Dr. Diane Hamilton's Blog

Can Apple Save Education?

drdianehamilton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:54:15 +0000

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Checklist for Writing the Perfect College Paper

drdianehamilton — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:19:58 +0000

Professors may assume that students understand the basics when it comes to writing college research papers. In reality, many students are frustrated by all of the requirements. There are not a lot of easy checklists that put all of the requirements into one location. The following checklist should be used as a helpful guide to help college students write a well-researched and properly presented paper.

Write in introduction/body/conclusion format

Introduction – The first paragraph introduces what will be included in the paper. It is a good idea to have the first sentence of the first paragraph include a hook to interest the reader. Students should list a few sentences that summarize the main topics that will be addressed in the paper. In this example, assume that three things will be covered based on the assignment requirements. End the introductory paragraph with the thesis statement.
Body – The body is where the three things, required for the assignment, are addressed. Students should start each paragraph with a topic sentence. Students should write a few sentences about that topic. Students should end that paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads into the next topic that will be addressed in the following paragraph. This process should be completed for all paragraphs until the last paragraph.
Conclusion – The last paragraph may begin with something like, “In conclusion”. This last paragraph will sum up the three topics addressed. The last sentence should restate the thesis statement listed in the introduction, and end with some sort of final prediction or conclusion.

Write in complete paragraphs – Paragraphs should ideally contain between 4-8 sentences. Students often make the mistake of writing in incomplete paragraphs or overly long paragraphs. Click here for more information about paragraph structure.

Avoid run-on sentences – Sentences should not be overly complex. Students should check how many times the word “and” is used. This may signal a run-on sentence.

Write in APA format – Set up papers that include a title page, double-spacing, indented paragraphs, page numbers, correctly cited sources, etc. per APA.

Research the paper through the school’s library – Students often make the mistake of researching through the use of Google or other popular search engines. Students may also make the mistake of relying on sources that are less than scholarly. Sites like Wikipedia may offer some good information but they are not considered reliable or scholarly sources for research papers. Students should use the school’s search engine, located in the online library. Students should click the box that searches for scholarly, peer-reviewed journals to insure the sources are appropriate.

Cite consistently and correctly throughout the paper – Students often make the mistake of thinking they are story-telling when they should be demonstrating research. Students should get into the habit of paraphrasing rather than listing direct quotations. Students should avoid patchworking which means citing without including some of his or her observations. Students should not make the mistake of listing references without citations. This is a common mistake. Research papers require both citations AND references. Students should also not make the mistake of simply ending a paraphrased paragraph with (author last name, year) to cite all information covered in the paragraph. This is also a common mistake and can be considered plagiarism. Every sentence of paraphrased work requires the author and year information. Click here for information about how to cite.

Submit the paper to TurnItIn – Many schools offer TurnItIn’s plagiarism checker. This is an excellent tool that is helpful to both the students and the schools. Students should get in the habit of submitting his or her papers through this software program to insure that they are not inadvertently plagiarizing information.

Check narrative mode – Many courses do not allow students to write in first person. If this is the case, students should not refer to themselves. Students should look for words like I, we, us, me. These words should not be included if the paper does not allow first person.

Check Word document format – Students often overlook the settings in the Word document. Students should be sure that the font, margins and settings are correctly set to APA requirements.

Check spelling and other miscellaneous issues – Students should read the final draft more than once. Even if everything seemed OK in the paper, it is a good idea, for students to read it several times to look for small errors. Students should check for spacing issues. Students should also check that there are two spaces after periods per APA. Students should spell-check the document to be sure all spelling issues are resolved.

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Credit Score Savvy

drdianehamilton — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:31:27 +0000

With the New Year, people often make resolutions to fix problem financial situations. Part of cleaning an individual’s financial house includes taking a hard look at his or her credit. Credit Score Savvy (2003) was one of my earlier articles that I wrote for a local magazine. At that time, I was a loan officer and found that many people were confused by FICO scores and credit issues. In the article I explained factors that affected scores and the ability to finance a home. Although the market has changed since then, a lot has remained the same in terms of confusion about credit issues. A more recent article titled Polish up Your Credit includes some information about things people can do to improve his or her credit score now. What may be most useful from this article are some of the statistics. The following chart provides answers to some of the most basic credit-related questions.

