一步一步

Sitting down to try to select our theory, I was worried it would be difficult to sort through our sources to find just one. Spending time to look at each resource, however, and thinking about it’s applicability to our environment at VMI, it was easy to see what components would work for our research. Step by step, we piece together a theory we could use and easily formed three possible hypothesis. This was my favorite part of the process as we could think creatively and about the examples we encounter everyday. We can up with hypothesis that explained rule breaking as a result of low position in the Corps hierarchy and therefore low motivation or norms; a systematic lack of freedom or harsh reaction of comm staff that creates indifference to punishment since so much is already received; or external factors that limit the desire to leave post on the weekend (which is when punishments are served) such as no significant other or local home to return to. I think I could work on the wording of our hypothesis to make sure they are as clear and concise as possible, but I think we have a good approach. Once we established this, it was easy to start thinking about what types of data we can collect and what questions we can ask of the survey, which will be our method of data collection. Although this project was intimidating at first, each step is falling into place as we work forward and see that research design is possible!