March 31 - Peer review of drafts
The semester is rapidly coming to a close and the defense of each Honors in the Major project will take place within the next three weeks.
Everyone has made significant progress on their papers. Today's task was to read each others' drafts. We had a small group today since Brent and Tyler are presenting their papers off-campus (Tyler at Ithaca College and Brent in San Diego), but enough to make it work.
We first discussed the status of data sets (Sara has over 450 responses to her online survey!; Justin has completed his data collection process) and the structure of the papers. Jorge showed Justin and Sara how he presented results in his first draft via neat, tidy, and clear tables.
Jorge and I traded papers and Justin and Sara traded papers. We took the rest of the hour reading the drafts and making comments. Ultimately this led to some great conversations about the direction that the papers are taking.
I am very excited to see the final products!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Journal submissions
March 22 - Journal Submissions
It is my hope that many of the student researchers in our group will eventually submit their paper for publication in an undergraduate journal. I took the time today to review the submission process.
I selected the undergraduate journal Undergraduate Economic Review (http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/) as the sample.
Using the screen at the front of the room, I walked students through the web page and pointed out items that one must look for when considering a submission. These items included:
1) peer review (I explained what it is and why it is important)
2) formatting guidelines (each journal can be different, and if you do not follow their requirements, your paper can be rejected)
3) submission process (dates, online systems, etc.)
We also talked about how important it is to find a journal that is appropriate for your paper. It is helpful to not only read the mission statement or journal description, but to also look through papers that have been accepted and published.
Now, let's hope everyone finds a home for their papers!
It is my hope that many of the student researchers in our group will eventually submit their paper for publication in an undergraduate journal. I took the time today to review the submission process.
I selected the undergraduate journal Undergraduate Economic Review (http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/) as the sample.
Using the screen at the front of the room, I walked students through the web page and pointed out items that one must look for when considering a submission. These items included:
1) peer review (I explained what it is and why it is important)
2) formatting guidelines (each journal can be different, and if you do not follow their requirements, your paper can be rejected)
3) submission process (dates, online systems, etc.)
We also talked about how important it is to find a journal that is appropriate for your paper. It is helpful to not only read the mission statement or journal description, but to also look through papers that have been accepted and published.
Now, let's hope everyone finds a home for their papers!
Presentations
March 15
The topic for today was the presentation. Not only are each of the student researchers presenting in their defense at the end of the semester, but several students are presenting at conferences (RCCSRC, NCUR, etc.) The purpose of this session was to teach everyone what to include in the presentation and the slides, how to present the material, and how interact with the audience in the presentation.
We had two visitors with us: Gio Forte and Nomin Baasandavaa. Gio and Nomin are presenting their papers from Kassens' econometrics class at the 2011 Virginia Association of Economists' (VAE, http://www.vaecon.org/) annual meeting and needed to develop a presentation for the conference.
I brought a presentation that I had used in several presentations (2009 APPAM and SEA; 2010 ASHE). I needed to modify the slides for my own presentation at VAEs, and I was able to point out these modifications. I started with some tips, which included:
1) practice, practice, practice
2) make sure the practice falls within the time limits of the conference presentation
3) talk slowly
4) look at your audience and not at your slides or notes
5) use charts and graphs when ever possible rather than tables
6) less is better on the slides
7) remember that YOU are the expert in this tiny area of research
I then went through my sample PowerPoint pointing out the typical ordering of slides, the use of graphics rather than tables, etc.
I later saw some of the presentation used by the students at RCCSRC and was impressed!
The topic for today was the presentation. Not only are each of the student researchers presenting in their defense at the end of the semester, but several students are presenting at conferences (RCCSRC, NCUR, etc.) The purpose of this session was to teach everyone what to include in the presentation and the slides, how to present the material, and how interact with the audience in the presentation.
We had two visitors with us: Gio Forte and Nomin Baasandavaa. Gio and Nomin are presenting their papers from Kassens' econometrics class at the 2011 Virginia Association of Economists' (VAE, http://www.vaecon.org/) annual meeting and needed to develop a presentation for the conference.