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Doctoral Dissertation: Proposal Approval Checklist

drdianehamilton — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:37:54 +0000

In the years I have spent as a doctoral chair, I have read many excellent proposals and final dissertations. Writing a dissertation takes a great deal of patience and time. Some students may become frustrated if he or she believes that the process takes longer than anticipated. To avoid a lengthy proposal approval process, the student should spend time going over some common mistakes. Although each school may have different requirements, the following checklist may be helpful to the doctoral learner prior to submitting his or her proposal for review.

Common Errors	Place X to Signify Compliance

All Required Forms Are Included
Note That Data Will Be Saved 3 Years Then Destroyed
Paragraphs Must Contain At Least 3 Sentences
Any Defined Words Must Include A Citation
85% Of References Must Be Less Than 5 Years From Proposal Date
All Sections Are Listed In Proposal
References Are In APA Format
Submit to TurnItIn Or Plagiarism Checker
Submit To Editing Software Or Editor
Submit To Statistician If Necessary
Two Spaces Are Required After Periods
Design Is Carefully Described
Clarity – Person Reading Proposal Could Perform Study If Necessary
No Personal Opinions – All Conclusions Substantiated
The Word “Proposed” Is Listed Before Referring To Proposed Study
No Use Of The Wording “The Researcher” To Refer To Writer Of Proposal
No First Person References
No Fluff Words Including: However, In Addition, Therefore, Etc.
Proposal In Future Tense; Will Change To Past Tense After Study
What Others Have Written In Past Tense
Long Tables Should Be In Appendix
Long Citations Cannot Be On Two Separate Pages – Must Be On One
No Slang Is Included
Use Words “Which and That” Correctly
There Should Not Be Any Tracking Changes Left In Document
Headings Must Be In APA 6th Format
Chapter 1 Must Start On Page 1
Proposal Author’s Name Must Be Listed And Current Month/Year
Watch Use Of The Word Randomly (Be Specific)
No Anthropomorphisms Should Be Used
Watch Implying Causal Relationship If None Exists
Do Not Make Predictions
Multiple Studies In Parentheses Require Names In Alphabetical Order
Avoid Vague Statements Like Something Was “Poor”
Articulate How Participants Were Selected
Articulate What Was Done To Reduce Researcher Bias
Do Not Use Vague Terminology Like “Others”
United States Is U.S. And Not US
1980s Should Be 1980s And Not 1980′s
Stick To One Subject Per Paragraph
Do Not Write In Contractions (Do Not Is Correct – Don’t Is Not)
Do Not Have Back to Back Charts With No Explanation
Use He or She Rather Than They To Define Subject
Be Sure All Chapters Include A Summary
Target Population And Sample Is Clearly Described
Hypotheses May Be Numbered And Supported By Narrative
Choice Of Method Is Clear And Substantive
Punctuation Should Be Inside Of Quotation Marks
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Is Completed
Checklist Should Be Provided To Doctoral Chair
Application Should State If Exempt and Why

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Importance of Being Proactive vs. Reactive

drdianehamilton — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:35:05 +0000

Many good foresight or business courses teach students to be proactive vs. reactive to change. Anyone who has read The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People will tell you that the very first habit Covey lists is to be proactive. Covey explained that to be proactive “means more than merely taking initiative. It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.”

When a person is in control of an expected or anticipated occurrence, they have taken proactive measures. When a person is reactive, they are responding to something that they had yet to have anticipated.

In leadership courses, they often give examples of a proactive vs. a reactive leader. The following chart gives an example of the different mindset of these two styles of leaders. Click on the picture for more information.

Carol Shultz’s article Proactive vs. Reactive Approaches to Your Business and Talent explained two cases that demonstrated how reactive companies lost employees for different reasons, and the associated costs.

There are a number of theoretical models for change that include the importance of being proactive. Some of these include:

Is Your Personality Making You Fat?

drdianehamilton — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:12:45 +0000

The Wall Street Journal’s article Is Your Personality Making You Put on Pounds listed some personality traits that may affect weight gain. Some of the links between personality and weight gain include weight gain in people who are:

Less Agreeable
Night Owls
Stress Junkies
Mindless Multitaskers
Givers
Perfectionists

The author of the article provides some fixes for people who exhibit these traits.

Impulsiveness has also been linked to weight gain. The Huffington Post reported, “A 2006 study by Maastricht University of 26 obese children found that the most overweight children were also the most impulsive. Another study, published in 2008 by the University of Alabama, found that obese women had significantly lower impulse control than normal weight women, while a 1976 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition similarly found that obese women were more likely to be “non-conforming and impulsive” than their non-obese peers.”

Neurotic people also have issues with weight gain. The National Institute of Aging studied nearly 2000 people and found that people with high levels of neuroticism and low levels of conscientiousness displayed more frequent weight increases and decreases.

