WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER IN A PRACTITIONER DISCIPLINE
Introduction: As a university student you have likely written research papers for some of your classes. A research paper is a specific type of academic document for which there are conventions, standards, and expectations.
In the past, most university courses and programs were in purely academic disciplines (e.g. English, Chemistry, History). Increasingly, however, universities also offer courses and degree programs in practitioner disciplines. A practitioner discipline is one in which the subject matter being studied is knowledge of, and the ability to work in, a specific profession. Practitioner disciplines cover a wide range of professions, from engineering and environmental science to homeland security, law enforcement, and the management of fire and rescue services.
Research papers are of importance in practitioner disciplines because they often provide a bridge between the purely academic research and the application of that research in actual practice. This poses certain challenges to you as the writer of such a paper; you have to interpret the results of academic research and determine whether and to what extent those results tell something about the profession.
Courses in practitioner disciplines are designed and taught exactly like courses that are more academic in nature: there are required readings, assignments, exercises, and so on. This means that research papers are very often required, particularly in more advanced (300- and 400-level) courses. There are, however, some special considerations that a student must keep in mind when writing a research paper for such a course.
Audience
Writers are always encouraged to consider the audience for a written document. In the case of a purely academic research paper, the audience is likely to be a professor (or a group of professors) specializing in the academic discipline. This means the writer can be confident that the audience will be familiar with the main principles and bodies of literature and research within the discipline; this audience will also have a deep understanding of research methodologies and techniques.
In a practitioner discipline, however, the concept of audience may need to be broadened. You may be asked, for example, to consider the possibility of a more general audience for the research paper. For example, your potential audience may include people who are professionals in the field but who do not necessarily have advanced academic degrees or training. This means they may know a great deal about the profession but not about the academic basis for some aspects of the profession.
Think of engineering, for example. A person who received a bachelor’s degree in engineering and who is now working as an engineer probably understands the principles of engineering quite well. However, he or she may not be aware of the research being conducted by professors of engineering at various colleges and universities or in large private sector organizations, nor of how the knowledge created by that research is transferred out to the professional at large.
For this reason, audience analysis is an especially important first step in the process of writing a practitioner discipline research paper.
Sources
In your academic writing you have undoubtedly used sources such as books and articles in academic journals. In writing for a practitioner discipline, you will continue to use such sources. You will also, though, sometimes use sources that are more professional than purely academic in nature. For example, in the field of emergency management a writer may consult an academic journal such as The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, as well as a more professional source such as the website of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
It is important to remember that there are differences between these types of sources. An academic journal typically reports on research that has been conducted according to strict standards of oversight. Further, the material published in an academic journal has been peer-reviewed; that is, before publication it has been reviewed by other researchers and specialists to ensure the research methodology is sound and the results are reasonably accurate.
By contrast, material published for professional purposes may be more descriptive in nature; that it, it may relate real-world experiences in the field rather than purely academic research into a problem. Also, professional material is unlikely to have gone through the peer-review process. This does not mean that the information is necessarily unreliable; it does mean, though, that you must be careful when drawing conclusions from specific information to broader, more general situations (see Guidelines for Analytical Reading in the Course Content area).
Topic
raLet’s consider an example. Suppose you are writing a paper for an environmental management class, and your instructor would like you to tackle the issue of the agricultural and horticultural uses of biosolids such as sewage sludge. It’s tempting, at this point, to title your paper “The Agricultural and Horticultural Uses of Biosolids.” If you do that, though, you’re going to run into trouble during your research; there is so much information available that you’ll likely be overwhelmed. Besides, even if you managed to get through all that information your paper would still be largely descriptive (you’ll just be describing the uses of biosolids in those situations) rather than analytical in nature.
Instead, suppose you look at the topic and try to narrow it down a bit. For instance, are there any important differences between fertilization practices in agriculture and horticulture? A little bit of research will tell you that there most certainly are differences, given that the end products of agriculture are intended for human consumption. You can now focus your research a bit on any aspects of biosolids that relate to human health. It won’t take you long to discover that there is quite a bit research on health-related issues with biosolids; for example, you’ll find a number of articles on research into the presence of heavy metals such as cadmium in sewage sludge.
