Sam's+Module+Five

=**Significance of the Study**= As stated previously in this wiki:
 * How will your study fill a gap in the current research? (You already answered this question previously in the course. If your work is still accurate, you can just copy and paste it here. You may want to modify what you wrote earlier.)

Gap: Upon analyzing the literature relative to the instruction of Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), a gap has appeared concerning the teaching of ethics and morality in the online version of USPAP leading to the following research questions: Does online instruction of USPAP affect the morality levels of students? If so, which tools are most efficacious in raising morality levels of online students? Does affect play a role in the online instruction of USPAP and morality? Problem Statement: While quantitative analyses of morality have been conducted both face-to-face and online (Rest and Narvaez,1999), a specific analysis comparing morality levels of pre-USPAP students with post-USPAP students' morality levels, as measured using Defining Issues Tests (DITs) has not been attempted. Moreover, ways to improve morality instruction online have not been proposed. Given the importance of the appraiser in the overall lending process, and the fact the appraisal fraud can hurt the national economy, measuring and improving the morality level of appraisers is seen as an important societal goal. Assessment Type: Morality levels can be measured using DITs. ((Rest and Narvaez, 1999) Specifically, DIT2 can be used in an online environment. The DIT can be translated into Kohlbergian Morality Levels. (Kohlberg and Lickona, 1976) Two-tailed tests can measure significant differences between pre-USPAP and post-USPAP morality levels.

References: Kohlberg, L., & Lickona, T. (1976). Moral stages & moralization: the cognitive developmental approach.

Rest, J. R., & Narvaez, D. (1999). DIT2: Devising and testing a revised instrument of moral judgment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91(4), 644.

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (2008). Washington DC: The Appraisal Foundation.


 * How will your research advance the profession of educational technology?

A significant issue in education as a whole, has been the impact of affect on students. Does the affective domain effect the cognitive and psychomotor domains? Studies have been conducted on affect in the face-to-face classroom. (McCroskey et al, 1985) With the expanding popularity of online education, the impact of affect in an online environment is now being measured. Which tools are most effective?

References: McCroskey, J. C., & et al. (1985). Power in the Classroom V: Behavior Alteration Techniques, Communication Training, and Learning.


 * How will your research effect positive social change through the “improvement of human or social conditions by promoting the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, or societies” (Walden Dissertation Rubric, Chapter 1, criteria 9)?

In parallel with the trend of studying affect in educational technology, the impact of ethics education on professionals is taking on importance. Particularly the morality of appraisers. Appraisers play a crucial role in the lending process. Does the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP; course and text) affect the morality level of USPAP students in an online environment? The results of this study will be the first step. If yes, which online tools are most effective? Does affect influence changes in morality? If not, can anything be done to influence morality in USPAP students? Does USPAP affect morality in grounded students? The implications for long-term research are quite exciting.

=**Dissemination of Research**=

//Valuation// is a major, respected, peer-reviewed appraisal journal. Appraisers, regulators and Appraisal Foundation representatives (who create USPAP and appraiser qualifications) are the principle audience. My study would be read by those who can effect change in the appraisal profession. //Journal of Moral Education// is another respected, peer-reviewed journal that deals with ethics and morality education, key topics of my study. //Educational Researcher// is another journal that deals with research in education.
 * Identify and justify your selection of three journals to which you would like to submit an article on this research. In one sentence, describe why you selected these journals.

The Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning (http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/) is well-known, respected, and covers many topics related to educational technology. Typical topics include online learning environments, affect in the classroom, etc.
 * Identify and justify your selection of two professional conferences where you would like to present your research. In one sentence, explain why you selected these conferences.

The AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) is well-known and respected. The annual conference covers a diversity of topics, including " projects that cut across disciplines and involve people from different academic and practical backgrounds.   " This would include a study such as mine.