Hello Mentees!
How are you feeling about the mentoring project? Are we answering questions and providing you with information that is helpful or interesting to you? Is there something more we can be doing to help you, or do you have any suggestions on topics that would be beneficial? Did you enjoy taking the Virtual Philosopher quiz?
Although I really am interested and look forward to hearing your answers, I also want to point out that questioning and interviewing people is a very valuable research method. As most of you are well aware through the many different courses you have taken, we have to use research on a regular basis: papers, tests, studying, interviews, answering questions and in so many other ways. Focusing on your topic’s objectives and goals is a main part of conducting research, and organization skills are an almost absolute necessary to be successful in completing a research project.
Research skills are highly valuable not only in academics, but also in the professional world. If you can successfully complete research projects and use the information gathered efficiently, employers will be impressed that your critical thinking and analyzing skills are developed. Research projects in the academic world are one of my weaker areas, although I am proficient in research methods in my professional arena, especially when developing interpretive programs. How do you feel about your research skills?
How do you think you can improve them? What are some examples of how you have used research recently, whether it be in your academic, professional or personal life? Do you have any tips on how I could improve my academic research skills? I look forward to hearing from you!
Kadie
Hello!
I agree 100% with Kadie. I feel that life is a research project. You start with basic research skill when you are learning how to talk, walk, read, write, and more. You the move on and go through schools which you (or your parents) research to make certain that you are getting the best education. When you graduate from grade school you have already taken years to research which college suits you best...whether it is for sports, music, academics, or spiritual backgrounds. Then when you are in college you research different areas of interest so that you can start a job you feel fits you in every way. You go to that job where you use a lot of the skills you have acquired through the research.
In life throughout relationships, education, and self experiences you use different aspects of researching and gaining knowledge. How do you feel you have reached the ultimatum of your researching skills? What do you feel you should have researched in life or jobs more? Where do you wish you would have spent more time learning about the situation or project? =)
I am excited to hear all your answers and get to talk about researching =) We are in a way researching each other when we chat...gaining more and more knowledge about one another =)
Here's to more research in the making...
~Rebe
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Hello mentees,
ReplyDeleteI hope all is going well with your courses this semester! I understand in Cornerstone you are now working on a group research project. What research tools are you currently using and do you find them to be useful or problematic? I look forward to hearing from you.
Pam
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI also believe that life involves research! I can say that because I am constantly doing it, pretty much everyday. Research is not only meant for school projects but for every day life too. I think that most people don't notice when they do it on regular life activities. Looking for couple of insurance quotes and then comparing them to get the one that offers the most is a form of research as well as googling for low sodium soup recipes!
Paloma Peraza
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIn concern to what Rebe said, I don' think there is point were you become the best researcher you can be. I think improvement can be achieve everyday. I also think that little by little we change our ways of making things, so the way we do research will change too.
When I'm doing research for school related thing, I prefer to have information printed, there is something about the written word that just makes it so much easier for me. I also like to have everything organized and most of the time highlighted and with notes all over the place. I think my way of figuring things out it's a kind chaotic organization mix. I also have find that if I let thing rest for a while (taking time off from the assignment) everything gets easier later and I will have a better picture of whats going on with all the information I have from research.
Paloma Peraza
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteResearching has been intriguing to me because sometimes you never know what you will learn. The issue i find with some types of research is the information available or even sometimes just getting a hold of someone. It is very hard to remain unbiased when conducting interviews. That is something that i would like to master some day. Even when presenting research in a paper, i have to try my hardest not to put a spin on it. The media does that a lot but i try to make sure i present my research the way it is supposed to be presented. my current research, i am actually picking to research the opposite side of what i believe so that i can see another point of view. let's see how it works.