At this point, you’ve refined your topic to something like “Health and Safety Issues in the Agricultural and Horticultural Uses of Biosolids.” This is a more manageable topic in that you can use the research you find to draw a distinction between agricultural and horticultural uses of the substances. You can continue refining your topic based on your research and on the particular curriculum of your course, e.g. “The Need for Regulation of Biosolids Usage in Agriculture,” or perhaps “Guidelines for Handling Biosolids in the Management of Public Lands.”
A refined, well focused topic not only aids you in evaluating and using your research but also helps ensure that you can write a paper that meets the expectations of length, number of sources, and so on.
Presentation: Like all research papers in university courses, those in practitioner disciplines are expected to follow the formatting requirements of a particular style guide such as that of the American Psychological Association (APA). The style guidelines cover not only the structure of your manuscript but also the format for citing sources.
If you are asked to use the APA format then, as a general rule, your paper should consist of the following four elements:
1. The Title Page. The title page of your paper has three parts:
· The running head, which is an abbreviated version of your paper’s title (for example, if your paper is entitled “Alien Abduction as an Emerging Human Resources Issue” your running head could be “Alien Abduction”). The running head should be placed in the upper left-hand corner of your title page. Note: the running head should also appear in the upper left-hand corner of every page of your paper, opposite the page number (see below);
· The full title of the paper, which should be centered on the page; and
· Your name, and either the institution’s name or (if requested by your instructor) the course number.
2. The Abstract. The abstract is a short (no more than 120 words) summary of your paper. The abstract should be by itself on page 2 of your paper (remember to include the running head in the upper left-hand corner before the page number).
3. The Body of the paper. In a practitioner paper this section should include an Introduction that describes the question or problem being studied; a description of the research that you reviewed, and a Discussion of how the research informs a resolution of the question or problem. On the first page of the body (usually page 3 of your paper) put the full title at the top of the page (centered and two lines below the running head/page number). The title should be double-spaced from the first line of your first paragraph. On every page of the body include the running head in the upper left-hand corner and the page number in the upper right-hand corner.
4. The References Page(s). Here you will list all the various books, articles, web pages, and other sources that you cited in your paper. This page (or these pages) should also have the running head in the upper-left and page number in the upper right-hand corner.
The sources you use in your paper generally must be cited in two ways:
1. Parenthetical Citation. This is citation of the source in the text of your paper where the idea, passage, or direct quote is introduced. APA parenthetical citation normally consists of three items:
· The author’s last name;
· The year of publication of the source document; and
· The page number (if you are citing a specific passage in the source document) or paragraph number when a work is not paginated.
Let’s say that, in the body of your paper, you wish to paraphrase a statement made on page 117 of Bernadette Macey’s 1999 book The Role of Abnormal Psychology in Organizational Theory. The parenthetical citation, which would appear right after your paraphrase, would probably look like this: (Macey, 1999, p. 117).
2. Reference Citation. Reference citations are those that appear on the References page(s) of your paper. These citations require a bit more information; the general elements are:
· The author’s last name and initial of first name;
· The date of publication;
· The title of the author’s specific work;
· The journal, book, or other source document (if the work you are citing is part of a larger document); and
· The publication information.
In our example from above, Macey’s book would appear on the References page as follows:
Macey, B. (1999). The Role of Abnormal Psychology in Organizational Theory. Baltimore, MD: Maryland University Press.
Please note that these items can vary considerably depending upon the type of source document. This is especially true of documents obtained electronically. You can view some examples of the APA citation for different types of sources on citationresources.cfm#apa.
Conclusion: Research papers in practitioner disciplines are very similar to those in more purely academic areas. When preparing such a paper it is worth paying special attention to the audience for the paper, the sources you will use in your research, and the need to have a suitable, well-focused topic for the paper.