I brought a presentation that I had used in several presentations (2009 APPAM and SEA; 2010 ASHE). I needed to modify the slides for my own presentation at VAEs, and I was able to point out these modifications. I started with some tips, which included:
1) practice, practice, practice
2) make sure the practice falls within the time limits of the conference presentation
3) talk slowly
4) look at your audience and not at your slides or notes
5) use charts and graphs when ever possible rather than tables
6) less is better on the slides
7) remember that YOU are the expert in this tiny area of research
I then went through my sample PowerPoint pointing out the typical ordering of slides, the use of graphics rather than tables, etc.
I later saw some of the presentation used by the students at RCCSRC and was impressed!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
March 3 - Abstracts
With the abstract submission deadline for the Roanoke College Conference for Student Research and Creativity (RCCSRC) approaching quickly, discussing and developing abstracts was an appropriate topic for today. Abstracts were defined as a brief advertisement for a paper, that succinctly describes the importance of the topic, defines the hypothesis and data set, and provides a summary of the results (if generated.)
Most conferences, including RCCSRC, require an abstract submission for a paper to be considered for presentation. It is my hope that all students will submit their paper for presentation at least once before the end of the semester, making a strong abstract crucial.
I brought several academic journals with me so that students could see several examples of effective and successful abstracts. Students then went to work on drafting an abstract for their paper.
While most students worked on their abstracts, I reviewed dynamic models with Tyler and Nic. Tyler and Nic are expanding their papers from my econometrics course last semester. The dominant expansion is the employment of more sophisticated time series models, including a model with a lagged dependent variable. Within a few minutes we had lagged error terms and violations of the ZCM assumption all over the chalk board. Great fun!
When the brief econometrics lesson was over, Nic and Tyler worked on incorporating the new modeling into their abstracts, and I worked with Sara on finalizing her survey questions. Once Sara incorporates some fixes, she will be ready to take the online NIH course, get her certificate, and submit her application to the IRB. Once we have IRB approval, she can send her survey out to the student body via email.
I then read over Justin and Sara's abstracts that they pieced together during class and made some suggestions. They had done a fantastic job.
We also had some announcements for the group:
1) Nic Wright is going to graduate school! He received his first acceptance letter for a PhD program in Economics.
2) Brent Cox is also into two graduate programs for health policy.
3) Tyler Rinko is all over the RC web page, blog, and daily announcement for his acceptance for presentation at the NCUR later this month.
All in all, today was a fantastic day of work, with so many things going on. Productivity was running high and students are doing well.
Most conferences, including RCCSRC, require an abstract submission for a paper to be considered for presentation. It is my hope that all students will submit their paper for presentation at least once before the end of the semester, making a strong abstract crucial.
I brought several academic journals with me so that students could see several examples of effective and successful abstracts. Students then went to work on drafting an abstract for their paper.
While most students worked on their abstracts, I reviewed dynamic models with Tyler and Nic. Tyler and Nic are expanding their papers from my econometrics course last semester. The dominant expansion is the employment of more sophisticated time series models, including a model with a lagged dependent variable. Within a few minutes we had lagged error terms and violations of the ZCM assumption all over the chalk board. Great fun!
When the brief econometrics lesson was over, Nic and Tyler worked on incorporating the new modeling into their abstracts, and I worked with Sara on finalizing her survey questions. Once Sara incorporates some fixes, she will be ready to take the online NIH course, get her certificate, and submit her application to the IRB. Once we have IRB approval, she can send her survey out to the student body via email.
I then read over Justin and Sara's abstracts that they pieced together during class and made some suggestions. They had done a fantastic job.
We also had some announcements for the group:
1) Nic Wright is going to graduate school! He received his first acceptance letter for a PhD program in Economics.
2) Brent Cox is also into two graduate programs for health policy.