-dora
I feel like my research skillz are fairly adequate. I’ve never had any problems with not being able to find enough information on something; the internet pretty much has fixed that problem. I find myself doing research constantly throughout my life. Whether I’m looking up new movies to watch, or doing research for an assignment, or researching Facebook, it’s always there. I feel that it isn’t very beneficial to look back at the past and wonder what I should have done more but, one thing comes to mind: Buddhism. I feel like I’m pretty close to reaching Nirvana in my spiritual knowledge but I could be so much more accomplished if I started the teachings sooner. Alas, I feel that everything in the past makes you who you are now and a change to any one thing might as well be a change to everything. And I’m pretty happy about who I am today.
ReplyDelete~Galen Michael Macpherson I~
Hello!
ReplyDeletePaloma...this is true...i agree you never can reach a ultimate being. You can never learn too much and i dont believe you have a ending point. Good call on the question i asked. I am not sure what my thought process was but i agree in the fact that you are in constant learning and growing.
Galen...do you really feel you have an ultimate stop in your entire being? You feel that at some point you reach ultimate you? =)
~Rebe
Rebe,
ReplyDeletegood question to galen. I was wondering the same thing. I look back and see my journey as a person and feel like i can never become an "ultimate" me. i am constantly learning, adapting, adopting and developing my thoughts and belief systems. its hard to think of myself as being done! the phrase "you learn something new everyday" comes to mind. as children, we learn by looking around and researching our surroundings. we continue this process but just in a refined manner as we get older. at some point we can begin to teach while continuing to learn as well.
-dora
Glen
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about the internet fixing any research process problem. It's amazing how much information there is too find. the only thing I don't like about the internet it's that it's kind of awkward to me sometimes because I love having literally the information at hand. The truth is that the internet it's an amazing portal of knowledge and information.
Paloma Peraza
Dora, I think that researching a different perspective is a GREAT idea! You can never fully understand anything until you have walked in another person's shoes, so to speak, and by understanding a different point of view, as you are suggesting, will help you be a fully well-rounded individual. Besides, often people learn more about themselves and sometimes they find a better way of doing/thinking.
ReplyDeleteAs noted, the internet has become very much the predominant research method. It seems you guys have a pretty good grasp on the idea of research, especially when used in every day life. Just yesterday I was researching different cell phone companies (online of course).
What are other ways research is conducted?
Kadie
I think the mentoring project is going as well as it could be. I see nothing wrong with the way you are running things. I have yet to have any questions that i could direct towards you to answer, so Its kinda difficult for me to give you a definitive answer to that question. As to suggestions, I will say that I liked the Virtual Philosopher quiz from last week. So I would suggest we do more activities like that. I thought it was very thought provoking and interesting the way it made us think about the answers we were giving...but, then again, I am one who enjoys Philosophy. So that may be just me, haha.
ReplyDeleteAs to my Research skills, I believe they are top-notch. I'm very well versed at utilizing search engines and the world wide web to find the information that I may be searching for at any given moment. If there was anything that I could improve when it came to my research skills, it would probably be my physical research (actually going into a library and looking for things/information in actual periodicals and journals, stuff like that). Recently I have used research to do a 10 page research proposal and presentation for a class i was taking last semester. If there were any way that any single person could improve their research skills/abilites, I think it would be to open their minds to the idea that the information they seek could be in the most unexpected places.
-Totiro N. Clark II
Paloma,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. There really isn't a point where you become the best researcher possible. Improvement is always something that is possible for any single person, no matter how skilled they may be at doing something. When it comes to research, its also inevitable that no matter how much you've researched something, you'll never know it all. There are known knowns, but also known unknowns and UNKNOWN unknowns...things that we don't know that we don't know. Until we know what these unknown unknowns are...well...you get the picture. Haha.
-Totiro N. Clark II
Galen,
ReplyDeleteSo i take it from your post, that you're seriously into Buddhism. Dude man, thats pretty cool. I tried to go ahead and take up meditation myself, just as a way to center myself. Yea, that fell through completely. I find that these days I get more centered and focused from just cleaning my car. Thats my meditation/therapy time, personally.