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In the last few weeks as a human resources (HR) consultant at Elora Jean & Co., you have reviewed several issues, made recommendations, and developed policies. In addition to the issues previously reviewed, the owner has advised you of the following situation:
A charge was recently filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by an employee. The charge states that two female employees in one of the nonunion satellite offices were subject to repeated and unwelcome sexual advances by their male supervisor. The charge further states that the two women previously complained to the supervisor’s immediate superior, letting him know that they felt uncomfortable and would like the behavior to stop. The harassment did not stop; rather, it continued over a period of 3 months. At that point, the female employees decided that the company would not help. They decided to file a claim with the EEOC, stating they were being sexually harassed at work.
The owner is certain that the company can put together a response that will clear it of the charge, and she asked if you felt they had a strong case. You state that you are not legal counsel for Elora Jean & Co.; however, you request permission to investigate the claim before giving your thoughts on the company’s documentation for legal defense.
Given your knowledge of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, you are concerned with Elora Jean & Co.’s ability to defend the EEOC charge. You plan to engage in your own investigation into the claim to learn more about the complaints made, who had knowledge, what type of investigation was conducted (if any), and what actions were taken. As part of your investigation, you learn that Elora Jean & Co. does not have any policies or procedures relating to sexual harassment in the workplace.
You need to address and advise the owner of Elora Jean & Co. on courses of action. Present your evaluation in a written memo to the owner. As you prepare your strategy for investigating the claim, consider the following:
What is the legal definition of sexual harassment?
What investigation process should Elora Jean & Co. have engaged in when the claims were first made? Why will that be important to the defense of the EEOC charge?
What is the legal liability for Elora Jean & Co. if the EEOC investigation finds the charge to be factual with employer knowledge of the events? Consider the options of mediation versus litigation with regard to organizational cost.
What elements would you recommend be included in a sexual harassment policy?
What should Elora Jean & Co. do to prevent this type of charge in the future?
Research and briefly summarize a recent case of sexual harassment that was won by the employee. Provide information relating to the financial outcome of the case.
What implications does the Civil Rights Act of 1991 have for employers?
What are your overall recommendations for the owner with regard to preparing a response to the EEOC charge?

I’ll provide the specific company documents after the down payment.
How can the company reduce labor cost and save jobs?
How might up-to-date job analysis information aid the company in reducing labor costs?
Discuss the short-term and long-term implications of downsizing. Ensure to address EEO issues that may occur in downsizing.
When possible, provide private-sector employer examples of human resource management programs and/or procedures. Provide names of the employers. Use different employer examples in this course than what has been used previously in your other papers and courses.
3 sources (references) sited in APA format
3-4 pages not counting the cover and reference pages
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In this assignment, you will recommend the components of a career development planning program and explain how the plan will integrate the organization’s mission and value statements.
Consider the following scenario:
You work in the HR Department of an electric power company in the southwestern region of the U.S. The company was founded in 1940 and has an excellent reputation as a provider of electricity. It is also considered to be an outstanding corporate citizen and known to be an excellent place to work. It has been ranked among the top three employers in the community for several years.
Its mission is to serve customer’s needs for electric power in ways that provide exceptional value to all stakeholders including customers, shareholders, employees, and the communities in which it operates.
Its values include providing a safe work environment; fairness and respect for customers, employees, shareholders, and partners; honoring commitments to use resources wisely; providing a high quality of work life for its employees; and striving for excellence and having fun.
Given its long history, many of its current employees are children or grandchildren of former employees so there are close family ties to the company as well as a sense of loyalty.
However, technological advancements in the power generation business over the years have resulted in jobs being either redesigned or eliminated. For example, in the past, the company had many employees who read meters, which showed the amount of electricity used by households. Meter readers traveled from house to house each month to log the information for billing purposes. Now meters are read automatically and data is transferred to the billing department via computer. This technological advancement eliminated the need for many employees who were required to resign, be laid off, or be retrained for other positions in the company.
The company faces a challenge as it strives to maintain its reputation as an excellent employer in the community, and, yet leverage advances in technology, which help it increase efficiency and remain competitive.
