ACC 590 Directed Research Project

1. ACC 590 Directed Research Project By Prof. Grant A. Wills, CPA, MBA, MSIS

2. Directed Research Project (DRP) thesis based on original research. not a literature review. includes a literature review (Ch. 2). not a term paper.

3. Required References Raimes, A. (2008) Keys for writers, custom edition (5th edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Custom Publishing. Perrin, R. (2007) Pocket guide to APA style (2nd ed.) Boston:Houghton Mifflin Publishing. Leedy, P., & Ormond, J.E. (2005). BUS 531: Research and strategic communication, custom edition. (8th ed.) Boston: Pearson Publishing. Strayer University. (2006) Directed research project: Manuscript guidebook and project format. Washington, DC.

4. Problem Identification Research intended to solve the problem Intended does not equal actually resolved Problem selected has to be current Problem must need to be solved right now! Urgency makes the research relevant Urgency makes the research interesting

5. Problem Identification Problems have histories�tell the story associated with your selected problem Problem needs to be important enough to Require your time Require your energy Meet a �community� need

6. Research Process Students are expected to meet scheduled times to allow reviews of individual progress to the finalized thesis Process is as important as the final product Unlike a term paper, one should not wait until near the deadline to begin writing Deadlines are specified�honor them

7. Grading Grades of A, B, C, and F awarded Not a pass/fail experience To achieve an �A� grade Excellence in content and presentation Meet all deadlines

8. Incomplete rather than Grade? Eliminates possibility of an �A� grade Incomplete means that work is partially complete Partially complete means 80% or more complete � 80% means the thesis is complete and only the defense is remaining

9. Plagiarism Paraphrased words and ideas must be cited Summarized words and ideas must be cited Directly quoted words and ideas must be cited

10. Plagiarism Original work required Not just a literature review Not an essay

11. Plagiarism Results in grade of F Could result in expulsion from program Intended and unintended treated the same No excuse for graduate students to not know what constitutes plagiarism

12. Plagiarism Hiring your research is unacceptable Student Network Resources is an example of a source of research papers You must do your own research Your must do your own writing You may have someone review your work for �form� (e.g., spelling, grammar) You must create the content

13. Writing Requirements for Chapter One

14. Chapter One Consists of Seven Parts 1. Context of the problem 2. Statement of the problem 3. Specific research question and sub questions to address the problem 4. Significance of the study 5. Research design and methodology 6. Organization of the study 7. Tentative Reference List

15. 1. Context of the problem Background of the problem History Why the problem came into existence How the problem came into existence Who cares about this problem What has been done about this problem

16. Introduction to the problem Current status of the problem Why it is still unresolved Why it is important that it be resolved What has been tried to resolve the problem

17. How is this problem like some other problem? Who is this problem troubling? How is this problem causing trouble? Why isn�t this problem resolved? Who cares about this problem?

18. Definitions Define key concepts Define key variables

19. 2. Statement of the Problem See chapter 3 �The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process� in the Leedy & Ormrod text (used in BUS 531). Ask yourself the following: What am I doing? For what purpose am I doing it?

20. State the problem clearly and completely Your problem should be so clearly stated that anyone who reads English can read and understand it. If the problem is not stated with such clarity then you are merely deceiving yourself that you know what the problem is.

21. Inappropriate Titles Impact of Enron Future of the 150 Hour Requirement Background of Sarbanes Oxley Act Future of Accounting Education Reputation of CPAs Regaining Public Confidence in Auditing The above do not address a current problem.

22. Think through the feasibility of the project that the problem implies Students sometimes rush into a problem without thinking through its implication. It�s great to have ideas. It�s much better to have practical ideas. Edit to clarify your writing.

23. From Page 56 of Leedy & Ormrod: Checklist: Stating the research problem (in terms of your primary research question). Show other research students your work. Ask them to consider the question and then to give you their comments. Rewrite your problem statement once again.