But yea, i totally agree with you on the internet deal. Its made research so much easier, its kind of scary. I shudder to think what life would be like without the internet sharing the vast amounts of information it does. How would I find stats/facts/figures that I need for papers or assignments? Where would I go? Without the internet, I think we all would be pretty much gimped with the whole research deal, lol.
-Totiro N. Clark II
As much as the internet has made things very easy to find, research, learn about and even teach others. I find my brain works better in a library in front of books. Maybe I am just old school but in addition to my quick internet searches for information, I have always gone to the library and read books. There is something about a library to me since my younger days. Just like Galen with Buddism or Totiro with cleaning his car, the library is my place to think, center my thoughts and most importantly read random books.
ReplyDeleteI have always learned a lot more when I tutored someone else on any subject. so I suppose in a way, talking it out or learning about a subject from someone else's perspective is how I learn as well.
-dora peters
Paloma,
ReplyDeleteI also find if I take some time off I have a better picture of what's going on when I come back to it. Often times, it if I sleep on it, when I awake I know exactly what I am going to do. It's really amazing how this works! Do you always allow for that time period? If not, maybe it is something we both should consider as it seems to be a pretty powerful time.
Pam
Dora,
ReplyDeleteAlthough the internet has made things easier to find, do you sometimes feel the amount of information can be overwhelming? I seem to do best sitting down at the library with a few good books. Also, it seems easier to comprehend and sort through using books...this is definently considered old school!
Pam
•How do we use research in our everyday lives? in school? at work?
ReplyDeleteIn our everyday lives we research all the time. Sometimes I have a pressing question that I feel the need to find the answer. For example I was in bed and my phone was charging and the light it has when it’s charging was annoying me. I wanted to know how to turn it off. I looked at a few pages in the phone’s handbook and did not find my answer there. Then I went online to find my answer. That is a simple example but there are many times we require extensive research. As in finding a job for instance; when I search for a job I do not only look at pay. I want to know if this job will be a good environment for and will I better myself as a person. So I ask people who may know about the job and also online research about the job/company. In school we research all the time. Whether it is writing a research paper or doing homework research is required. Searching for information to complete a research paper is obviously a situation which requires research. Completing a homework assignment may require research also. I know when I doing my homework I get stuck on certain problems and I need to search for the answers to solve them. Normally I flip the pages of the book or go online to find the answers I seek, both are considered research methods.
- Lawatha L. CherRenfro
•Which specific skills are used when completing a research project?
ReplyDeleteMany skills are used while completing a research project. One must have the skills to read, comprehend, and interpret the information he/she is examining to formulize thoughts to present the reader or observer with a clear and precise understanding of the message that is to be delivered. The skill to decipher between the truth and lies is a necessary skill. Many times information we find may be put in place just as a ploy to push a certain agenda and as professionals we must be able to look past these things and present only concrete, proven facts even if the propaganda we find supports our claim or position. In short we must be able to realize the difference between credible sources and incredible ones. Flexible thought has come in handy for me in the past. Sometimes I have a belief or thought about a certain subject but while doing the research to support my claim I find that I have a change of heart and have to reevaluate my position. Organizational skills are required to take all the information gathered, extract what is needed, be willing to discard the excess, to create the best project possible. Patience is also a key factor in research projects. Many times I find myself not able to find the information I am looking for but after much persistence I can find what I need. If not for patience failure or mediocre work will be the outcome of the research.
- Lawatha L. CherRenfro
•How might your ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? current employer?
ReplyDeleteThe skills used on a research project can be useful in situations such as future employment. Reading and comprehension are vital to the workforce. In any job if any of these skills are subpar it will be detrimental to the organization. If you read a specific set of instructions and are not able to understand the meaning that could cost the company money, time, and safety. Having a good sense of what is a lie and the truth may come in good use in areas as far as business when making business propositions. Being able to tell when a deal is too good to be true could save a business time and heartache because it enhances a person’s ability to see through false advertising and know and understand what is plausible. Practicing flexibility in actions and thought is quite useful when applied to the job. Many times we are in the midst of completing a project and criteria change which requires the work and research to change direction. Frustration may occur but patience is required to work through this which is another trait that is useful to the workforce.