As a member of the HR team, you have been tasked with the responsibility of drafting a plan for a career development program for the company which will help managers effectively guide their staff in developing individual career development plans that are integrated with and support the company’s mission and values. Your report will be reviewed by senior HR managers as well as executive directors.
The HR department will have conducted a needs assessment as part of its strategic planning process to determine how the company will achieve its goals and objectives over the next 5–10 years. This assessment identifies areas where employees with new skill-sets will be required as well as areas where current employees with skill-sets may need to be either maintained or reduced (laid off).
As part of their annual performance appraisal, all employees will draft a personal and professional development plan on their own which will then be discussed with their manager. This plan should cover a five-year period and be reviewed and adjusted annually. It should include both formal training programs and individual initiatives to support personal and professional development interests.
By combining information about the company’s needs from the needs assessment and employees’ interests from the personal and professional development plans, it will be possible to develop a career planning program for the company that identifies the overlap between the company’s needs and employees’ interests and also detects gaps which could become opportunities for growth in the future. Overlapping areas indicate where the company needs skill-sets and the employees want to develop them while gaps indicate where the company needs skill-sets and there are no current employee interests in that area.
This process should help the company achieve a greater return on investment (ROI) from its training budget thus improving the bottom line. It should also result in lower employee turnover since employees will see that their personal and professional growth and the company’s needs are in alignment so they will be able to stay with the company and meet their personal and professional development goals.
Instructions:
Develop a six-to-eight-page document in Word format detailing how you would approach and organize a program to address needs for development of the company as well as individual employees. Be sure to clearly explain how you would create the plan, but do not create the plan itself. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M5_A2.doc.
Address the following in the plan:
Identify the information needed to develop a template that will be used to complete the individual employee’s learning plan.
Identify the information needed in order to develop the company’s needs assessment.
Explain how you would coordinate both the individual employee’s plan and the company’s needs assessment into a comprehensive development plan. Be sure to identify overlaps or gaps.
Explain how you would use this information to create a roadmap for development of a career development program for the company.
Identify other factors that should be considered in this program’s development.
Explain how the proposed plan would help managers effectively guide their staff in developing individual career development plans that are integrated with and support the company’s mission and values.
Next, create a PowerPoint presentation for the senior management explaining how this proposed plan would contribute to the resolution of HR issues facing this company. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M5_A2.ppt.
Utilize at least three scholarly sources in your research. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Make sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
By the due date assigned, deliver your assignment to the Submissions Area.
Assignment 2 Grading Criteria Maximum Points Identified the information needed in order to develop the individual employee’s learning plan. 40 Identified the information needed in order to develop the company’s needs assessment. 36 Explained how both the individual employee’s plan and the company’s needs assessment will be coordinated to identify overlaps and gaps. 44 Explained how this information will be used to create a roadmap for development of a career development program for the company. 36 Identified other factors that should be considered in this program’s development. 36 Explained how the proposed plan would help managers effectively guide their staff in developing individual career development plans that are integrated with and support the company’s mission and values. 44 Developed a PowerPoint presentation to present to senior management explaining how this proposed plan would contribute to the resolution of human resource issues facing this company. 36 Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 28 Total: 300
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Please read the case DCS Sanitation Management v. Eloy Castillo (and supporting notes), linked in the reference below:
DCS Sanitation Management v. Castillo, 435 F.3d 892, (8th Cir. 2006). Retrieved from https://advance-lexis-com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/api/permalink/0662e8d7-58b8-4877-a028-3ae9a3249480/?context=1516831
Once you have read and reviewed the case scenario, respond to the following questions:
1) Discuss the legal implications for employers and employees for requiring employees to sign noncompete agreements. What factors did the court consider in making its decision? Compare and contrast Ohio and Nebraska’s positions on noncompete clauses.
2) Which state’s laws support ethical reasoning in the resolution of this case?
3) Your response should be a minimum of three pages in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying APA style citations.
Textbook:
Cihon, P. J., & Castagnera, J. O. (2017). Employment and labor law (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.