Jasmine J
RE: Unit 8.1 DB: Strategic Planning
As a human services profession, planning is part of the process when assisting clients. Per Stringer (2013), strategic planning encompasses carefully defined and inclusive procedures that provide participants with a clear vision of their directions and intentions. Strategic planning is beneficial for stakeholders because it allows them to describe their future, ways to help them achieve their future goal, and how to perform skills that will enact in progressing to the identified future goal. Furthermore, strategic planning is a continuous process that requires ongoing monitoring and feedback to remain relevant, appropriate, and best positioned to succeed through five phases: (1) setting the strategic direction, (2) performing a strategic gap analysis, (3) documenting the strategic plan, (4) executing the strategic plan, and (5) monitoring the strategic plan (Iannucci & Hutchinson, 2021).
In this writer’s practice, we develop an individualized service plan (ISP) that will have a minimum of 3 to 6 goals listed based upon the person’s needs. The ISP allows the person and the counselor to create objectives that will break down ways to help the person achieve their overall goal. For example, one goal can be psychiatric management and the objectives listed would be ensuring the individuals attends all scheduled psychiatric appointment for the duration of time, ensuring the individual adheres to taking all psychotropic medications as prescribed, and report any new symptoms experienced such as SI/HI/AVH, etc.
Reference:
Iannucci, T., & Hutchinson, L. (2021). Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part One. Benefits Magazine, 58(6), 42–49.
Stringer, E. T. (2013). Action research (4th ed.). Sage Publication.
Taylar F
RE: Unit 8.1 DB: Strategic Planning
In this writer’s previous experience as an ABA therapist with special needs students, this writer used action research methods in the classroom to enhance the learning environment for clients. Strategic planning was critical to any action research plan this writer implemented as part of a student’s treatment plan because it allows ABA therapists to know exactly what direction to follow when implementing a new plan. Antheil and Spinelli (2011) explain that strategic planning is very important in action research plans because not only does it provide guidance for the action researcher, but it also monitors the effectiveness of the new plan being implemented. For instance, if a student’s new plan was not working or benefitting the student the way ABA therapists expected, a new plan would be written and implemented.
Stringer (2013) explain that stakeholders can benefit from strategic planning in action research when researchers seek to empower and engage stakeholders as active participants through all phases of the action research process. Since the purpose of any type of research is to enhance people’s understanding of a certain problem or issue, stakeholders can personally experience and interpret their experiences of action research plans. In the educational setting, an example of a stakeholder would be the special needs teacher whom this writer worked with. While there were ABA therapists paired with each individual student, there was still a main teacher who acted as a stakeholder and helped improve and implement the action research plans.
References
Antheil, J., and Spinelli, S. (2011). Action research to support the sustainability of strategic planning. Planning for Higher Education, v39 n4 p23-31 Jul-Sep 2011
Stringer, E. T. (2013). Action research (4th ed.). Sage Publication.
Rebecca G
RE: Unit 8.2 DB: Research Reports
Pyrczak and Tcherni-Buzzeo (2019) does a nice job with providing a checklist of evaluation questions that will be helpful when developing a formal research report. They also describe that formal research reports make use of scientific investigations, this includes measurable results, while normal research reports do not include clear evidence. The pro’s of a researcher using a formal research would be that it includes precise data and results, as well as clearly confirming the researchers points. A general research lacks clear data and has limitation to its study.
Qualitative research uses non-measurable sources of data and relies mostly on observation techniques to gain insights. Sherpis et. al (2017) explains that a drawback of quantitative research reports is that sometimes they are too concentrated on one smaller group which limits generalizability. It is mostly used to answer questions beginning with “why?” and how?”. Examples of qualitative data collection methods include focus groups, observation, written records, and individual interviews.
Quantitative research presents data in a numerical format, enabling researchers to evaluate and understand this data through statistical analysis (Sherpis et. Al., 2017). A positive to quantitative research reports is that they can be used to gather more insight into a certain problem and help researchers create new ideas for research studies to come. It answers questions such as “who?”, “when?” “what?”, and “where?”. Common examples include interviews, surveys, and case studies/document review.
References
Sheperis, C. J., Young, J. S., & Daniels, &. M. (2017). Counseling Research Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods. Ney York NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Stringer, E. T. (2013). Action Research (4th) ed.SAGE Publications.
Sheila H
RE: Unit 8.2 DB: Research Reports
Most research reports contain the basic ingredients of title page, abstract, introduction, review of literature, methods, results, discussion or conclusions, and references (Sheperis et al., 2017). There is a need for researchers to find new and innovative ways to get their research into the hands of the people who need it (Brownson et al., 2018). The pros & cons of general and formal research reports are based mainly on the reasons for writing the report and whom the audience for it is; in this class, we have been focusing on the more formal research reports that contain all of the above mentioned sections. Sometimes there may only be a need for a more general or brief research report if it is being completed for a magazine, newspaper, or other lay audience (Genres in Academic Writing, n.d.). In these cases, one can write a simpler version of a research report with the items to include a short summary, general background, purpose, procedure, results, and conclusion.
