THE ROLE OF THE RESEACHER

Synthesis Paper: The Role of the Researcher Comment by Maureen Groth: Title needs to be formatted in bold font. Then add a blank line after the title.

LaMarcus Streeter

College of Doctoral Studies, Grand Canyon University

RES-815: Introduction to Research

Dr. Groth

November 22, 2023

Synthesis Paper: The Role of the Researcher Comment by Maureen Groth: Title should be bold on this page also.

Research and evidence-based studies constitute essential components of doctoral degree programs, requiring students to possess competent research skills for successful completion of their coursework. The journey toward becoming a researcher involves diverse experiences within the doctoral program, where participants engage in empirical and theoretical studies within relevant fields. Subsequently, researchers publicize their findings through publication in appropriate media and presentations at seminars and conferences. The substantial value of feedback further fosters socialization between faculty and doctoral students at this academic level (Inouye & McAlpine, 2017).

The mastery of research skills holds immense significance within the iSOFT agency for doctoral learners, enabling them to generate relevant and impactful findings (Garcia & Yao, 2019). Additionally, the advancement of socialization plays a crucial role in the development of doctoral learners, contributing to the establishment of their identity and fulfillment of all academic requirements. In essence, doctoral students with a well-developed identity actively participate in a transformative educational journey, facilitating a seamless transition from student to scholar. This transition is characterized by maintaining a consistent level of doctoral research and acquiring the highest possible proficiency in both research and socialization skills and experiences. Comment by Maureen Groth: This is an effective introduction.

Agency Reflection Comment by Maureen Groth: See section 2.27 in the APA manual for information on proper formats of headings.

The development of personal identity and skills among doctoral learners requires a consistent commitment to refining their research and writing capabilities at the doctoral level. Engaging in regular practices centered on doctoral-level writing and research skills within an agency contributes significantly to the evolution of learners into scholars (Inouye & McAlpine, 2017). Comment by Maureen Groth: Do not end with a citation. Use transition sentences to help transition the reader from the content in a given paragraph into that of the next paragraph.

The mastery of research skills is pivotal for doctoral students, empowering them to gather and analyze information, exercise critical reasoning, and build knowledge. This skill extends beyond academic pursuits, enabling learners to better comprehend the world around them. Success in doctoral studies hinges not only on completing the degree but also on acquiring valuable skills such as research and writing, requiring persistence and the cultivation of critical thinking and reasoning skills to generate innovative ideas that can bring about transformation in their respective fields (Coffman et al., 2016). Comment by Maureen Groth: Synthesis cannot be accomplished using one article at a time; that is an article summary. Synthesis is the infusion of the evidence into your own ideas resulting in multiple resources in a paragraph and occasionally in one citation.

The development of more robust research and writing skills is facilitated through feedback from faculty and peers, as well as through acquiring expertise and understanding the foundational requirements for self-directed learning within a doctoral program. Proficiency in writing and research is essential for overcoming imposter syndrome, a significant challenge in the growth of doctoral identity (Coffman et al., 2016). Self-actualization occurs as doctoral researchers gain solid writing and research skills, which prove instrumental in various aspects of their lives (Garcia & Yao, 2019).

Doctoral students, viewed as possessing the intelligence, information, and knowledge to drive innovation in their fields, cannot achieve this without active engagement in research. Research skills enable them to identify problems, gather relevant information, assess resource quality and relevance, and formulate practical and feasible solutions. Immersion in continuous doctoral-level study and writing facilitates the transition of learners into practitioner scholars (Coffman et al., 2016). Various strategies, including seeking assistance and feedback from faculty and peers, can be employed by doctoral students to enhance their research skills.

Socialization and Scholarly Comment by Maureen Groth: Scholarly what? Socialization is a good choice for a theme but the rest is too general.

The socialization skills of doctoral learners are cultivated through interactions with peers and professionals, facilitating the transition from student to doctor. The development of a doctoral identity is a reflective process, shaped by feedback from both peers and faculty (Garcia & Yao, 2019). This scholarly identity journey involves emotions such as doubt and the cultivation of self-efficacy, marked by a transformative progression. The socialization process integrates motivation, intelligence, and personality traits, necessitating support from experienced academics and fellow graduate learners. In the expansive landscape of higher learning institutions, doctoral learners engage with communities that offer simultaneous inspiration.

