The ability to research is not only useful in school but also in our daily lives, whether it be personal or professional. Research, as defined in our text, “Involves identifying problems, discovering source material, generating data, organizing and analyzing that information, and drawing conclusions substantiated by it.” It may not seem like it, but we all use this method of research to solve various types of problems that plague us, big or small. It could be something as small as deciding where you are going to go for spring break or as big as searching for your potential career. Research is what gives us the information we need to make a well thought out and accurate decision or judgement, that may very well affect that rest of our lives or just our lives for the time being. How does interdisciplinary tie in? Very well, actually. Whilst researching, we pull in information from many disciplines that relate to our problem or topic and integrate them to create our solution. When solving a problem, it takes the knowledge of several different areas of study harmoniously mixed together to create the “big picture.” For example, spring break. Most people when deciding on where they want to spend their vacation, along with their money, research to find a location that best fits their needs. They look up costs of flights, cost of hotels, how they want to get there (plane, car, boat, etc.), what they want to do once they get there, and so much more. There are so many aspects working together simultaneously and so much research done when a person is deciding on where and how they want to travel. Research gives us the information and the push to make our decisions wisely and confidently. That being said, now it’s your turn....
Here are your conversation topics for this week:
-How do we use research in our everyday lives? in school? at work?
-Which specific skills are used when completing a research project?
-How might these skills be translated towards future employment?
-How might your ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? current employer?
-Create a potential (fictitious but believable) work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play.
I use research constantly in my life. When I am reading the nutritional facts on the backs of food containers, using my gps to find the cheapest gas, or finding information on next semesters classes I am researching.
ReplyDeleteWhen completing a research project the skills most used for me are language skills, logic, and decisiveness.
These skills easily translate into future employment because no matter what I may do I will need to be able to properly voice myself, create solid ideas and solution, and be able to go forward with a plan of action.
Interdisciplinary problem solving is absolutely imperative to be successful in any workplace. There is no profession where having a single track mind and being one dimensional will produce great results. Even working the grill at McDonalds requires some form of interdisciplinarity.
Scenario: I am a race-car builder and must use my skills as an interdisciplinary thinker to be sure that not only is the car in the proper shape mechanically and structurally but I must also be sure to address the business side of the operation with sponsors who pay the bills. Knowing about mathematics and engineering get the car moving but being able to deal with people socially and in a business atmosphere as well as knowing a bit about economics will go a long way in keeping the dream alive and well.
Research is a really important aspect to life. In every class I’ve ever had, my teacher or professor has required some element of research. All throughout life people research as well. When you want to find the cheapest, most equipped gym, it requires research, just as figuring out what college to go to, or what town to go on vacation in does. Many skills are used when researching such as critical thinking, problem solving, logic, and computer literacy. When completing a research project some specific skills that are required are computer literacy, library literacy, people skills (if working with a group), and data collecting/organizational skills. These skills easily can be translated towards future employment, because the more skills a person has, the better their resume. I think I could be a very valuable future employer with my interdisciplinary background. Being able to pull from all different disciplines to solve problems is a very unique and coveted ability, and I know that it will help me immensely in the long run.
ReplyDeleteScenario:
When I open my nonprofit organization, I will have to use disciplines of business, education, humanities, epidemiology, biology, etc., to successfully run and organize my business. A lot of fun will be had through activities to raise money, but I will always have to be on top of the business side of the organization as well. Research will be necessary to figure out the best way for our organization to raise money, through finding venues, advertising, volunteers, and everything else.
Hi Pat,
ReplyDeleteHow do you use your GPS to find the cheapest gas? That is definitely something worth researching with gas prices climbing again to the $4.00/gallon mark. I also liked your race-car scenario. Are you interested in or involved with race-car driving at all?
Hey Leah,
Research is most certainly needed in figuring out what college to go to. I am currently researching the schools that offer the doctorate in natural medicine program that I am interested in pursuing. Thanks again for sharing about your non-profit you hope to establish one day. I would really love to hear about your ideas as you discover them. Keep me posted! Thanks.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hickel
We use research in our everyday lives to get the best deals on expensive purchases. I don't think I know anyone who has ever bought a car without doing at least a little bit of research as to the type of car they want, the gas mileage they can expect, and what the car is worth compared to what they're paying for it. We all want the best deal we can get.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've ever taken a class that did not require research of one form or another. In engineering courses, you may only research in your text, but if you want to pass the class, you will research. Many science classes have labs and that is definitely hands on research that frequently requires a write up. Several classes I've taken required formal research papers that occupied the entire semester.
At work I research constantly. I just finished creating a training class for a new software program used by nearly every engineer. It started out at 24 pages and ended up being 86. It took a lot of researching to develop.