3) Tyler Rinko is all over the RC web page, blog, and daily announcement for his acceptance for presentation at the NCUR later this month.
All in all, today was a fantastic day of work, with so many things going on. Productivity was running high and students are doing well.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Roanoke College Economics: Tyler Rinko to present his ECON 448 paper at a nat...
Roanoke College Economics: Tyler Rinko to present his ECON 448 paper at a nat...: "http://roanoke.edu/news_and_events/campus_news/tyler_rinko_economics_paper.htm Tyler Rinko '11"
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Economics Major, Tyler Rinko, in the news
The following was just released to several news organizations around the region. I am so very proud of Tyler.
DATE: March 1, 2011 #55
RELEASE: Immediately
Rinko developed his paper for an upper-level econometrics course taught by Associate Professor Dr. Alice Kassens. He currently is expanding his paper for his spring semester honors project by looking at the policies recently implemented by the European Union. He is one of seven students working with Kassens in a mentor demonstration model, a method in which Kassens works on her own research side-by-side with the students as she teaches them advanced research concepts.
“I was very surprised to be accepted for the conference,” said Rinko. “Dr. Kassens did a great job in preparing me for my research.” Kassens taught Rinko how to use specialized statistical software in order to analyze his data.
Kassens said, “The economics program has had students present at on-campus and regional conferences, but never at a national level conference like NCUR. I am so very proud of Tyler. He has grown as a student and a scholar in his tenure at Roanoke College, and this honor is a fantastic reward for that growth, dedication and hard work. I hope students coming into Econometrics next year see what hard work can bring.”
In addition to independent study and honors projects such as Rinko’s, Roanoke offers many other undergraduate research opportunities. Students may apply to the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program, where participants work with faculty mentors on an ongoing project throughout their undergraduate years, or to the Summer Scholar program, where students are awarded housing and stipends for summer research work. The Bondurant Fund underwrites undergraduate summer research in chemistry, and students involved with the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research help administer public affairs polling and survey research.
Roanoke College, an independent, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, combines firsthand learning with valuable personal connections in a classic, undergraduate setting. Roanoke prepares students for their futures through its commitment to providing a true classic college experience. Roanoke is one of just 280 colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review names Roanoke as one of the “best in the Southeast.”
For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.
DATE: March 1, 2011 #55
RELEASE: Immediately
Roanoke College student to present paper at national research conference
SALEM, Va. — Tyler Rinko ’11, of Maple Glen, Pa., has been chosen to present a paper at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Ithaca College this spring. The abstract for his economics paper, "The European Debt Crisis and How It Has Influenced U.S. Real Exchange Rates," was chosen from 3,500 submissions.Rinko, an economics major, will present his work to students, faculty and staff from around the world. The NCUR promotes undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in all fields of study, and the conference welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all academic disciplines.
“I was very surprised to be accepted for the conference,” said Rinko. “Dr. Kassens did a great job in preparing me for my research.” Kassens taught Rinko how to use specialized statistical software in order to analyze his data.
Kassens said, “The economics program has had students present at on-campus and regional conferences, but never at a national level conference like NCUR. I am so very proud of Tyler. He has grown as a student and a scholar in his tenure at Roanoke College, and this honor is a fantastic reward for that growth, dedication and hard work. I hope students coming into Econometrics next year see what hard work can bring.”
In addition to independent study and honors projects such as Rinko’s, Roanoke offers many other undergraduate research opportunities. Students may apply to the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program, where participants work with faculty mentors on an ongoing project throughout their undergraduate years, or to the Summer Scholar program, where students are awarded housing and stipends for summer research work. The Bondurant Fund underwrites undergraduate summer research in chemistry, and students involved with the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research help administer public affairs polling and survey research.
Roanoke College, an independent, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, combines firsthand learning with valuable personal connections in a classic, undergraduate setting. Roanoke prepares students for their futures through its commitment to providing a true classic college experience. Roanoke is one of just 280 colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review names Roanoke as one of the “best in the Southeast.”
For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.
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