Some researchers will choose their selection of whom to research using a maximum variation approach or a typical case approach either way the research approach is on going and will change as it depends what is needed. As the researcher researches he or she must keep detailed descriptions going forward in order to allow them the ability to reflect on their research and remember why the decisions were made at that point. Keeping detailed notes is necessary in completing this research some of the ways in which the notes can be documented are as personal notes, field notes, methodology notes and theoretical notes.

As a qualitative researcher he or she acts as a detective, investigating evidence in order for the researcher to be able to provide their personal outlook on the reasons of how and why. During the investigation the participants are aware of the researchers presence. This allows the researcher to ask the participants specific questions to get answers and personal reactions; this will provide the researcher’s audience with a concluding narrative point of view while backed by valid evidence collected.

After the collection of research is completed the researchers next task is to analyze the data by first coding it, then categorizing it while including examples and finally he or she has link the categories together. There are roughly 15 different research methods to be considered while analyzing the data. Once the data has been analyzed the outcome of the findings will be in depth detail of the research providing the reader with a non judgmental view of the study. Qualitative research will explain the why and how while focusing the research on a small number of participants providing in depth evaluation on particular cases being studied. Qualitative provides "quality" research to the audience.

http://qualitativeresearch.ratcliffs.net/

5.3 Critical Thinking about Critical Thinking

When I began this course I did not know the true meaning of “thinking critically”. I always assumed it meant to think about something real hard weighing the pros and cons and considering all the possible outcomes. Although this is true it is not enough when thinking critically. I have now learned thinking critically is going beyond these small tasks, as it also involves asking questions, reasoning these questions out and then believing your results. In order to achieve the answers to these three questions you have to review the 8 elements of reasoning as well as the 7 standards. Once this process has been performed you have to then analyze your results, make sure you understand the discipline in which you are researching, then put everything together, and reflect to gain a better understanding of what you have researched in order to see the big picture of how it all fits together.

After learning what critical thinking involves I have began to understand what it means to think critically, however I have not yet mastered these techniques. I find it very difficult to change my ways of thinking as I have been thinking one way for the past 27 years of my life. Some of the processes I find easier than others. For instance the 8 elements of reasoning are point of view, purpose, question at issue, assumptions, implications and consequences, information, concepts, and conclusions/interpretations. Within each of these elements is a simple definition in which I understand. I am able to find these elements within a body of information I am reviewing, however I am not always able to distinguish every one of the elements at the same time. Sometimes the elements are very easy to pick out, but many times I find myself reading and rereading the same information over and over trying to pick out each one of the elements only to find myself more confused. For example I can usually find what the author’s point of view is but I will not be able to pick out his assumptions or concept. I have continued to practice with everything I read nowadays and hope that one day this will become an easier task.

Although I have difficulties distinguishing the different elements within the information I am reviewing I have a even tougher time distinguishing the 7 different standards of critical thinking. The 7 standards are clearness, accuracy, importance/relevance, sufficiency, depth, breadth and precision. These 7 standards like the elements are sometimes easier depending on the information I am reviewing, but usually I have a difficult time being able to point out all 7 of the standards at one time. As with the elements I tend to be able to find the author’s clearness however when pointing out his or her sufficiency I begin to get lost in translation.

In order to improve my inabilities to internalize all of these techniques and processes I keep my text book handy and make notes to refer to when reviewing information in order to begin to better my skills as a critical thinker. I believe in order to make lasting and positive changes in the way I think for the future I will need to continue practicing these techniques and reviewing the concepts. I will always keep our text book Learning to Think Things Through going ahead in my degree and in my future careers, as it has become an important reference to refer to in my path of becoming a successful leader. In order to be successful in leading others I believe you must first be able to develop strong core of values and continue to educate yourself to stay up with the times. I believe the saying “practice makes perfect” as with practice comes learning.

Nosich, G. M. (2012). Learning to think things through: Critical thinking across the curriculum. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall. (ISBN: 9780137085149)

Ballet Slippers or Adorable

In the TED video Sheena discusses the art of choosing and how in different cultures this art can be viewed very differently. She talks about three assumptions we make the first is “make your own choices”. Most Americans believe that if a choice affects them directly, than they should play a role in making that choice, however in many other countries this is not what they are accustomed to believing. Sheena made a valid point when she provided us with an example of when one culture performed better when completing a task when they had no choice in it, and another where the culture performed better when they had the ability to make a choice in the task. Sheena brings to light that not everyone will perform better when given the opportunity to choose and I agree with Sheena. I believe this is affected by where you live and what the norms may be in that culture and also how the individual was raised and what the values instilled are. Some people are raised to believe that they do not have a choice in certain matters conditioning them to be unable to make choices. Some people are conditioned or raised to believe that their choices are unlimited and it depends on an individual’s perseverance on how far they can go.

