Research is an integral part of the public and nonprofit sectors. Budget analysts use research to generate revenue forecasts. Management analysts use research to determine if a program is serving citizens effectively. In nonprofit organizations, development directors use research to identify potential donors. As you can see, research occurs every day in all public and nonprofit organizations.

Research used for evaluation is especially challenging in the public and nonprofit sectors. Unlike their counterparts in the private sector, public administrators implement programs that produce “soft” and intangible results. Imagine the situation of a school administrator who implements an after-school counseling program for at-risk youth. One of the “soft” results of this program may be an increase in the self-esteem of a student. Self-esteem is a difficult concept to measure and may be measured in a variety of ways.

Or, consider a nonprofit organization that develops a program to help recovering addicts obtain gainful employment. While the measurement of whether or not the individual obtained a job is rather tangible and obvious, the confidence the individual gains as a result of participating in the program is intangible and much more difficult to measure. In order to measure the more challenging intangible results administrators rely on research. It is imperative for administrators to know how to conduct research in order to evaluate programs so that they can promote the values of efficiency, effectiveness, individual rights, and social equity.

For this Discussion, select a public or nonprofit organization with which you are familiar, or choose an organization from the Virtual Community of New Harbor, Delaware. Consider how research and evaluation could benefit this organization. A good place to start is to consider a program, problem, or policy that the organization may want to address in further detail.

Post by Day 3 a description of how research and evaluation can be used by this organization. Explain what program, problem, or policy could be addressed by research, and how this could benefit the organization.

Readings

• Johnson, G. (2014). Research methods for public administrators (3rd ed.). Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.
  • Chapter 1, “Introduction: Research Methods for Public Administrators” (pp. 3–16)
  • Chapter 2, “Basic Research Concepts” (pp. 17–33)
• Hatry, H. P. (2013). Sorting the relationships among performance measurement, program evaluation, and performance management. New Directions for Evaluation, 2013(137),19–32.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Litman, T. (2008). Evaluating research quality: Guidelines for scholarship. Victoria, British Columbia:Victoria Transport Quality Institute.
  Litman, T. (2012). Evaluating Research Quality Guidelines for Scholarship. Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.vtpi.org/resqual.pdf Used with permission from Todd Litman.
• Washington State Institute for Public Policy. (2004). Outcome of Washington state’s research-based programs for juvenile offenders. Retrieved from www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/852

Write: For this assignment, address the following prompts:

Topic: Minimum Wage

• Introductory Paragraph to Topic: Refer to the Final Argumentative Essay guidelines for your topic selection. Write an introductory paragraph with at least 150 words, which clearly explains the topic, the importance of further research, and ethical implications.
• Thesis statement: Write a direct and concise thesis statement, which will become the solution to the problem that you will argue or prove in the Week Five Final Argumentative Essay. A thesis statement should be a declarative statement that makes one point in 25 words or less. The thesis statement must appear at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• Annotated Bibliography: Develop an annotated bibliography to indicate the quality of the sources you have read. For each annotation, you need to summarize in your own words how the source contributes to the solution of the global societal issue. Your annotation should be one to two paragraphs long (150 words or more) and fully address the purpose, content, evidence, and relation to other sources you found on this topic. The annotated bibliography must include no less than five scholarly sources that will be used to support the major points of the Final Argumentative Essay. Critical thinking skills need to be demonstrated by accurately interpreting evidence used to support various positions of the topic.

The Introduction, Thesis Statement, and Annotated Bibliography Assignment

• Must be 1,000 – 1,250 words in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style

Discuss the Red Scare in the US from the Truman Administration through the Eisenhower Administration. How did American leadership justify this period? What role did the media, the social, political, labor, and other organizations play?

Discuss the Red Scare in the US from the Truman Administration through the Eisenhower Administration. How did American leadership justify this period? What role did the media, the social, political, labor, and other organizations play?

Discuss the Red Scare in the US from the Truman Administration through the Eisenhower Administration. How did American leadership justify this period? What role did the media, the social, political, labor, and other organizations play?

Application: Interpreting Data Outputs

Qualitative
data analysis (QDA) is the range of processes and procedures whereby
raw data are converted into some form of explanation, understanding, or
interpretation of the people and situations being investigated. QDA is
usually based on an interpretative philosophy to give meaning to
collected data. As with all data, analysis and interpretation are
required to bring order and understanding to it. After all, a set of
numbers or lists of observations are useless without an explanation of
why they are important. This requires creativity, discipline, and a
systematic approach—there is no single or best way. The best process for
a given research situation will depend on the questions that need to be
answered and the needs of those who will use the information.

For this Application Assignment, you interpret the outputs of
qualitative analyses by examining which variables are significant and
what you can conclude from the outputs. Use the qualitative results in
the article, “Why Rape Survivors Participate in the Criminal Justice
System” for this assignment.

The assignment (2–3 pages):

• Explain
  your interpretation of the qualitative results in the article, “Why
  Rape Survivors Participate in the Criminal Justice System,” including
  which variables are most significant and the conclusions you can draw
  about the significant variables you identified.

Support
your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources
used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all
resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

“The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic forces…The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential of an industry.”

1. Threat of entry

Identify an “iconic” example of threat of entry. Relate this example to barriers to entry like economies of scale, product differentiation, etc. Provide an example of threat of entry that is relevant for an independent restaurateur.

1. Powerful suppliers and buyers

Identify an “iconic” example of powerful suppliers or powerful buyers. Provide an example of powerful suppliers or buyers that is relevant for an independent restaurateur.

1. Threat of substitute products or services

Identify an “iconic” example of substitute products or services. Provide an example of substitute products or services that is relevant for an independent restaurateur.

1. Jockeying for position/The industry

Identify an “iconic” example of jockeying for position within an industry. Provide an example of jockeying for position that is relevant for an independent restaurateur.