The socialization journey among doctoral learners is characterized by permeability, evolution, interactivity, dynamism, fluidity, and seamlessness. On-campus learning proves effective in fostering socialization as it exposes doctoral learners to diverse environments and individuals, fostering exchanges of ideas, norms, experiences, and customs that contribute to identity formation. However, challenges exist, particularly in online doctoral programs, where efforts are required to bridge the gap between learners and self-actualizing investigators. Active participation in online communities is essential for validating and reinforcing the transformation of doctoral identity (Garcia & Yao, 2019). The socialization process, involving feedback from professionals and peers, aims to inspire the evolution from learner to doctor.

Socialization poses challenges for doctoral students, particularly in the first year, as highlighted by Garcia & Yao (2019). Online learning can exacerbate complexities, leading to potential isolation as students navigate individual learning paths. The effectiveness of online doctoral programs relies heavily on interactions, with instructors playing a crucial role in fostering communication and collaboration. Coffman & Monaghan (2016) emphasize the importance of Communities of Practice (CoP) in creating socialized peer settings, were loose cohorts of peer’s form communities of scholars. In these communities, peers reciprocally support and increase each other’s socially constructed character change from novice learners to doctoral scholars. Comment by Maureen Groth: Begin a paragraph with a topic sentence, introducing your reader to content in the paragraph. Topic sentences cannot include academic support. Comment by Maureen Groth: For citations inside of the parentheses, use “&” but outside of the parentheses, use “and”. Comment by Maureen Groth: Do not report information from the articles. Paraphrase ideas from the articles and develop arguments for your themes as the relate to the overarching topic of the paper. Comment by Maureen Groth: This section is missing support from one of the required resources.

Conclusion

Analyzing the provided case studies underscored the significance of academic identity and student feedback as key responsibilities for researchers, particularly at the doctoral level. Cultivating a strong academic reputation demands considerable investment in reading, writing, and research. Conversely, student feedback offers a unique opportunity for researchers to address emerging challenges. Moreover, fostering a robust relationship between doctoral students and advisors is facilitated through responsive engagement with student comments. Distinguishing a doctoral fellow from an average student is their commitment to extensive reading, academic writing, and prompt response to constructive criticism.

Throughout the doctoral learning journey, students encounter various obstacles that necessitate transformation for both academic and personal growth, evolving from mere learners to accomplished scholars. Essential guidance for learners includes the importance of socialization and the acquisition of research skills from faculty and peers, contributing to the enhancement of credibility and identity as doctoral graduates. The fusion of socialization and research skills proves pivotal in shaping the academic and real-life situations of doctoral students. Comment by Maureen Groth: This is too long. Conclusions should be a brief summary of the main points discussed in the paper.

For future research endeavors, it is imperative to integrate diverse methodologies such as mixed or quantitative methods, drawing comparisons with qualitative research findings. Additionally, establishing connections between academic learning and real-life applications is crucial, highlighting the relevance of acquired skills in the later stages of individuals’ lives.

References Comment by Maureen Groth: The page title needs to be formatted in bold font.

Coffman, K., Putman, P., Adkisson, A., Kriner, B., & Monaghan, C. (2016). Waiting for the expert to arrive: Using a community of practice to develop the scholarly identity of doctoral students. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education,28(1), 30-37. Retrieved from
http://www.isetl.org/ijtlhe/ Comment by Maureen Groth: References need to be formatted using Times New Roman 12 pt font like the rest of the paper. Comment by Maureen Groth: References should be formatted using a hanging indent. Here is a quick tutorial to help.

https://www.loom.com/share/321af9f3d26f4995bb856d9f3ff1484e Comment by Maureen Groth: Journal titles and volume numbers in references should be formatted in italics. Check throughout. Comment by Maureen Groth: “Retrieved from” should not be included in the reference.

Garcia, C. E., Yao, C. W. (2019). The role of a first-year online seminar in higher education doctoral students’ scholarly development. The Internet and Higher Education,42, 44-52.doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2019.04.002 Comment by Maureen Groth: Check the detail included in the reference URL for the DOI number. See the APA manual beginning on p 298 for more information and p 66 for examples. Check throughout.

Inouye, K. S., & McAlpine, L. (2017). Developing scholarly identity: Variation in agentive responses to supervisor feedback. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice,14(2), 3-19. Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp/. Comment by Maureen Groth: This reference was assigned a DOI number so the live URL for the DOI number should be included here.