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology released a study that studied participants based on the Big Five personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. There were a total of 14,531 assessments across the 50 years of the study. Pyschcentral reported that the results showed, “greater weight gain among impulsive people; those who enjoy taking risks; and those who are antagonistic — especially those who are cynical, competitive and aggressive.” ABCLocal reported that this study showed, “that people who are meaner are more likely to gain weight with age. Those considered more conscientious were likely to be leaner.”

A lead researcher from the Institute of Aging, Angelina Sutin, was interviewed by Boomer Health and Life. Sutin stated, “We hope that by more clearly identifying the association between personality and obesity, more tailored treatments will be created. For example, lifestyle and exercise interventions that are done in a group setting may be more effective for extroverts than for introverts.”

WebMD claims that if you know your diet personality, it can help you lose weight. Weight loss plans should be based on whether you are a:

Support Seeker
Serial Snacker
Free Spirit
Sweet Tooth
Distracted Diner

To find ideal diet plans based on each of these types, click here.

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Top 5 Reasons Why Big Pharmaceutical Companies are Failing: An Inside Perspective

drdianehamilton — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:29:48 +0000

The Wall Street Journal recently reported how drug companies are using cues taken from Disney to improve lagging sales. I usually do not write opinion articles, but having worked as a pharmaceutical representative for 15 years, I witnessed a lot of mistakes in the industry that I believe should be uncovered. While high pressured sales pitches may be causing some of the problems facing Big Pharma, there were plenty of other issues that I experienced.

Too Many Reps – The biggest problem I saw was the number of sales representatives hired. When I began selling pharmaceuticals in 1985, I had my own territory. It consisted of several zip codes. My job was to call on doctors within those zip codes once a month. In that sales call, I presented information about my drug. As time went by, leadership decided that if one person could do so well calling on doctors, having two people delivering the same message would just improve sales. They began to think it was inspired to just double the amount of reps. By the time I left in 2002, there were eight of us in my territory all delivering the same message to the same doctors. It is no wonder that doctors began to stop seeing reps. Doctors were tired of being overwhelmed by the same information. While it may sound bad that a company like AstraZeneca is laying off 24% of its sales staff, perhaps it is important to realize that they may have had too many sales reps in the first place.
Rewarding Mediocrity – The commission structure was set up in way that did not inspire motivation. My company set up forecasts so that reps would attain around 105% of projections. If a representative came in at 100%, the next year, their forecast would be decreased. If the representative came in at 120%, the next year, their forecast would be increased. There was no real incentive to do well, because it would catch up in the next cycle. Reps also were paid most of their income as a base salary. Commissions were a smaller part of their income. In the Wall Street Journal article, it mentioned that companies are now considering changing the way they pay commissions. In the past, commissions were based on number of sales. Companies like Glaxo are now considering basing commissions on physician satisfaction. Now that I am just a patient and not a rep, I would rather a doctor wrote me a prescription for a drug because it is the best drug and not because they are satisfied with a drug rep’s performance.
Lack of Control – A pharmaceutical rep either sold a drug that was or was not on a formulary. A formulary is the list of medications an insurance company will pay for if a doctor prescribes it. If the drug he or she sold was on the insurance company’s formulary that the doctor used, then the rep had a fighting chance of convincing the doctor to prescribe the medication. If not, the rep had little effect because patients would not be willing to pay cash for their prescriptions. The reps had no control over getting drugs on the formularies. That was someone else’s job. The lack of control led to low sales and poor performance.
Training not Realistic – Pharmaceutical reps go through intense training before entering the field. In that training, they are taught sales scripts. These scripts were things they should say when they were in the doctors’ offices. When a rep would get out into the field, they quickly saw that the training was not realistic. They did not have the kind of time to say the kinds of things they were taught. Doctors were too busy. My boss basically told me to forget everything they taught me and just be conversational. This is interesting to me now that the Wall Street Journal article claims that this style is now being embraced by Lilly.
Doctors’ Preferences – Like it or not, many of the reasons people are given the medications are due to doctors’ friendships with and preferences for their reps. I had a doctor tell me that he wrote a medication for a rep he hated just because he saw him so much it was “just in his mind” to do so. He did not choose the drug because it was better. The Wall Street Journal article explained that a psychiatrist deliberately wrote for a competitive product just because he did not like the rep. It was disturbing to me to see the reasons why a doctor prescribed what they prescribed. It usually was based on familiarity and friendship rather than anything else.