- Lawatha L. CherRenfro
•Create a potential (fictitious but believable) work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play.
ReplyDeleteLet us say that I am working for an engineering firm who creates engines for aircraft and spacecraft. The firm realizes that the emissions from its engines are hazardous to the environment; enough so that they want to go in a different direction and make cleaner burning engines. In trying to reduce emission levels from their products they do not want to sacrifice efficiency or power. They assign me as team leader to the team which is to solve this problem. I first ask all the questions I need to before I dive head first into the project like; how much time do I have, how much money will be set aside for my research, what are my restrictions, how often is a progress report due, and etc. I then select a team of professionals for input and research portion of my project. This team would be comprised of an astrophysicist, aerospace engineer, electrical engineer, computer engineer, earth scientist, chemist, psychologist, financial manager, and me of course. All of these professionals will have some part in the formulization of a solution to the problem. My astrophysicist would inform me of the limitations space travel presents and also what advantages I could manipulate to work towards my advantage. My earth scientist would have the role exploring alternative fuels and their dangers to the atmosphere and human health. He/she would have to research how to convert this newly discovered substance as a means of efficient power. The chemist would work with the earth scientist to test the theories of the earth scientist either in a lab or in the field. The aerospace engineer will be in charge of designing a finished product incorporating all the other fields’ input. They would have to know what the outcome of the earth scientist’s findings are so they can create baseline for these engines to run on whatever substance we find to be most efficient. The electrical and aerospace engineers would work together to find some way to provide a design and have electronics flow through our product. My computer engineer would have the task of creating a simulator to test and retest different theories of the design. He/she would have to work together with the astrophysicist and earth scientist to make a simulator that is as realistic as possible to the conditions earth and space presents. My financial advisor would inform me if I am using my money wisely, when I am short on funds, what I might need to do to be more cost efficient, and etc. The psychologist would be there to keep me informed of the mental state of my team. He/she would advise me when there is a potential problem that may interfere with the results of the project; maybe its morale, cohesiveness, or whatever. The main job for the psychologist would be to keep me informed of the state of mind of the workers. I would then take the input of all these professions and find a way to use all of them to create a finished product for my engineering firm. I would then be promoted to vice president and start working on the top floor, with a great view, nice leather chair, and a very nice and hard working secretary.
- Lawatha L. CherRenfro
•How might your ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? current employer?
ReplyDeleteAs an interdisciplinarian I could bring my future employer a different approach to solve problems. Traditional problem solving such as viewing a problem from only one aspect tends to be useless. Me as an interdisciplinarian I could take the exact same problem that has been explored only from one direction and I could incorporate various different aspects. Not only would I incorporate many fields of study to solve the problem, I would be equipped with the tools to devise a solution that allows all of them to work simultaneously. This ability could allow my advancement within to be expedited. I would be able to respect other’s opinions views from different fields and put all of that input they have in to use by tying it to something else and making those ideas work together.
- Lawatha L. CherRenfro
Rebe,
ReplyDeleteI feel that there isn't a certain set of qualities that can make a person perfect. Each individual has a different perfect "self" that IS reachable and attainable, but difficult in doing so. No two persons' paths are the same.
~Galen Michael Macpherson I~
Dora,
ReplyDeleteI utterly agree that teaching people is a wonderful way to and do research. I used to tutor elementary school kids and I would often find myself researching the subjects being taught more into depth than I would have if I had not been teaching to others. It's also very surprising how much random knowledge spills out of 11 year olds' heads sometimes.
~Galen Michael Macpherson I~
Galen,
ReplyDeleteCan you please explain to me how a person knows what their "perfect self" is and when it is reached? I am just curious =)
Thanks!
~Rebe