WhiteTyronn_A500.7.3.R.B.

Tyronn White

Quantitative Research

     Research on society can be an interesting and tricky topic.  As social researchers are trained to look for patterns or irregularities, it may be more difficult today to find answers to explain why certain patterns exist.  With our society changing every few years, due to governmental policies and social media, researching may have difficulties catching up to the changes every few years.

      Social researchers must have questions answered as it pertains to their research on what events take place in society.  The why and what questions can sometimes be difficult to answer because of how a researcher responds to new knowledge, the self-consciousness of the researcher may impede progress and if the researcher him or herself is part of the object of study.

     Also any measurements taken for analysis may be inaccurate due to biases, persuasion through media outlets and personal feelings towards the research. 

     I my personal opinion, society changes every three to four years.  You can see it and feel it through media and social media outlets.  The content that is allowed on television and radio may change public perception on topics and events as it is designed to tap into our feelings and possibly persuade our views on social issues. 

How to obtain quantitative data?

     In quantitative research, the researcher aims at answering the why question, seeking an explanation.  The quantitative method states that the social phenomenon can be measured and expressed numerically.  The information about a social phenomenon is put into numerical terms that can be measured in statistical information.  The numerical terms can be transformed into a rows and columns for a data chart which can be later used as a starting point for an analysis. 

     An analysis is needed for measurement and documentation of data so it can be used for any type of comparison that a researcher wants to use it for.

How describe data and single variables?

The definition of a variable is anything that can be observable and measurable.  Variables are used as a visual representation of what is being researched and or experimented.

     Variables may be anything that the researcher wants to represent, individuals, groups, events, multimedia etc.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research:

     When gathering information from variables, there are strengths and weaknesses to consider.  One of the strengths, to consider is that someone’s research may be a topic(s) that may or may not be directly or easily observable by the general public that may provide important information to the public that may not otherwise be discovered. 

     This is when biases and personal feelings on a topic should be carefully filtered.  If the social researcher discoverers and publishes data discovered that may change public perception, it would be irresponsible for the social researcher not take into account the magnitude of that information.

     One weakness to consider is that the information discovered and provided for the researcher may simplify or compress information that may not tell the entire story and may lack perspective.   

How to obtain quantitative data?

     To obtain qualitative data, the researcher must 1^st select s theme or topic as a plan of research.  The next step is to get familiar with the theme being researched by asking oneself a few questions.  What do I know and don’t know about the theme / topic, has the theme / topic been researched in the manner the researcher wants to research and are there pre-existing data available?

How to describe data and single variables?

     The description of single variable and data is all of the information that lends itself to research.  Data and single variables give us the meat and potatoes of the results that follow research.  Based on our research, a researcher may construct data and variables to indicate and or illustrate whatever the researcher wants to emphasize on.  When using variables to illustrate, demonstrate or bring light to subject matter, it is the researcher’s responsibility that the information presented is as accurate as possible.  Miss information for the masses may have a negative impact and may be difficult to recover from.

How to analyze relationships (dependencies between two or more variables)?

     One way to analyze data and the relationships between two or more variables is to one, research the topic to find the data, indicate the facts found (statistical data, observations, etc.).  Explain the information discovered.  Illustrate the information discovered by showing charts and graphs to match the data and explanation of that data.  Future illustration of the data through charts and graphs may illustrate comparisons and contrast between the variables.  Once again this is opportunity for biases and personal feelings on charts and graphs on the variables should be carefully filtered and are as accurate as possible.  If the social researcher discoverers and publishes data discovered and publish the charts and graphs as factual data, then that data must be factual because sensitive data involving charts and graphs may have a greater impact that the data itself because of the visualization of charts and graphs. It would irresponsible for the social researcher not take into account the magnitude of the information and visualization from charts and graphs.

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Tyronn White                                                                        MLSD 500

Qualitative Research

   Qualitative research uses a naturalistic approach that seeks understanding through a context of specific settings.  This approach seems the most comfortable to my way of doing research.   I am able to look at the information and dissect it to determine the data I need for my research.  Once I am able to determine the data collected, I will be able to relate the information and apply it such a way that can benefit me for the rest of my life.

