Basic Research Strategies

This guidebook uses a combination of pragmatism, humor, and original data to respond to knowledge gaps commonly experienced by students in non-traditional, accelerated, and online degree programs. Basic information useful for creating a thesis proposal and conducting an independent study is provided. Themes include: choosing a topic, data sources, IRB review, asking questions, stating hypotheses, sample size estimation, randomization, statistical testing, presenting data, and defending findings. Finally, readers are encouraged with data that suggests high stress levels will likely normalize after the thesis is completed.