Research is a large part of our lives! We are always conducting research without even realizing it. We of course conduct research in our classes, but we also find ourselves doing research when buying a new car, looking for a good restaurant to eat at, or looking for a good deal in town for shopping. These are just a few examples, but there are plenty more! This week we would like you to answer the following questions:
1. How might we use research in our everyday lives? In school? At work?
2. Which specific skills are used when completing a research project?
3. How might these skills be translated towards future employment?
4. How might your ability to solve problems from and interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? Current employer?
5. Create a potential (fictitious but believable) work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play.
I actually have a real life example I would like to share with everyone. I used to work at the Wynn in Las Vegas as an assistant manager for hotel operations. Our vice president broke down the top ten problems of the hotel and created task force groups and hand-picked employees to be a part of them. I was one of the ones chosen and my group consisted of ten other employees from different departments. We researched the problem from every department’s perspective. It was amazing how each department was effected differently from the same problem. We had to research each department and analyze their procedures. We then put our problem solving skills to work. Using all of our different knowledge and skills set we were able to come up with one action plan. This plan was successful because we used different departments (or what we could call different areas of focus, just like what our majors entail). Using interdisciplinary research resolves problems more efficiently because we think of every aspect that relates to come up with one solution.
1) When I research at school it's usually along the lines of making my life easier. In the library I search for the best floor to study on based on temperature, crowdedness and electrical outlet availability. When I'm hungry I look for the cheapest price for the most food. And what college kids doesn't love getting free stuff by signing up for useless crap? I sure do.
ReplyDelete2) The skills used when completing a research project have to be a sense of timeliness and relevance, reliability and critical thinking.
3) For documentary photography, timeliness and relevance are the most important things. The information that your getting needs to me timely and relevant otherwise your audience won't care. Reliability is of utmost importance so you can keep your credibility, and your job.
4) My ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective is advantageous to current and future employers because I am able to think outside of the box and put on other people's shoes, so to speak. I can see problems from different angles and find the most effective way to tackle it.
5) My story is true as well. Last August my father's company was purchasing new software while at a Chiropractic convention. There were many options and we had to find the right one for us that was in our budget. Over the two days that we were there I had to consult with our office manager and the Doctor to decide which software met our needs. When we were together we would all ask the salesman different questions because we were all looking for different aspects of the same program. The Doctor needed to know how the interface worked for notes, I was looking for ease of use and scheduling while the manager needed to know how well the billing functions worked. By combining our knowledge of our specialized areas we were able to find the best program for the whole office.
1) I am constantly doing research in my everyday life. I like to research places where I am planning on going. I like to get good deals while shopping, so I am researching that. There are even websites that you can go to that will show you the best deals of the day for all different stores and business. Things like that help you save time as well as money. When I am researching for school I usually try to find a quiet place where I will not be distracted, and I make sure that I have lots of resources such as the internet, books, etc. For work research I usually do the same as school.
ReplyDelete2) I think that that you need to be creative, but make sure that your information is relevant. Also, you need to have good deciphering skills to find the most important information.
3) By knowing how to decipher things you will be able to save time while at work. Also, it is always good practice to make sure that the things you are doing are relevant. It is also useful to be creative in the work place too.
4)When you are thinking with an interdisciplinary perspective you should be seeing the bigger picture. Often times problems are much easier to solve when you consider everything. Don't just focus on the one thing, but try to see the whole picture, and more often then not it is easier to solve your problem.
5) While at work there was a customer who was from Germany, and they really liked this piece of art work, but they were concerned with getting it back home. One of the other art consultants said that they would just have to try to carry it on the plan with them. But, I told them to hold on for a minute while I looked into something. I got online and did some research and found a company that specializes and shipping these kinds of things around the world, and they guarantee that it will make it there safely. Because I thought outside of the box, and realized that they could not have been the first people to have had this problem, so I knew there had to be some sort of solution, and I found it be doing a little research.
@Heather
ReplyDeleteI agree with relevance being important. I also think deciphering skills are crucial. With so much information in the digital age, it is very easy for relevant information to be lost among the irrelevant garbage.
Often times problems are easier to solve when you consider the larger picture but don't forget the value of taking things one step at a time.
I find that I am continueously using research methods in my everyday life. Currently, I am researching on line for the best computer that suits my needs. In addition, I am researching where I can get the best rate for this computer. Also, I have several trips that I am taking this year. I always research the best rates through travel sites such as expedia, priceline, and travelocity. A final way that I use research methods in my everyday life is that I am constantly aware of gas prices and compare them before I go in for a fill-up.
ReplyDeleteThe skills that I tend to incorporate the most when compleating a research project are time management and patience. I believe that research projects should be time effecient and this requires patience.
The way in which these skills can be translated towards future employment is simple. Anytime that you have a job to do, be it for yourself or job related, it is crutial to do it within a timely manner but also that it is done correctly therefore encorporating patience.
Through my interdisciplinary education thus far, I have acquired skills that are not only of assistance to me with my current employment but for future employment as well. For example, currently I am a server. When I have a problem with an unreasonable customer, I use the skills learned from my communications education to help to solve the barrier of understanding between us. If that does not work, I use my social and behavioral skills to understand why this person may be acting in such an unreasonable way. This therefor helps me to find the patience within to deal with many pronlems that can come my way. For future employment, it can be benificial in the same way.
