Browsing by Author "Killian, Larita J."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Advancing Faculty Research in a “Bricolage” Environment"
    (International Journal on Engineering, Science and Technology, 2023) Killian, Larita J.; Agreda, Sergio Garcia; Escobar, Mariana Pérez; IUPUC Division of Business
    In the typical, academic career path, individuals enter faculty roles immediately after graduate school, commencing their academic careers with research skills and a fledgling research agenda. Many faculty, however, take an indirect route to research. They may work in the commercial or nonprofit sector for years before joining the academy, allowing their research skills to fade. Some individuals who never completed research training are recruited as faculty due to their years of professional experience; this is especially true in business, engineering, and health care. When institutional expectations and personal goals change, however, these individuals may suddenly face the need to conduct research. They have the motivation but lack the necessary skills and confidence. This is especially true when institutions decide to seek accreditation that requires research activity among faculty. To help Bolivian faculty achieve research success, we developed a condensed workshop on qualitative, applied research and conducted it four times, in-person and online, following the action research model. The condensed workshop proved effective in helping faculty boost their research productivity, though participants expressed a desire for more extended coaching and support. Future workshops will include increased opportunity for collaboration. The workshop can be adapted to other regions.
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    The Ethics Interview: Can a Single Interview Exercise Help Students Experience the Benefits of Professional Engagement?
    (AAA, 2021-07) Killian, Larita J.; Monje-Cueto, Fabiola; Huber, Marsha M.; Brandon, Christopher; IUPUC Division of Business
    Professional engagement helps students develop professional judgment, connect their coursework to the “real world,” and explore accounting-related careers. Internships often provide a route to these benefits, but some students cannot complete internships. The Pathways Commission calls for new, creative approaches to professional engagement. In the ethics interview exercise, students engage with professionals for a single interview. Following the intentional learning model, students complete activities before and after the interview. They select the interviewee, prepare questions about ethics and topics of personal interest, organize and conduct the interview, and reflect on the experience. We implemented the exercise in different accounting courses at universities in the United States and Bolivia, using both face-to-face and virtual interviews. We applied principles of phenomenology for assessment. Results indicate the exercise helps students experience the benefits of professional engagement. The exercise requires little modification to existing courses and can be modified to support varied learning goals.
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    Helping scholars advance their research agenda
    (2022) Killian, Larita J.; Garcia Agreda, Sergio; Pérez Escobar, Mariana; IUPUC Business
    We developed a qualitative research workshop to help full-time and part-time faculty develop or recharge their skills and advance their research agenda. Though originally designed for faculty, the workshop attracted graduate students and administrators (many who serve in dual roles). The workshop is condensed, comprising several hours of individual preparation and ten hours of group activities, and it covers the following learning objectives: position your research question within a research paradigm, identify and manage ethical issues, select a qualitative model for your research, plan data collection techniques, collect and code your data, and identify strategies for success. Though intended to be inspirational and motivational, this goal is also realistic and relevant, and has proven to boost qualitative research activity. Based on currently available evidence, the workshop is effective in helping faculty, administrators, and graduate students advance their research agenda. We anticipate this conclusion will be sustained as systematic evaluation data becomes available.
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    Special districts and social cohesion: an initial study
    (Inderscience, 2020) Killian, Larita J.; IUPUC Division of Business
    The United States is experiencing increased social and economic fragmentation. Various explanations are offered, but an overlooked factor may be increasing reliance on special districts (SDs) to deliver public services. This study draws from ethical discourse theory to investigate the relationship between SDs and social cohesion. Using male incarceration rates as an indicator for levels of social cohesion and marginalization, this study finds that as the different types of SDs within a state increases, male incarceration rates also increase. This initial study does not posit causality. Relying on SDs to deliver public services may lead to reduced social cohesion and increased marginalization, as ethical discourse theory suggests. Alternatively, it may be that reliance on SDs and male incarceration rates are both functions of other factors that reduce social cohesion.