Skills that help with research are computer skills, library skills, investigative skills, hard work, imagination, team work and/or the ability to work independently and the ability to think outside the box. These are all skills that employers look for in employees.
IDS gives you a broader base to select knowledge from. In addition, if you feel good about your degree, it will impart a certain amount of self-esteem and self-assurance that is easily recognized by future employers. This is highly valued in the workplace. With self-assurance, a broad knowledge base, the ability to research independently and good team skills, you have a great advantage over people who don't possess these qualities.
The company I work for is an Engineering firm that does business internationally. They require anthropologists, people who are bi-lingual, people with the ability to think for themselves with minimal guidance, people who take the initiative to research for answers to problems that arise everyday and people with good technical skills. Now imagine that you found a single person who possessed all of these traits. You have the opportunity to be that person if you choose the right courses for your IDS degree, in the field you want to work in.
Whenever we are posed with a problem, we essentially begin to research. Whether it be for a solution, the cause of the problem, or what is going to happen because of an event we are researching at all times and everything around us. In school we often research during assignments and projects like reading a text to solve a problem, and at work we are often posed with situations the require research to accomplish our work goals.
ReplyDeleteTime management is essential when completing a research project, as well as the ability to analyze situations and critical thinking.
With future employment, these skills are often wanted by employers and having these skills can do nothing but help when looking for a job or succeeding within the work place.
When you are able to apply an interdisciplinary mindset in the workplace you are a step above others and can apply critical thinking skills as well as being able to apply multiple disciplines together to create better work environment as well as efficiently completing tasks.
If your employer comes to you asking for a way to improve workplace moral you can research what other businesses do that work in creating moral in the workplace and with continued research create your own method using the skills you have.
@Pat
ReplyDeleteUsing your GPS to find cheap gas is amazing! I never really thought about doing so. As the prices get higher it will definitely be something Ill begin to research as well. I also look at nutritional facts when buying items at the store.
@Deb
You are absolutely correct when you say there hasn't been a class you have taken that didn't require research. Even in grade school we were required to do some form of research.
How do we use research in our everyday lives? In school? At work?
ReplyDeleteI feel research is in all the aspects of our life. I would even say that from the moment we wake up we are doing some research as to what we are going to wear this day, are we having a nice breakfast or just a cup of coffee. When we get into our cars where should we get coffee from etc. This just gives us an idea of how much we analyze and make decision upon our choices throughout our lives.
Academically research covers everything from a single paper to full scale projects in a laboratory with serious results that may prove lifesaving in some cases.
At work as a title clerk for Seminole county I’m faced with many scenarios from our customers from how to register their private vehicle to how to register busses and trucks. And with hundreds of procedures to follow research is essential to find the correct and appropriate procedure for each case.
Which specific skills are used when completing a research project?
I would say that the necessary skills when completing a research project are:
Asking the correct questions and finding a variety of choices that meet the criteria for each question. Then I would narrow the answers farther as well as to analyze the final choices and come up with a conclusion that fits and or solves the problem.
How might these skills be translated towards future employment?
These skills will later help me to diagnose speech disorders in children and adults and therefore create alternative therapies that suit their needs.
How might your ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? Current employer?
I think that the research skills I’ve acquired throughout my life and specially with my IDS degree will be reflected with my future customer where I’ll be able to use my education and behavior background towards helping children and adults on how to life with their speech limitations but at the same time give them the tools they need trough therapy to achieve their goals at any level.
Create a potential (fictitious but believable) work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an ids thinker come in play.
I’m a speech therapist and I have a customer that just suffered a stroke. I will be able to educate them on the new therapies that are available. I also will be able to analyze the level of interest and commitment they have towards getting better and therefore report their progress and assist on their therapy as well.
We use research in finding “things” in our everyday life. We look up the best place to rent or buy our homes, the best place to attend school and simply to eat a good meal. In school we probably do the most research as we must write papers for different classes as part of our education. At work it maybe something to do with the best prices on office supplies, tickets for business trips or a pizza party.
ReplyDeleteWe must use our thinking power to pick a topic to research, then we must do our research (web, journals or books) and then we use our writing skills to put it all together.
In the world of employment you need to use your decision making skills every day. You might have to decide, for example, what vendor to use for office supplies in which you would need to do research and then you would need to submit a report on which provider had the best deals.
Anytime you can look at a problem from different perspectives you can see the whole picture. If there is a problem within the company your ability to look at it from all sides and apply a complete solution to the problem would be invaluable to a company. It also pertains to your current employer as well.
Scenario: As a senior member of the company you will be required to present training on an area of your expertise (such as criminal records). You will need to be able to recall your knowledge on the subject of criminal records and to be a teacher.