Having a volunteer background in fundraising for non profit organizations, I have encountered many instances where critical thinking was needed to help think fo ways to get more funds distributed to the organization. One time that sticks out in my memory is when there were little funds for the month and it was weighing on the shoulders of those in charge to decide who gets what so to speak. A great solution came about to ease some of the guilt. Each department submitted a essay on what they need the funds for the most and the ammount they felt was needed. Everyone got together from the department heads, went throught the papers and decided as a whole what was priority and they were handled in that fashion. No jealousy, no bickering, just plain and simple problem solving.
@Marie
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to have excellent time management and patience when researching for anything. Even more so when searching for a computer because technology becomes obsolete so quickly.
It's great to see such clear, straight-forward problem solving, especially in the case of who gets money.
You all give great responses, especially when answering the last question. Creativity is key, and you all show that in your scenarios (which I enjoyed reading).
ReplyDeleteKevin – the new software was to accommodate you, the doctor and the office manager and the approach was certainly interdisciplinary.
Heather – your interaction with an overseas client required you to think critically in order to serve the customer, “they couldn’t have been the first people to have this problem” was a great way to approach the situation in solving their problem. Going above and beyond will provide you added value to future employers.
Hi Kevin
ReplyDeleteI think it is funny, because I am also signing up for all kinds of things so I can get free things too. I also agree with you about how the information that you are getting needs to be relevant to what you are doing. It is easy to waste your time on information that is useless. I also find it is useful to be in a place that is quite while I am studying too.
Hi Marie
ReplyDeleteI too travel a lot and I find it very useful to do as much research ahead of time as you can. It makes everything so much easier. I also believe that it is very important to be wise with your time when you are doing research. Like I said before you need to try to save time, and one way you can do that is by making sure your information is relevant to what you are doing.
1. How might we use research in our everyday lives? In school? At work?
ReplyDeleteWe use research in every area of our life, sometimes consciously, and other times without even noticing. For example before we go to buy an item such as a camera, we might look up the reviews that might have been posted in websites such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Youtube. We also research to find better prices; many of us do this when buying school books each semester.
2. Which specific skills are used when completing a research project?
A research project combines individual skills otherwise used in assignments such as essays, and power point presentations. Some of the skills that I use when completing a research project are computer skills, as well as research skills (looking information up online, or on databases, as well as library).
3. How might these skills be translated towards future employment?
In today’s day and time computers are used in every field, therefore the computer skills exercised throughout the research projects completed in my undergrad years will help me fulfill the basic requirements of any job. Research skills serve as an aid in work, as well as in everyday life.
4. How might your ability to solve problems from and interdisciplinary perspective be valuable to a future employer? Current employer?
An interdisciplinary perspective allows me to look at a problem from different angles, rather than from one angle as most people whose bachelors focuses on one specific area.
5. Create a potential (fictitious but believable) work scenario where your research and problem solving skills as an interdisciplinary thinker might come into play.
While volunteer working, my fellow team mate and I had to teach kids basic English words. Spanish is my first language, therefore I was able to help the kids with any questions they had, and I could also translate with ease the meanings of what we were teaching. My friend is an education major, so it was second nature for him to create lesson plans for the children, as well as homework assignments, and fun games we could play when we were done teaching. By combining both our knowledge of Spanish and education we were successful at teaching the children the basic English words we wanted them to learn, and then some!
Kevin – Your example of the doctor, manager and you was a great way to showcase interdisciplinarity. I also agree with you that most college students are always signing up for free stuff, I mean one just has to go to the Union on a Wednesday and look at the line behind any free food. I also agree about studying in the quiet, if I don’t I loose and concentration.
ReplyDeleteHeather – Good point on seeing the whole picture rather than breaking it down. Depending on the situation, a problem is easier solved by looking at the big picture, or sometimes by solving small parts and then looking at the big picture. It is important to know how to go about looking for a solution. I think in a way Interdisciplinary studies might help us with even this, because we have the ability to look at things from different angles with much more ease.
Research is a huge component I think of school especially at our level. In school we use research most of the time to completely a majority of our assignments.
ReplyDeleteKnowing how to properly look up useful information is a skill that you learn that can be helpful with you all your life. Learning how to decipher what information to collect and what information to throw out can save you a lot of time and money.
Knowing about future companies that you anticipate working at can give you edge over your competition. By knowing more about your place of employment its puts you in front of the game.
Being able to solve problems from an interdisciplinary point of you gives you advantage over others because you see the problem from more than on perspective. This can help you advanced or gain further employment.
While working with a problem child this summer camp I encountered a bit of an attitude from the child. Using my past experience with kids and child psychology I have learned about in school I was able to get the child to talk to me in a way I felt was appropriate. By knowing how children can react to their environment I was able to change the situation from very tense to a normal conversation.
I like your response Cristie, My mom works with handicapped kids, and I sometimes interact with them. It takes a different mindset to be able to work with them. If I just took a straight approach I wouldn't ever be able to cope with the difficulties that arise.
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