Job DescriptionsResearch Assistants
Academic Year 2006/7
Research Assistants (RAs) will be allowed to participate in all aspects of the research except those of an administrative nature (save the Head RA who will be participating in certain meetings). Because students will vary in terms of their schedule, various jobs will be assigned to each assistant based on strengths, time and desired training opportunity. Any combination of jobs desired by the RA will be considered.
All RAs will be required to write a contract in agreement with the Principle Investigator (Dr. Fraser) and be expected to adhere to the tenets as set forth by that contract. This contract can vary and can have one re-negotiation over the course of each quarter. All contracts are to be fulfilled for the duration of one quarter, unless otherwise agreed upon and specified in agreement with the PI.
Possible assignments:
Brain Trust:
Brainstorming in how best to investigate the question at hand. We will pummel out how to find the root of the issue, and ask subsequent questions in relation to this. This will involve a need for opinions without emotional import. That is, the discussion of ideas is not a personal thing. Following up on these ideas is necessary too. Skills taught: ability to have an intellectual discussion without emotion, how to follow up on an idea that may or may not have substantiation, how to work with a team in an intellectual capacity. Quarters needed: All
Data Gatherer:
This job asks for the outgoing and personable student who is unafraid of talking with people. It requires copious amounts of time in the cafeteria and other highly frequented places around the DeAnza campus, conversing with other students. A specific set of guidelines and survey questions will be provided to the data gatherer for convenience, as well as supplies needed. A secondary part of this job is to input the data gathered. Skills taught: interviewing and interpretation of answer. Quarters needed: Fall, Winter and Spring
Editor:
This position is one that requires good literary skills. You must be able to use correct grammar and understand basic sentence structure. This position works closely with Dr. Fraser in the final output of the article(s) that will then be presented either to the Academic community or the DeAnza community. Possibly both. Skills learned: Presentation of academic findings, conference experience, and possible co-authorship depending on amount of input offered. Quarters needed: Spring and Summer.
Head RA:
This is the person responsible for scheduling and following up on completed tasks. This person will ensure all materials are in place as well as all paperwork handed in (except the RAs own paperwork to Dr. Ramskov). This person will monitor and set up a discussion board for the other RAs to post questions or problems (a la Yahoo etc). This person acts as a direct liaison to Dr. Fraser, and may involve meetings with higher administration at DeAnza. Skills taught: organizational, project management, networking. Quarters needed: All
Literature reviewer:
This position asks for computer skills in researching theory and literature. If you don’t have any but would like to learn, you will be partnered with someone who can teach you the basics for the first couple of sessions. Many times this job can be done at home providing there are Internet access and a printer available. This job is done in conjunction with the PI and will show you how to prune theory as well as put together the puzzle of a coherent argument within academic writing. Skills taught: theoretical argumentation, literature mining, basic computer research. Quarters needed: All
Numbers Cruncher:
This position is for those who like the abstract idea of numbers. Statistic skills are a big plus as data input and data analysis are parts of this job. We will meet periodically over the course of the semester (usually on weekends) where you will have control over how many pieces of datum are input, by whom and when. Skills taught: sequencing and organization of data, Bayesian statistics, SPSS. Quarters needed: Spring and Summer
Please review the above positions. I f you are interested in one, or more than one, please submit an RA Application to Dr. Fraser at mfraser@almuni.usc.edu
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