Research is way to confirm, support, or discover information. We use this all the time in just about everything we do. When beginning a research paper or an assignment I always gather reliable research sources. This research supports my content and confirms my work. In my everyday life, I use research when making purchases or even dining. Whenever I am about to make a decision no matter how big or small I always do at least some research. When moving into my new house, I researched the area and how far it was away from UCF. Research is very convenient and it's extreme accessibility makes it that much easier for us to use.
ReplyDeleteWhen completing a research project, you are using several skills. You are showing that you understand and comprehend your topic. Being well-versed in your material will show how much research you have done. Putting the research into your own words is another skill that needs to be used. The quality of your research and comprehension of it will determine your overall grade.
These skills are translated directly to future employment. The concept of understanding something to the point where you can regurgitate it into your own words is extremely useful. It shows a work ethic and the time you invested into fully learning something. Employers will be impressed to see how well someone can research and what new discoveries they can attain through the research.
The ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective is extremely valuable to an employer. Many people are not taught to think so diverse and this gives an employer several different views. This is a big asset to any employer if they have an employee that is able to think interdisciplinary.
A scenario that comes to mind is a company is facing a public relations disaster. Many companies lose tons of equity because they act too fast or not fast enough. An interdisciplinary thinker than quickly see things from numerous angles and help his company with damage control is the most efficient way possible.
@ Jennifer, I have a Garmin Nuvi GPS which allows me to pair it with MSN Direct which is a pay-for service (I am using the 3 month free trial). You can check here for details : http://gps.about.com/od/accessories/a/gas_prices.htm It definitely helps. FOr info about eco-friendly driving techniques and how to get the best mpg out of your car you can also visit ecomodder.com
ReplyDelete@ Deb - It sounds like I fit the bill to be an employee at your fictitious company! =) I love anthropology and the way that you put that all of those traits together into an interdisciplinary form was awesome.
In our technology driven society we use research for just about everything. If we are unsure about something or interested in learning more about something, we take our smart phones and quickly search for it. For those of us that don't have a smart phone, we are still dependent upon our computers for obtaining information. We also use research at our jobs and schools when we ask others questions about something we do not know. At the workplace most of our research comes from primary sources, such as our managers or co-workers.
ReplyDeleteThe use of the internet, library resources and interpersonal skills are needed to complete a research project. The use of a word processor is also extremely important in putting the project together. These skills are translated towards future employment because not only do you need good research skills to find a good job, but they will be needed in your career.
Employers value workers that can solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective because they are more efficient. Interdisciplinarians see things from outside the box and are more capable of making connections between two different areas. Like the saying goes, they can kill two birds with one stone.
In the future when I’m a certified occupational therapist, I might encounter a patient who has suffered a stroke and needs to regain strength in his/her upper extremities. From my interdisciplinarian thinking I will make a connection between strength training, fine motor skills and activities of daily living. I might have my patient try to bake or cook something at home that would require them to work their muscles and also regain the skills to care for self.
@Pat In response to your response - Just about every major company in the US that does business off shore either has employees who do what I described or hire a firm to do it for them. Did you ever hear the story about the baby food giant that wanted to get into the markets in a city in Africa? Turns out the city was a hub where many different languages were spoken so the packaged products in the market had pictures of their contents on them instead of words. Unfortunately the baby food jars have a picture of a chubby, cherubic baby and the local populus was aghast. A little cultural investigating could have saved the company a lot of time and money.
ReplyDelete@Jasmin You couldn't be more right about the way we use technology for research. It has certainly changed our lives and made our localized cultures encompass more wordly views. So far no one has mentioned Wikipedia, but that is one big collection of research!
ReplyDeleteWe use research in all aspects of our everyday lives. If we have a question about something, don’t know what something means, or just don’t know the answer to something we use research to find out about it. We use research in school when we are given certain assignments. We can use it at work to find out how to make certain tasks easier to do. Specific skills used when completing a research project include critical thinking, computer literacy, analysis, problem solving etc. These skills are all important for future employment because any job you get will probably require all of these skills. For example, if you become the manager of a store, critical thinking will be important to get more people to come in and to make more money. Computer literacy will be used to do things such as making schedules for your employees. Analysis will be necessary to find out what items sell more or less than others. Problem solving is important to ensure that things will continue to run smoothly. Your ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective will be valuable to a future employer because you will be able to think critically and use skills you’ve learned from different areas to help you solve these problems. The same goes for a current employer that you are working for. A potential work scenario where my research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play would be if I were a doctor. If I had a patient coming to me who had been very sick for a while and none of the medications I prescribed him were working, I would have to use critical thinking to keep coming up with more options. I would have to use analysis to compare the effects of each type of medicine and tell the patient whether I think they should keep trying different medicines, refer them to a different doctor, or suggest surgery as another alternative. I would need computer literacy to keep everything on record and research different options.
