SMART: Learner Formb
PSL Scientific Merit Action Research Template (SMART) Form (Research Plan)
Scientific Merit Process
Learners who are doing action research for their dissertation will use this form to go through the process of scientific merit review. The goals of this process are: (1) to facilitate the planning of the details of your action research project, (2) to ensure that the proposed project has rigor and allows for scientific merit review, and (3) to facilitate your progress through the dissertation. This is not an addition to your dissertation buta step to assist you in obtaining mentor, committee, school, and IRB approval more efficiently. You must obtain mentor, committee, and school approval of your research plan before submitting your IRB application.
Scientific Merit Criteria
The following criteria will be used to establish scientific merit. The purpose of the review will determine if the proposed project:
1. Contributes to society by improving a practice.
2. Documents need for change by utilizing evidence-based needs assessment.
3. Meets certain “hallmarks” of a good action research project including:
· Action research design:
· Practical.
· Participatory.
· Definedaction plan.
Scientific Merit Approval
Your completed SMART form will be approved, not approved, or deferred for major or minor revisions. Your committee will use a checklist to determine if the study meets the criteria for scientific merit and the committee will provide specific feedback designed to identify any issues related to the scientific merit that mustbe resolved. You will have up to three opportunities to submit this form for committee approval.
Obtaining scientific merit approval does not guarantee you will obtain IRB approval. The IRB review will focus on ethical issues. A detailed ethical review will be conducted during the process of IRB approval.
Recommendations for How to Use This Form
The SMART form is intended to help you and your mentor plan the design and details of your dissertation. Once your mentor approves your SMART form, your entire committee will review the form for scientific merit. After the entire committee approves your SMART form,it will be submitted for school approval. It is recommended that you use this form in a step-by-step way to help plan your design. Expect that you will go through a few revisions before your mentor and committee approve this form.
Tips for filling out the SMART form:
· Prepare your answers in a separate Word document for ease of editing and revision.
· Copy and paste items into the right-hand fields when they are ready.
· Retain the descriptions in the left column.
· Keep the form unlocked for ongoing editing and revision.
· Leave no blank spaces in the form. If an item does not apply to your study, type “NA” in its field.
· Read the item descriptions carefully. Items request very specific information. Be sure you understand what is asked (Good practice for your IRB application!).
· Use primary sources to the greatest extent possible as references. Textbooks (Patton, Leedy and Ormrod, and so on) are not acceptable as the only references supporting methodological and design choices. Use them to locate the primary sources.
Upcoming Milestone Steps:
Milestone Group 1
· Milestone 1: Learner Completed CITI Modules · Milestone 2: School approved topic (Sections 1 & 2 of SMART form) · Milestone 3: Mentor Approved Research Plan (complete SMART form)
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Milestone Group 2
· Milestone 4: Committee Approved Research Plan · Milestone 5: School Approved Research Plan · Milestone 6: University Approved IRB · Milestone 7: Committee Conference Call
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SMART Learner Form
Important Readings
https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/559/Board-of-Elections
https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/51113_ch_1.pdf
References
Ariely, G. (2013). Public administration and citizen satisfaction with democracy: cross-national evidence. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 79(4), 747-766.
Bowler, S., Brunell, T., Donovan, T., & Gronke, P. (2015). Election administration and perceptions of fair elections. Electoral Studies, 38, 1-9.
Diamond, J., & Schultz, D. (2018). Democracy and the teaching of public administration.
Kim, H., Sefcik, J. S., & Bradway, C. (2017). Characteristics of qualitative descriptive studies: a systematic review. Research in nursing & health, 40(1), 23-42.
Lambert, V. A., & Lambert, C. E. (2012). Qualitative descriptive research: An acceptable design. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 16(4), 255-256.
Norris, P. (2014). Why electoral integrity matters. Cambridge University Press.
Montjoy, R. S. (2008). The public administration of elections. Public Administration Review, 68(5), 788-799.