24. Sub Questions 1. Each sub question should be a completely researchable unit. 2. Each sub question must be clearly tied to the interpretation of the data. 3. The answers to the sub questions must add up to the totality of the primary question. 4. Sub questions should be small in number.

25. Identifying the Sub Questions 1. Copy the primary research question onto a clean sheet of paper, leaving considerable space between the lines. 2. Read the question critically to discover the areas that should receive in-depth treatment before the question can be answered.

26. 3. Make sure every sub-question contains a word that indicates the necessity to interpret data within that particular sub-problem, e.g. Analyze Discover Compare

27. 4. Arrange the entire research question, which will now have the sub questions boxed off, into a skeletal plan that shows the research structure of the primary question. You now have a structure of the whole research design.

28. Delimiting the Research What the researcher is not going to do is stated in the delimitations. The limits of the problem should be carefully bounded for a research effort as a parcel of land is for a real estate transfer.

29. Relevancy Only a researcher who thinks carefully about the primary question and its focal center can distinguish between what is relevant and what is not relevant to the question.

30. Defining the Terms What precisely do the terms in the research question and the sub questions mean? Each term must be defined operatively�as it is employed in relation to the researcher�s project.

31. Stating Assumptions Assumptions are what the researcher takes for granted. Taking things for granted may cause much misunderstanding. What we assume, others may never have considered. Leave nothing to chance. State your assumptions.

32. Importance of the Project Of what use does your project have? What practical value does the project have? What good is it? What is the use of it all?

33. Checklist on pages 66-67 of Leedy 1. Have you read enough literature relevant to your topic to know that your research project is worth your time and effort? Have you discussed the value of your research effort with an expert? Will your work advance knowledge relative to your topic?

34. What is good about your project? What are the pitfalls of your project? Do you have a plan to review the literature? Do you have a plan for data collection? Do you have a plan for data analysis? Do you have a plan to interpret your data?

35. Questions to Ask Yourself Have two or three peers review your proposal? Do they understand what you are proposing to do? What questions do they have? What concerns have they shared?

36. Page 68 (Leedy) � 8 steps 1. Complete the necessary background search. 2. Try to see the question from all sides 3. Think through the process. 4. Use all tools and resources at your disposal 5. Discuss your research project with others, especially with peers.

37. 6. Hold up your project for others to examine and comment on. 7. Actively seek information and constructive criticism that may help you accomplish your task. 8. Remember that your project will take time.

38. Review of the Related Literature See chapter four of Leedy & Ormrod text. Searching the web www.alltheweb.com www.google.com www.altavista.com

39. Evaluating, organizing, and synthesizing the literature Compare and contrast varying theoretical perspectives on your topic Show how approaches to the topic have changed over time Describe general trends in research findings Identify discrepant or contradictory findings, and suggest possible explanations

40. Identify general themes that run throughout the literature You know enough to do a literature review Be clear in your thinking Have a plan Emphasize relatedness Review literature. Don�t reproduce it. Summarize what you have said.

41. Your that first draft will not be your last draft. Ask others for advice and feedback.

42. Planning Your Research Design No matter what academic discipline gives rise to the research endeavor, the general research procedure is fundamentally the same: A research question is posed. The question is converted to a research project.

43. It is worth a quess. The researcher poses a temporary hypothesis or series of hypotheses. The literature review is on for a possible solution. Look for data. Analyze data. Interpret data and draw conclusions.

44. Data Either the data seemingly resolve the problem � or not � The data either support the hypotheses or not �

45. Research Planning and Methodology The research project should be such that it could be carried out by any competent person. The research should be repeatable. The researcher must isolate, or control, those factors that are central to the research problem.

46. Data The data should be susceptible to measurement. Data are manifestations of reality. They are not reality. Data are transient and ever-changing.