The second assumption Sheena discusses is that “more options lead to better choices”. In this assumption she brings to light the idea of how most people in America usually believe that to make a good decision or choice you must have many options to choose from. This is a way for us to be able to compare and contrast what will best suit our needs, however this can actually be the exact opposite for many individuals. Sheena explains that in order to make a good choice one must be able to distinguish the differences between the options presented. For example she conducted another study in which she asked people in Russia to choose a soda from the seven choices available and much to her surprise the Russians did not see the seven different sodas as seven different choices rather they saw the sodas as equals and as one choice, as they were all sodas so therefore there is one choice.

The results in this study put things into perspective for me in that I was able to see depending on where you live and where your priorities lie depends on what an individual may perceive as a choice. Many people in my culture would perceive the seven sodas as seven different choices, and in fact many might wish there were more to choose from. In my experience people usually want what they can’t have and that is why in my opinion we as Americans have bombarded ourselves with so many choices that we can no longer always distinguish the differences between our options. Sheena also makes a valid point when she discusses the nail polishes ballet slippers verse adorable. When she took the names off of the bottles no one could tell the difference and thought for a minute they were part of a prank, so with that I have to disagree that more options lead to better choices.

The third and final assumption Sheena makes is “never say no to a choice”. In this assumption she provides an example of different parents that had to make a decision to remove their baby from life support after being born prematurely. This example was conducted between Americans and French families. The American families were provided the choice as to whether or not to take their baby off of life support and the French were not instead their doctors made the decision. As a result the Americans suffered far worse feelings of guilt and hostility, were the French did not; however when the Americans were asked if they would have rather relinquished the ability to have made the choice they all confirmed they would not. Although the Americans did not like that they had to make that choice and many suffered from guilt they did not want to lose their “right” to make the final decision. This is definitely something I have witnessed and have to agree with Sheena when she points out many people believe they “must never say no to a choice”. I know that I would feel as though my rights had been stripped from me if was no longer able to decide the fate of my child and or anything else. I feel this is a behavior many are conditioned to believe in our culture and it becomes an innate trait. Although many do not like having to make such a horrific choice they would not want it made for them. Maybe this is because if someone feels in control and can weigh the pros and cons of the situation at hand they can believe in their minds they exhausted every option, they made the best decision at the time and no one cut them short of being able to exhaust these means.

In watching this video some of the implications brought to my attention were although having the right to choose brings self fulfillment in many having the right to choose causes tension and a sense of feeling overwhelmed to many others. If an individual has the ability to choose the outcome of a situation they must also be able to deal with the consequences of their decision such as the decision many had to make regarding taking their baby off of life support. When in contrast the individuals who were unable to make a decision also have to deal with the same consequences, however the amount of guilt or ability to deal with the decision might be easier on them in the long run. I also found myself questioning my overall opinion regarding choices. Before reading this article I was 100% for making my own decisions as it was “my right”, however now provided with another point of view on this topic I find myself questioning if I would rather have someone make some of the harder decisions for me.

3.4 Explore the Hunt Library

After exploring the Hunt Library I was thoroughly impressed with how easy it was to access all different kinds of information. This was my first time exploring the library and I was able to maneuver through it with ease. I discovered I can search any topic I want and the information will populate just like the site Google except this information is narrowed down to information based on facts backed by researched. When I searched leadership in the Hunt Library for instance multiple links pulled up on all kinds of different leadership topics. The links were all labeled and broken down into different categories such as articles, books etc.

When I search leadership in Google I was bombarded with all things involving leadership and or anything with the word leadership within the body of information. The information was not categorized nicely like in the Hunt Library, some of the information was outdated and some of the information was just advertisement from companies trying to get people to buy their product or attend their seminars on becoming a good leader.

The main difference between the two resources would be the Hunt Library is a scholarly resource, meaning I can trust that the information will be up-to-date and accurate, however with Google the information can be hit or miss. With Google I do not know if the references provided are valid or trustworthy and with Hunt Library I do.  I definitely will use the Hunt Library in all of my future research.