I was fortunate that I was successful in my 15 years as a pharmaceutical rep. I was a multiple winner of their coveted “Presidents Circle of Sales” award. However, some of my success was based on luck. If my drug was on a formulary, it made my job a lot easier. Now that I am a Professor of Business, I see many problems with their business model. It may have worked for a while, but over time, there have been cracks in a less than solid foundation.

I believe that a lot of the problem in that industry is due to the lack of time doctors put forth in terms of researching their medications. I have witnessed a lot of scary things that doctors have done over the years. I witnessed a lot of doctors who only obtained information about medications based on a sales pitch. I would rather have a well-informed doctor that has done his research prescribe my medication, than a physician who liked the lunch or “performance” delivered by the rep that was just in his office before I arrived for my appointment.

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Top 5 Secrets for Online Student Success

drdianehamilton — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:49:33 +0000

Online education is growing at a pace that far exceeds general education enrollment. Because of the popularity of online learning, many traditional universities are offering online courses. Forbes recently reported that MIT will soon offer free education for everyone. With all of the online options available, students may be confused as to where to go for helpful information. There are plenty of sites available to help online students find schools, locate loans and even determine majors. What is not as readily available is information about how to be a successful online student once he or she is enrolled.

The following is the top 5 list of things that can help the new online student succeed once they have already chosen their school and major. Click on the blue links for more information about each topic:

Learn Goal Setting – Read about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant (sometimes also Results-Based), and Timely (or Time-Bound). Students should set S.M.A.R.T. education goals. Those that neglect to do this may find that it takes them longer to graduate, while they waste time and money.
Learn Tools Offered – Most online universities offer some extremely helpful writing, editing and plagiarism-checking tools. The school’s online site may also have helpful tutorials to explain how to use the software (also known as the platform) that delivers the classroom information. Learning how to navigate in the online classroom may take a little time. However, after taking the first class, many students feel more confident in their navigating abilities.
Use the School’s Library – Students may forget that their university has an online library. It is important that students do not get in the habit of searching for information using Google, Yahoo! and other similar engines. A well-written paper is supported by peer-reviewed articles. These may be easily found using the school’s search engines located in their online library.
Learn APA – APA stands for American Psychological Association. For college students, APA refers to the format in which papers should be written. While APA may seem daunting to the new learner, there are some very useful examples of APA papers online that can help explain the requirements.
Learn How to Cite – Professors often require students to cite research in his or her papers. Most often they must cite in APA format. There are some helpful sites to help students learn how to cite correctly. Students must also learn how to paraphrase, include in-text citations and avoid plagiarism.

Click here for more useful tips about how to be a successful online college student.

Related article:

Site Makes Citing Easy

drdianehamilton — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:20:39 +0000

Citation Machine is a website that helps students learn how to format citations and references. According to the site, “Citation machine helps students and professional researchers to properly credit the information that they use. Its primary goal is to make it so easy for student researchers to cite their information sources.”

The site also includes a “most cited today” section where it displays some of the most recently cited websites and books.

A student can simply put in a site and author information and it will give the appropriate example of how to cite that information within their paper in APA or MLA. If the student has the ISBN number, it is even easier.

The following example shows how entering the ISBN can return APA citation results. First enter the ISBN.

Then hit submit. That will pull up a page that looks something like this.

Click “Make Citation” and it will create the biographical citation information for the reference page as well as the in-text citation information that will look like this.

Note that I did not enter the publisher or publishing city information in the prior example. This led to a citation that is lacking that information. I purposely did that to show that if information is left out, the results may not be perfect. Although the in-text citation information is correct here, the reference page information is missing the publisher and location. Be sure to double-check that all appropriate information is input or the output may not be correct.

If you do not have the ISBN, you can enter the information you do have. Note that on the left side of the screen, the site gives you choices of books, articles, journals, blogs and more. Click on the appropriate source and enter the information that you have.

Although this system is not fool-proof, it can be a helpful instrument in guiding students regarding APA or MLA citation and reference formatting.

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Dr. Diane Hamilton's Blog

Can Apple Save Education?

Checklist for Writing the Perfect College Paper

Credit Score Savvy

Doctoral Dissertation: Proposal Approval Checklist

Top Links Explaining Texting (SMS) and Short Codes

Importance of Being Proactive vs. Reactive

Is Your Personality Making You Fat?

Top 5 Reasons Why Big Pharmaceutical Companies are Failing: An Inside Perspective

Top 5 Secrets for Online Student Success

Site Makes Citing Easy