SPS Research Resources
On this page you will find many forms of resources to assist you in completing an academic research project using reliable methods to develop valid data and to determine evidence based conclusions.
SPS Institutional Review Board (IRB) Documents
Below are the IRB application and other documents you will need to prepare to submit your IRB application in your Senior Seminar, Capstone, or Thesis courses. Be sure to read them all prior to completing your application to ensure a timely response from the SPS IRB committee. Please note that there are two applications; One for studies with human participants, and one for exempt studies, which do not have human participants. Please submit the correct application in its entirety. The School of Professional Studies does not endorse research, which involves children, those who are not of majority, or those with limited understanding of informed consent. *These are the only authorized SPS documents for the SPS IRB process.
- SPS IRB FAQ
- SPS IRB-instructions
- SPS-IRB-Application for Studies with Human Participants
- SPS IRB Exempt Application
To contact the SPS IRB committee with questions or concerns call (202) 884-9620, or email SPS@TrinityDC.edu with SPS IRB in the subject line.
Training the Responsibilities for Human Rights and Ethics for Researchers
To best understand the researcher and the institution’s responsibility the SPS IRB committee recommends that all researchers undergo the free IRB training (HHS OHPR compliant) offered by the National Institute of Health (NIH). This training requires the creation of a secure login and is free of charge. This training is offered online and also in a PDF format (requires in Internet connection for some sections). This training is also offered in Spanish.
Recommended Texts for Assistance in Academic Research Writing
Measurments and Assessments for Research
The Academy of Management has a published searchable WIKI sorted by topic of measurement instruments (surveys, questionnaires, tests, & interventions). Take the time to look ans see what other scholars have been investigating in your topic of interest. These are especially helpful for students in management and leadership topics, such as all of the the MSA concentrations, the MBA, MA in Communication student interested in organizational communication, and the BS in Business Administration. Some of these resources are free and some have a fee. All require reference and citation in your paper if you use them. Some may require copyright notification in your paper also
Research Rescue Lab
Documents, power points, and other materials provided by the SPS faculty in the Research Rescue lab sessions.
Dr. Wood’s Capstone Quickstart Guide
Be prepared to begin writing your Capstone or Thesis from the first day of the course by preparing in advance. It is recommended that students who have completed the INT 601 Introduction to research course begin the Capstone Quickstart. Of course, you may begin as soon as you would like. Yes, even in your first semester!
- Welcome to your Capstone course – Capstone Quickstart
- Worksheet – Topic – Question – Problem – Significance – Use with Booth, Colomb, & Williams
- Toulmin Argument Structure Worksheet
- Reading the Scientific Literature – A Tutorial by Jon L. Pierce and John W. Newstrom
Overview of the Research Paper
This powerpoint provides an overview of the expectations of the SPS graduate program capstone paper in the MSA and MA Communication degree programs. It is an excellent resource for any research paper.
Determining a Great Research Topic
Use this worksheet to assist in narrowing your topic, developing your overall research question, determining the problem to be addressed and its significance.
Developing a Solid Literature Review
Use Stephen Toulmin’s argument structure to analyze research articles and more importantly to develop the argument (logic) in your research paper.
Linking Theory to Data Collection for Reliable Results
This document outlines the direct connection between the theoretical framework or the theoretical construct. Follow the suggestions in this document and you will always have data related to your research questions, hypotheses, variables, and factors.
A Moment of Serenity
Click on an image to view this as a slide show, then get back to earning that A.
Other Research Resources
Coming soon… tell us what you would like to see for resources, email Dr. Kelley Wood at WoodKe@TrinityDc.edu