There are similarities and differences between reports for quantitative research and reports for qualitative research. Quantitative research reports are more formal and scientific sounding with well-defined methodology that covers participants, instruments, research design, and procedures (Sheperis et al., 2017). A qualitative research report focuses on language, acknowledgement of bias, and intended audience (Sheperis et al., 2017). A qualitative researcher shares the importance of the voice of the participants along with their own voice in a more accessible and personal style; this results in some researcher bias, which is part of this style and acknowledged. Qualitative research is more often focused on social justice issues, as opposed to quantitative research, and therefore has a potentially bigger and more community inclusive audience (Sheperis et al., 2017).
The Internet has changed the entire landscape for researchers’ ability to share their research results and conclusions, and this fact and tool should be considered when writing research reports also. Researchers should find ways to boil down intriguing facts and solutions in ways to share them on social media to help gain traction for their research ideas (Stringer, 2021). Today’s young people live on their mobile devices, so any targeted research toward young people needs to be mobile-friendly (Ibrisevic, 2019). One of the best ways to first connect with a young audience is through social media (Bray, 2019). Community involvement and creation has always been a leading idea for nonprofits to fundraise and raise awareness in a way that reaches Gen Z and draws them into joining new communities and becoming more involved (Bray, 2019). To use a commercial product example of how important branding is, think of Apple, and how there is not only a “community” built around the brand, for some, it’s like a religion (Bergh & Behrer, 2016). How can a nonprofit create a tangible community that rallies around them and wants to be involved and make change in their community? Creating engaging visual posts, fun events to get people together, even if virtually, and creating excitement and a desire to be involved, should all be goals of a nonprofit truly wishing to reach the younger generations with their research results and draw more people into helping with their projects and programs. To do this, research reports will have to be boiled down to their very essence.
References
Bergh, J. van den, & Behrer, M. (2016). How cool brands stay hot: Branding to Generations Y and Z: Vol. 3rd edition. Kogan Page.
Bray, I. (2019). Effective fundraising for nonprofits: Real-World strategies that work: Vol. Sixth Edition. NOLO.
Brownson, R. C., Eyler, A. A., Harris, J. K., Moore, J. B., & Tabak, R. G. (2018). Research full report: Getting the word out: New approaches for disseminating public health science. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 24(2), 102.
Genres in academic writing: Brief reports. (n.d.). Using English for Academic Purposes for Students in Higher Education UEFAP. http://www.uefap.com/writing/genre/briefreport.htm
Ibrisevic, I. (2019). 8 fundraising trends your nonprofit needs to know for 2019. Donor Box. https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/fundraising-trends-2019/
Sheperis, C.J., Young, J.S., & Daniels, M. H. (2017). Counseling research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (2nd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Stringer, E. T. (2021). Action research (5th ed.). Sage Publication.
Jasmine J
RE: Unit 8.3 DB: Collaborative Tools
There are several collaborative tools that can be used to share information. According to Brownson et al. (2018), audience as a widely accepted principle in marketing and in shaping effective health communication campaigns. In a social marketing context, the idea is simple, there is a higher likelihood of success when a product and promotion strategy is targeted to the characteristics of a desired segment. Brownson et al. (2018) shares a cross-setting of approaches that can assist in getting information out such as policy maker, news media, social media, issues or policy briefs, workshops and seminars, and one on one meetings.
This writer prefers to attend workshops and seminars for engagement and visual. When attending workshops and seminars, it allows a person to show others who they work for, type of services, offered, benefits gained, and how to perform the roles/tasks. Seminars take on multiple formats from short webinars to week-long in-person trainings (Brownson et al., 2018). This writer believes she will be able to gain additional insight when attending seminars because it also allows her to voice opinions and concerns as well as build a reputation with others.
Reference:
Brownson, R. C., Eyler, A. A., Harris, J. K., Moore, J. B., & Tabak, R. G. (2018). Research full report: getting the word out: new approaches for disseminating public health science. Journal of public health management and practice, 24(2), 102.
Taylar F
RE: Unit 8.3 DB: Collaborative Tools
Stringer (2013) explains that digital technology has become an important part of everyday life and has become incredibly useful in the field of counseling and human services. People use technology to interact with one another and their environments, to gain information, to share their stories, etc. Stringer (2013) says that digital tools can be very useful in the research process such as planning, collaborating, generating and analyzing data, and disseminating research findings.
With the latest current event of the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, this writer values the digital video chat options that are available. For instance, one of the most common methods used for video chat is zoom, which allows numerous individuals to live chat via computer. This writer has personally utilized zoom meetings during the past year with her primary care physician who was not actively seeing patients in person in the office. In the field of human services, zoom meetings have been utilized by counselors and their clients and allowed the therapeutic relationship and treatment to continue via video chat. This writer appreciates the current digital technologies, especially video chatting, because it allows patients to continue receiving their treatment. Digital video chatting can even be utilized by action researchers because platforms like zoom allow multiple individuals to video chat all at once, which would allow researchers to actively collaborate with one another, which is an integral part of the action research process.
References
Stringer, E. T. (2013). Action research (4th ed.). Sage Publication.
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