Features of qualitative research:

     The feature of qualitative research gives the researcher a guide to covering all basis of their research.  Qualitative research uses the natural setting as the source of data.  The researcher acts as the human instrument of data collection, determining what is and is not important to their research.  Qualitative researchers use data analysis to break down and make sense of the data collected.

      Qualitative research reports are descriptive, incorporating expressive language bringing a human presence to the reporting.  The qualitative researcher has an interpretive character which discovers and illustrates the events and meanings. 

     Qualitative researchers pay attention to idiosyncratic as well as the pervasive, seeking uniqueness of each case.  Qualitative research has an emergent design and focus on this emerging process as well as the outcomes or product of the research.  Qualitative research is judged using criteria for trustworthiness.

     Qualitative research means any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedure or other means of quantification.

     Quantitative research means to seek casual determination, prediction and generalization of findings; qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, understanding and extrapolation to similar situations.

     I lean towards the side of adapting qualitative research to be used to better understand a phenomenon about which I know little information about and also learn new things about content I am already familiar with.

A500.5.3.-WhiteTyronn

Critical Thinking about Critical Thinking

      The method in which think about things has not changed much since taking this course.  However, the way I analyze my thinking has changed.  I have always been a deep thinker, always reflecting on the events of the day, the people I come in contact with, the challenges I face every day.  I often replay things in my head to determine if a situation, event or problem was handled the right way.  What I mean when I say if I handled a situation the right way, is that I was democratic in my decision, making sure I made the best choice for all parties involved. 

     My analytical thinking has improved dramatically since taking this course.  Having a method to reflect on issues, problems and circumstances professionally and personally can be a huge asset to have when in a leadership position.  It is my belief that true care for the organization and its people should generate some type of reflection to foster the best optimal situation for the organization and its people.

     Thinking analytically, gives leaders the opportunity to develop rules and strategies to deal with the day to day operations of an organization.  Thinking analytically, while dealing with different personalities in an organization is a tough task.  Thinking analytically is the method I have adopted while taking this course.  Analytical thinks allows me to take a deeper look at things from a different perspective.

     To make a lasting positive change in the way I think, it would take continuous reading, watching TED videos, posting my assignments, communicating with classmates and the professor on our post.  I enjoy the opportunities to experience different real world scenarios that having meaning for our assignments.  These real world, real life scenarios allows for authentic thinking and applying those thoughts to real concepts.    Continuing to learn from my classmates by reading some of their experiences in dealing with circumstances they found themselves in is a great benefit.  The more opportunities I have to go through the modules, communicate with classmates on their experiences, share some of my experiences gives me a good background to develop multiple strategies in dealing with analytical thinking.

A500.2.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

(Standards in Life)

     I believe that in order to steer a life in a particular direction, on must incorporate standards and beliefs as a foundation to live by, especially in times of uncertainty.  These standards in life are what you believe in and for the most part are unchanging.  I come from humble beginnings.  A single parent home, not much money, struggling to make ends meet.  Although my mother did not graduate high school and could not help me with my daily school assignments, she valued education and understood the opportunity it brings.  So from the beginning, my mother always pushed me to do well with my academics and graduate high school.  I remembered that even in my young teenage years, I knew I wanted to be successful.  I remember that I wanted to live a better life as an adult that my mother did and if I had children, I wanted a better life for them as well.  There was no blueprint for me to follow for success because there was no one around for be to imitate and observe what success looked like.  

     I was a basketball player in high school.  I remember having been invited to play basketball on a travel team and spent the night at a teammates home the nighr prior to traveling to the game.  My teammate's family was a hard working educated family that lived in a nice home that was was well maintained.  I knew from the outside looking in that this family was not materialistic, but valued everything that they had earned.  This was an opportunity for me to see what success looked like first hand.  That night at the dinner table, I told the family that they had a nice home and when I became an adult, I wanted to experience some of the same successes they have enjoyed.  My teammate's father explained to me that they were by any means rich but they worked hard a cherished all of their accomplishments and valued family.  That night at their home was a great experience and changed my life forever, giving me an opportunity to develop some concepts to allow me to move forward in my life and work towards being successful.