ReplyDelete@ Deb, I agree that we use research in all aspects of our lives. We always do research before making a decision to ensure that we are making the right one. I also agree with you that every class we take requires some sort of research.
ReplyDelete@ Pat, I also think that whether we notice it or not, we are always using research. No one wants to hire someone who is only one track minded and almost any job you get, you will be required to use a variety of skills and do multiple tasks.
@Pat – I use my GPS to find cheapest gas too, lately it’s completely useless… lol
ReplyDeleteI like he scenario about the race-car builder; there are so many different aspect you can look at. Could you also look at the different fuels that would be best to run the car?
@Jazmin – The smart phones come in handy. My husband has one of those android phones and he is constantly using it to do something. If we decide to take in a movie, but don’t know times or places we can search it on the phone. A couple times we were lost and we used the GPS feature to get back home (because there was no way he was asking for directions :p)
We have to constantly research things to stay caught up with everything. technology evolves every second new things come out every day. Like everybody in the world when i read an article about something immediately "google"it to get more information on it.
ReplyDeleteMy ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective will be valuable to my future employer because i will be able to look at the problem using three different "views" and not just look at it in one way.
I am interning for the USSSA Pride and a big problem we have is getting more fans out to the games. We have to research why people arent coming out to the games. Just form playing softball i have realized when you offer something free more people show up.
First of all, I have to say that I am the queen of research! lol This is not always a good thing. I constantly research things probably more often in my personal/professional life than my academic life. I use research at school of course for assignments, hot topics, etc. At work I use research for law enforcement purposes. I'm currently researching facts concerning a boating accident.
ReplyDeleteSome specific skills that are used when completing a research project would be discipline, organization, persistance, curiosity, among others.
These skills may be translated in future employment (and current employment) because having the ability to research something is necessary in today's job market. Employers want their employees to be able to make decisions based on the complete set of facts and circumstances in order to make a well informed decision.
Being able to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective will be valuable to future employers as well as current employers because if you look at a problem from more than one way, you can view and research more than one solution for the problem. You are opening up a variety of possible solutions to the problem.
An example of work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play would be investigating a boating accident as a law enforcement officer. One needs to look at the accident using the knowledge of the boating laws and navigational rules. Having knowledge of boating in general will be helpful. Having knowledge of the geographical area as well as tides, currents, etc also play a factor in investigating the accident. Communicating with the individuals involved in the accident is necessary. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when researching/investigating the accident. The more knowledge one has in different areas relating to the issue, the more possibilities of solving the problem there will be.
-Heidi Simons
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely keep you posted. What career would you like to have after getting your Doctorates Degree?
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteI'm totally on the same page with you. I seriously research something everyday, even if it's small things. I just can't stand it if I can't remember an actor's name in a movie, so then I'll go look up the movie and end up finding out all this stuff about the person. That's just one example.
@Heidi, I'm constantly doing research too! It's like I'm addicted. I also agree that organizational skills are extremely important in research.
ReplyDelete@Robin. I recently got an android phone too, and it's the best. I recently adapted a vegan diet and I am always researching ingredients and brands when I go food shopping. The GPS feature is also really helpful. Especially here in Florida where everything is so far away.
@Guy, I hadn't really thought about it, but research is a way to confirm information. When in doubt, research! That should be my new motto.
ReplyDelete@Heidi-I agree that I research a lot more on personal issues rather than academic and sometimes I look too much into those issues than I should lol It's a good thing that you enjoy researching, though, since your job seems like a field where researching too much isn't a problem.
ReplyDelete@ Pat,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information for the GPS. I will definitely have to check that out.
@ Leah,
After I get my doctorate in Natural Medicine, my goal is to open a holistic medical spa for women. I want to offer alternative treatments to women such as massage, music therapy, meditation and visualization, herbal medicine, etc. to help them overcome various obstacles/issues in their lives be it physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. Ultimately, I want to create a sanctuary where women can feel safe, de-stress and heal various ailments in their lives. Thank you for asking.
@ Alexandria
I am always "googling it" (LOL) and constantly using the internet to conduct research on so many different things. It's truly amazing to think about how technology has evolved and because of that how we have so much information available to us at the click of a mouse! We can receive information now in seconds whereas that same information may have taken hours or even days to retrieve in years past!
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThat is the best idea I've heard in a while. Before I chose nonprofit, I wanted to be an art therapist. So much luck to you!
Leah,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement. I wanted to be an expressive art therapist too! LOL Let's keep in touch....I could use someone like you at my spa! ;)
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! :)