Eric Norman, Ed.D.Louisiana State University

J. Patrick Biddix, Ph.D.Valdosta State University

Rachel UnderwoodValdosta State University

Monday, December 7 1:15 PM - 2:30 PMCity Terrace 8

IntroductionsEric NormanPatrick BiddixRachel Underwood

No research is ever quite complete. It is the glory of a good bit of work that it opens the way for something still better, and this repeatedly leads to its own eclipse.Mervin Gordon

Outline of PresentationIntroduction and overviewObjectivesOverview of researchReview of historical and current researchNoted trendsTargeted hot topicsDiscussionQ&AConclusion

AFA Core CompetenciesResearcherUses research to guide practiceAssesses needs of the fraternity/sorority communityEngages constituents in strategic planningLeaderShares knowledge and mentors others in fieldExhibits leadership skills in daily work through critical thinking, risk taking, and creativityParticipates in continued professional development through AFA and other organizations

Audience Who are you?

What are your expectations? Journals used? Frequency of fraternity/sorority research?

Objectives What we have learned from researchWhere the field needs to goVenues to accomplish this goalDecreased anxiety for publicationUnderstanding the process of submission

Overview of ResearchUnderstand the purposeTo include:AbstractIntroduction/BackgroundMethodologyLimitationsResultsDiscussion References

Types of ResearchQualitativeEthnographyQuantitativePre and Post TestProgram DevelopmentFormative Summative

Types of Research - APAEmpirical studies original Article reviews/meta analysisTheoretical Articles advance theoryMethodological articlesCase studies

Most commonly subjects in fraternity/sorority researchAcademics Alcohol/Drug usageAssessment/EvaluationHazingSexual Assault

Theory developmentAssessment/EvaluationRetentionImprove academic standardsRisk reductionResource allocationInterest in the students servedExamine trends

Why Research Fraternity/Sorority Life

Research Cheers and JeersBiasUse scientific methodMasters verses doctorate studies?

The common facts today are the products of yesterdays research. Duncan McDonald

Examples of Affiliation BenefitsInvolvement (Astin, 1984)

Persistence to graduation (Astin, 1975) and (Kuh, Douglas, Lund, & Ramin-Gyurnek, 1994)

Satisfaction with undergraduate experience (Neubereger & Hanzon, 1997)

Service learning opportunities (Pike, 2000)

Retention & Persistence (Debard, Lake, & Binder, 2006)

Affiliation Benefits continuedRelated to Chickering:

Establishing and clarifying purposeDeveloping mature interpersonal relationshipsEstablishing trustReciprocal care and honesty (Hunt & Rentz, 1994)

Affiliation Benefits...?Cognitive developmentScholastic abilityLeadership development

Conversation means being able to disagree and still continue the conversation Dwight MacDonald

Critics Focus on the:Abuse of alcoholHazing Sexual harassment/assaults Academic deficiencies Homogeneity Academic detrimentsQuestionable developmental deficiencies

Research teaches a man to admit he is wrong and to be proud of the fact that he does so, rather than try with all his energy to defend an unsound plan because he is afraid that admission of error is a confession of weakness when rather it is a sign of strength.- H.E. Stocher

Affiliation Detriments?Greater homogeneityAlcohol use Quantity Frequency Adverse impact on cultural sophistication Critical thinking skills (Pascarella, 1996)

Interesting Impacts of AffiliationSmaller shift towards liberalism (Wilder, Hoyt, Surbeck, Wilder, & Carney, 1986)

System ReviewsAmerican Council of Education (1990)Jelke (2001)Zacker (2001)NIC Call for Values Congruence/Franklin Square GroupBoyle (1992)

Collaboration StudiesAcademic achievement by a chapter is more dependent upon local campus GPA (Shaffer, 1983)

Higher achieving chapters attract higher achieving new members (Carney, 1980)

And converse is true (Rhodes, 1980)

Recent TopicsCost benefit analysis for fraternal orgsHazingEvaluation of Alcohol programming Eating disordered knowledge of Admin.Leadership development effecting career developmentPerceptions of leadershipAssessing learning and development

Recent topics cont.Fake ID useGay males in fraternitiesOn line alcohol curriculum evaluation Definitions of HazingMembership effects on GPA and retentionUnderstanding ritualCognitive effects of affiliation

Recent topics cont.Alcohol behavior and beliefsSorority Body Issues and Eating DisordersAttitudes toward FraternitiesRisky Health BehaviorsSocial PressuresRace, Affiliation, and GraduationFraternity Membership (Non-Black Members in BGLOs)

Desired topics http://www.indiana.edu/~sao/cscfsite/

Senior retentionDeferred recruitment/IntakeHonor Codes Self-governanceImpact of chapter size

Desired topics cont. Impact of cultural based orgsCharacter building/Ethics/ValuesLeadership skillsCouncil differencesIdentity developmentCritical thinkingIssues of Pluralism

Desired topics cont. Impact of social networkingCivic outcomesTechnology issuesPractitioner researchStudent development/growth Non-NIC/NPC member experiencesMulti-institutional research

Additional Research NeedsMulti-campus studies

Research from (inter)national offices

Venues: Where to look for researchOracle

NASPA Journal

JSCD

Dissertations

New Directions Series

Other VenuesPsychology in SchoolsPersonnel and Guidance JournalSociology of EducationJournal of Applied PsychologyEducational RecordJournal of Higher EducationJournal of College Student RetentionReview of Educational Research

The Submission ProcessSubmit

Editor Review

Peer Review

Editorial Board

Publisher

Submission TimelineSubmission to Acceptance: 2 - 6 months

Editing: 2 6 months

Publication: 6 months

Helpful HintsResearch focus not opinion Sound methodologyWrite for an audience

Helpful Hints - ContinuedUse datasets that already exist NationalEBINSSEGreek Experience SurveyLPICampusAcademic reportsJudicial trendsMatriculation reportsDevelopmentService learning

Helpful Hints Cont.Interviews Focus groupsCase studiesEvaluate/Assess programsUse papers written for classExpand on presentations

FundingInstitutional grantsAFACFEAInternational foundationsNHF

Common IssuesLanguagePut a Nail in the coffin on clichs Verb tenseGreek is a culture, not a fraternal communityFormattingUnreliable or invalid instruments

BarriersTimeWriting abilityComfort with statisticsIRBResponse rate

Mentoring Research designStatistical analysisWritingLiterature reviewFormatting

ResourcesAFANASPAACPACASOrder of OmegaGamma Sigma AlphaCenter for the Student of the College Fraternity

Questions?

Research means that you dont know, but you are willing to find out.

Charles F. Kettering

Contact informationJ. Patrick Biddix, Ph.D.jpbiddix@valdosta.edu

Eric M. Norman, Ed.D.enorman@lsu.edu

Rachel Underwoodrrunderwood@valdosta.edu