     At this present time in my life, I am still working towards continued success but I also want to be an awesome husband, father and friend.  I want to be a productive citizen in society always being curious to learn new things and grow socially, spiritually, economically and keeping my mind open to changes in our society and adapting to them while still maintaining my core principals in life.  I would like to continue to grow professionally and have an impact on the students and co-workers I come in contact with.  I am striving to be a living role model for my children, while also pushing them to levels above where my wife and I were in various points in our development in life.  I want our children to be better prepared for the future and position themselves to be strong leaders in their communities and in the workforce.

     Right now, while our children are young, my wife and I are balancing our own needs and wants as well as making sure our children have all of the resources they need from us to give them the best chance for success.  

     I would say that I have developed three different personalities in my lifetime to adapt to the three stations in my life.  About every 5 years, I have had to recharge my thinking based on my experience so far , each time, editing my philosophies to fit my aspirations and the station in my life to be successful while not giving up my core principals.  

     I am almost certain that after my experience with The Master's In Leadership program, that my philosophies will change drastically with the knowledge obtained over the next couple of years.

A500.2.3.RB

Tell your Story

(Standards in Life)

     I believe that in order to steer a life in a particular direction, on must incorporate standards and beliefs as a foundation to live by, especially in times of uncertainty.  These standards in life are what you believe in and for the most part are unchanging.  I come from humble beginnings.  I was raised in a single parent home, not much money, struggling to make ends meet.  Although my mother did not graduate high school and could not help me with my daily school assignments, she valued education and understood the opportunity it brings.  So from the beginning, my mother always pushed me to do well with my academics and graduate high school.  I remembered that even in my young teenage years, I knew I wanted to be successful.  I remember that I wanted to live a better life as an adult that my mother did and if I had children, I wanted a better life for them as well.  There was no blueprint for me to follow for success because there was no one around for be to imitate and observe what success looked like.  

     I was a basketball player in high school.  I remember having been invited to play basketball on a travel team and spent the night at a teammates home the night prior to traveling to the game.  My teammate's family was a hard working educated family that lived in a nice home that was well maintained.  I knew from the outside looking in that this family was not materialistic, but valued everything that they had earned.  This was an opportunity for me to see what success looked like first hand.  That night at the dinner table, I told the family that they had a nice home and when I became an adult, I wanted to experience some of the same successes they have enjoyed.  My teammate's father explained to me that they were by any means rich but they worked hard a cherished all of their accomplishments and valued family.  That night at their home was a great experience and changed my life forever, giving me an opportunity to develop some concepts to allow me to move forward in my life and work towards being successful.

     At this present time in my life, I am still working towards continued success but I also want to be an awesome husband, father and friend.  I want to be a productive citizen in society always being curious to learn new things and grow socially, spiritually, economically and keeping my mind open to changes in our society and adapting to them while still maintaining my core principals in life.  I would like to continue to grow professionally and have an impact on the students and co-workers I come in contact with.  I am striving to be a living role model for my children, while also pushing them to levels above where my wife and I were in various points in our development in life.  I want our children to be better prepared for the future and position themselves to be strong leaders in their communities and in the workforce.

     Right now, while our children are young, my wife and I are balancing our own needs and wants as well as making sure our children have all of the resources they need from us to give them the best chance for success.  

     I would say that I have developed three different personalities in my lifetime to adapt to the three stations in my life.  About every 5 years, I have had to recharge my thinking based on my experience so far , each time, editing my philosophies to fit my aspirations and the station in my life to be successful while not giving up my core principals.  

     I am almost certain that after my experience with The Master's In Leadership program, that my philosophies will change drastically with the knowledge obtained over the next couple of years.

     

A500.4.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

Ballet Slippers or Adorable?

