STEP 6 in Repko’s IRP is to analyze the problem and evaluate each insight or theory. Briefly, discuss (1-2 sentences) why you have chosen the particular disciplines you have for this study, and
write the current version of your focus question. Then provide a short summary of what you have learned from each scholarly, peer reviewed, research article for one of your disciplines. Be sure to
use citations and compile a reference list. Remember, no quotes in the summaries.
This post will be a first draft of transforming your Annotated Bibliography into STEP 6 for the final paper. The first thing you need to do for STEP 6 is to summarize the disciplinary perspective
from each discipline. This summary should include information about the phenomena that each discipline studies and how those phenomena make a difference in your study. The next element of STEP 6 is
to evaluate those perspectives. Chapter 8 in the text discusses this process and the content that should be included. On page 255 Repko provides you a checklist of items to use for evaluating
research that might be useful.
D6: Identify conflict
What conflicts occur within the literature you are using to address our problem? Repko talks about different disciplinary approaches to a problem. Is that an issue with your disciplines?
Is there a vocabulary issue? Do your disciplines use the same word to describe different phenomena? Or do your disciplines use different words to describe the same phenomena? Are the basic
assumptions of your disciplines in conflict? This discussion post should focus on any conflicts that have occurred in the disciplines and/or the research studies you are using for this course
project. Identify at least one conflict you have found in your research.
Refer to Chapter 10 in the Repko text for types of conflict that commonly occur. Also, look at the Tayler article for an example of how this STEP 7 can be completed.
Next using one conflict you identified in STEP 7, propose a technique(s) you can use to create common ground and resolve your conflict. Repko discusses some of these techniques on pages 335-348.
Next, carry out the process of that technique for your identified conflict. This will be the beginning of STEP 8 for your final paper
Peer review type responses are expected. Please make sure everyone has some feedback.
D7: Conclusions & Suggestions for future research
What new insights developed from your research that provide a new and better understanding of the “wicked” problem that you studied? What suggestions and proposals did you make for addressing the
problem? What do you propose is needed for future research by scholars? This is your rough draft for STEPs 9 & 10. If you use the appropriate headings and introductory and transition sentences this
should be close to ready to insert in the final paper.
Peer review responses: By now you should have a feel for what a peer review response is, and why it is helpful. Peer review is more than editing, although it does include some editing. How could
the original post be improved, or developed, or edited to strengthen the final paper?