DISCOVERING YOUR FEARS AND ANXIETY ABOUT RESEARCH

Every field and discipline of study is different in some way. It also means that every field/discipline of study has a different approach to research and data collection reflecting the nuances of the subject matter. Each method can be daunting to understand, especially to the uninitiated in that area of research. What has been your experience with research, either in school or in your professional career? How prepared do you feel to learn about how to conduct research? Does the idea of conducting experiments, collecting data, interviewing other professionals, or examining data in the literature cause you anxiety? Maybe you love to conduct research and find that it energizes you.

For this Discussion, you will reflect on your personal and professional experience with research and whether or not the idea or act of research brings you a level of anxiety.

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

To Prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources for this week and the Common Fears and Anxiety About Research media program.
• Consider your own personal anxieties, fears, and challenges you might have for research.
• Consider the following:

Levels of Anxiety Survey

1                    2                    3                    4                    5
(Low)                            (Moderate)                            (High)

On this 5-point scale, with 5 being highest level of anxiety, 3 being moderate, and 1 being the lowest, score yourself as to your level of anxiety about this course. Use these results for your Discussion.

BY DAY 4

Post a self-introduction and describe your particular field or discipline. Explain how quantitative data in general are used in your field. Describe how numbers (i.e., quantitative data) are used to interpret a phenomenon in your field or discipline.

Next, based on the Levels of Anxiety survey, explain why you scored yourself at the level of anxiety you selected. Also, discuss your anxiety, fears, and one challenge you might have with research and how you might address this challenge. 

RESOURCES/REFERENCES

• Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. B. (2020). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 
  
  • Chapter 7, “Standardized Measurement and Assessment” (pp. 150-155)
  • Chapter 8, “Methods of Data Collection in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research” (pp. 179-206)
• Salkind, N. (2016). Excel Statistics: A Quick Guide (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
  
  • Preface, “How to Use This Book” (pp. viii-xi)
  • Part I, “Using Excel Functions” (pp.1-7)
  • Part II, “Using the Analysis ToolPak” (pp. 89-91)
• Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Wilson, V. A. (2003). Statistics anxiety: Nature, etiology, antecedents, effects, and treatments: A comprehensive review of the literatureLinks to an external site.. Teaching in Higher Education, 8, 195–209. doi:10.1080/1356251032000052447
• Tubaro, P. (2015, October 18). Research ethics in secondary data: what issues?Links to an external site.Data Big and Small. https://databigandsmall.com/2015/10/18/research-ethics-in-secondary-data-what-issues/
• Tubaro, P. (2016, May 15). Ethical issues in research with online dataLinks to an external site.. Data Big and Small. https://databigandsmall.com/2016/05/15/ethical-issues-in-research-with-online-data/ 
• Document: Final Project Overview Download Final Project Overview(PDF)
  This document will be available in every week of the course for easy access.
• Document: Final Project Worksheet Download Final Project Worksheet(Word document)