47. The Purpose of Research To explain and predict To confirm and validate To test a theory

48. Nature of the Research Process Quantitative Focused Known variables Established variables Static design Context-free Detached view

49. Nature of the Research Process(cont.) Qualitative Holist Unknown variables Flexible guidelines Emergent design Context bound Personal view

50. Methods of Data Collection Quantitative Representative, large sample Standardized instrument Qualitative Informative, small sample Observations, interviews

51. Form of Reasoning Used in Analysis Quantitative Inductive�to come to a conclusion based on facts Qualitative Deductive�process of reasoning where conclusions are based on reasoning

52. Statement of the Problem Read literature Tells what is already known Tells what is still unknown Attend professional conferences Experienced researchers like to discuss topics IMA or AICPA meet monthly Seek advice of experts

53. Leedy & Ormrod, pages 51-54 What am you doing? For what purpose are you doing it? State the question clearly and completely. Think through the feasibility of the project that the question implies. Say precisely what you mean. Edit your work.

54. Significance of the Study Why this study is important? Historical review Current conflict Potential future problems Who will benefit?

55. Research Design and Methodology How the research will be conducted Qualitative Quantitative Survey, questionnaire, interviews, � Minimum of 5 interview or 10 survey respondees Primary and secondary sources

56. Organization of the Study Develop a research and writing schedule. Outline the different phases. Work backwards on timeline from when the draft of the DRP is due.

57. Timeline Backward 11th week: Final bound & signed copies 10th week: Electronic Version of final DRP � 9th week: Power Point slides as Oral Defense 8th week: Complete DRP in draft form � see syllabus 4th week: Draft of Chapter 2 & Revised Chapter 1 3rd week: Draft of Chapter 1

58. Deadlines are the Last Possible Dates for Submission You may make your deadlines earlier, but not later. Missed deadlines eliminates the possibility of earning an �A� grade.

59. Reference List Cited sources only APA citation format Not a bibliography of all possible sources Would have to be pages and pages� Could never include every source impacting your research.

60. Contents of the Final DRP Preliminary pages Title page Abstract Table of contents List of tables List of illustration Individual chapters Appendices Works cited

61. Oral Defense PowerPoint presentation of key points of the DRP Minimum of 15 slides Maximum of 30 slides

62. Oral Defense All research chapters must be complete according to the design in Chapter One. The Conclusion must address the research question. The Conclusion must be justified by the research findings reported in the Summary section.

63. Questions as to Purpose What do you want to know? Why? Who or what are the sources of your information or data? Why? What kind of information or data are you gathering? Why? What is your timeline? Why? What is the significance of your work? Why? How?

64. Statement of the Problem See the Directed Research Project Guidebook. First sentence states the research topic. Subsequent sentences present the structure of the problem.

65. Primary Research Question See the DRP Guidebook. State your expectation and compare to your findings, which may be: Qualitative and Quantitative.

66. Significance of Study Explain why� See Page 10 of the Guidebook.

67. Research Design & Methodology See Page 11 of the Guidebook. Quantitative Objective strategy Qualitative Subjective strategy

68. Organization of Study Present research chapters and sections in brief Four or five sentences that indicate what you will do in the research process. Describe how the total research effort will be presented.

69. Proposed Reference List At least 10 potential sources Published within the last two years Older sources must be significant (seminal) Alphabetical order by author last name Consistent format � APA, See page 186 of Keys for Writers.

70. Evaluation of the DRP Did the student do what was offered in the proposal? Did the student do what was supposed to be done? Did the writing style ensure effective communication, purpose, clarity, and understanding?

71. Citations �Whether the DRP research effort quotes, paraphrases or summarizes, it is important to record the extracted original source material properly�� See DRP Guidance

72. Pages 19, 20, 21 of Manual Section 8 presents the DRP format requirements. These are very specific�a check list�must be adhered to.

73. Questions? What questions do you now have? Please email questions to me at any time. I am online every day. I am only a click away. gawillscpa@myactv.net