Running head: RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT REFLECTION 1

Research and Assessment Reflection on Final Assessment Proposal

Marina Briones

Loyola University Chicago

RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT REFLECTION 2

The artifact I have chosen to showcase my research & assessment competence is from

ELPS 431: Evaluation in Higher Education. My final assessment proposal was created with my

research and assessment partner Tiffany Yi. Tiffany and I centered our research on Loyola

University Chicago Empowering Sisterhood’s (LUCES) retreat. Our goal was to research the

retreat and through this research propose an assessment in which we could measure the success

of the retreat based on the achievement of the learning outcomes.

In this research proposal process, I developed a thorough understanding of paradigmatic

assumptions and how they influence the research process. This was developed through

interviews with the director of the LUCES retreat and in the creation of the learning outcomes. I

developed an understanding of a variety of research and assessment methodologies through the

design Tiffany and I chose to be most effective for us. Our proposed assessment approach is

through a cross-sectional qualitative assessment design using surveys and focus groups. As we

conducted our research proposal it was vital we supplemented with various types of research

studies. With enough literature to support us, we had the ability to implement assessments and

program evaluations.

Tiffany and I worked very well together and were able to do because of the technological

tools available to us to do research. We used e-books, online scholarly journals and articles, and

google docs to stay up to date with our research. By the end of the semester when we presented

and submitted our final proposal, we felt confident and prepared. Lisa Davidson prepared us to

think critically and taught us to be effective and thorough assessors.