Assignments.19

1. Your Research Challenges: (Min 150 words)
What challenges have you encountered in the identification of a research topic for your Portfolio Project in this course? What strategies have you used to overcome those challenges? How do the strategies you have used relate to best practices in academic research?

2. The Essence of Practical Research: (Min 150 words)
Practical research is not linear. Generally student researchers will take a qualitative approach to practical business research because the problem is not clearly defined and the investigation is exploratory. How might you continuously improve your problem statement, management questions, or research questions in this final week of this course as you complete your Portfolio Project?

3. Quantitative Research Design, Analysis, and Results: (Min 2 Pages)
Read the research study “The performance of female entrepreneurs: Credit, training and the moderating effect of attitude towards risk-taking” (http://search.proquest.com.csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/docview/1526676849/D154B4219EC948F1PQ/1?accountid=38569). Then use the table provided in Handout 5  – Quality of Research (See attached) to write an essay evaluating the quality of the research effort.

4. Qualitative Evaluation: (Min 2 Pages)
Find the following qualitative research study: “Systems thinking in practice: The current status of the six WHO building blocks for health system strengthening in three BHOMA intervention districts of Zambia: A baseline qualitative study” (http://search.proquest.com.csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/docview/1419099081/45B38E1A199E49CAPQ/1?accountid=38569). Then use the table from Handout 6 – Quality of Research (See attached) to evaluate the quality of the research effort.

5. Lifetime Employability: (Min: 2 Pages)
In the Career Center, read the Keeping a Job section, read On the Job Success (See attached). Using a single example or multiple examples from your professional life now and/or in the past, answer the following questions in a well-written paper. Be sure to provide detailed responses to these questions using specific examples and integrate your answers into a paper that flows smoothly.

• How do you use critical thinking in decision making and problem solving in your professional life?
• What are the three most important elements of personal and professional etiquette that you employ in your professional life?
• What are your strengths in communication in your professional life? What are your weaknesses?
• What strategies do you employ to stay on-task and on-time in your professional life? How do you manage your professional goals?