  

      The video of Dr. Sheena Lyengar was very informative on our differences of culture and how that relates to our lives and how we interaction with one another.  Because of my involvement in sports, I have had an opportunity to travel to parts of the world and experience firsthand some of the cultural differences we have with other parts of the world.  I remember while traveling around the world, making different stops to play with different interaction teams, I noticed that there were few to no choices for each culture I experienced.  
     Financially, there were not poor, middle class, and wealthy.  There were those that had money and those that did not.  In terms of buying goods for one self, there were very little choices to choose from, very little variations in companies that were different but sold the same goods.  For example if I wanted lotion, there would only be one type of lotion.  There was no lotion for sensitive skin, dry skin, and oily skin.  There was just lotion. 

     Being 21-22 years of age and having the opportunity to experience these differences, I noticed right away all of the luxuries that we have in the United States were luxuries that I have taken for granted for a long as I can remember.  Simple choosing shampoo in the store, there are rows and rows and rows of shampoo, all different shapes and colored bottle as well as the actual shampoo itself.  While in other parts of the world, there are only one or a few types of shampoo to choose from.

     This made me realize that the opportunities we have I the United States, the options and choices that are afforded to us have a major impact on our culture.  The culture in the United States is and has always been about choice.  Were as in other countries and cultures, the choices can be dictated or limited.

     I recall going on a cruise with my family and on the first night at dinner, we had options for dessert.  There were only two options but they were options.  One option was a chocolate dessert in which I had never tried but wanted to try it.  I was in an experimental spirit given that I was on a cruise.  I did not like the chocolate dish and changed it for the fruit plate.  The waitress thought that I did not like chocolate as a whole, but I tried to explain to her that I did like chocolate, just not the way my chocolate dish was prepared.  For the rest of my cruise, the waitress asked me every day “why did I not like chocolate.  My family and I got some laughs out of it but it made me realize how profound the smallest things can be a big deal in different cultures were choices may not be as profound. 

     I agree with Dr. Sheena Lyengar in that we all have a responsibility to open ourselves up to an array of opportunities that choices give us.  I mentioned in a previous lesson that good leaders will allow people in their organization to have choices which will foster creativity and success.

Tyronn White

A500.3.4.RB_WhiteTyronn

Tyronn White

Hunt Library

When I was in college as a teenager, before I went back to finish after my basketball career ended,

the internet, although in its early phase was information that I did not rely on that much, because at the

time, there was so much information being pumped into the web, it was difficult to figure out was

information was reliable and what information was not reliable. With the early stages of the internet,

the information we have now is nowhere close to what we have presently on the web. Books and

researching books in the library was still a key factor in research or using for information for a research

paper or a project. If students wanted updated information about a topic, research paper or project,

newspaper and magazine articles were the way to go to obtain current information.

Today with the boom of the internet, there is virtually no information one can’t get their hands on if

you have any knowledge of how to use the computer. Students today have virtually no barriers as to

the information available to them. Students may research historic information as well as current events.

Magazines and newspaper article are all on line as well.

Social media has been booming over these past several years. Facebook, Twitter to name a few are

millennials source of news and don’t use any other outlets for their new updates and information. As we

are in the age of technology and instant access, younger people and older people are busier now days

and want everything microwavable for their fast pace lifestyle.

Media outlets are a source of information now and are more powerful than ever. They use virtually

all of the technology based social media sites to home in the narrative and the messages they want to

get across to the public. It gives the general public to have a voice and an opinion on our social issues

today. This is a powerful tool for instant information and gratification for their opportunities to have

discussions over social media networks about a disaster or an event in society dealing with political

issues sports, tragedies in society.

Unless our authors can create books more frequently about what is going on in today’s society, and

are able to write openly about some of our social issues, political issues and disasters in the world, there

is no way that books will be able to compete with the internet in the future. Things a moving too fast

for our author’s to create interesting literature to keep up with the events of today.

In regards to the Hunt Library, I have noticed a shift in technology in recent years. Libraries are now

becoming more technological advance in how the obtain content for their customers. Because of the

online technology, the Hunt Library lends itself to an online data base that allows customers to search

for content located at The Hunt Library and also any libraries connected to their online network in the

area. The ability to order and reserve media content and books is a nice feature that has been

implement recently the last few years. If the technology continues to grow and improve, the public

library industry can be a major competitor in how we obtain the newest content and information to

compete with our fast growing pace of digital media.