2011 MSERA Call for Papers: General Information

The annual meeting of MSERA will be November 2-4, 2011, in Oxford, MS. All members of MSERA and others are invited to submit proposals for possible inclusion in the program. Proposals for (a) Discussion sessions; (b) Display sessions; (c) Symposia; (d) Training sessions; (e) Research in Progress session; or (f) 40th year celebration sessions will be considered if they are submitted electronically by July 15, 2011. Proposals are to be submitted in the form of an abstract.
1. Discussion Sessions

Paper presentations are arranged around a general topic. Each participant will make a 10-13 minute presentation. A general discussion will follow the presentation. Papers may be one of three types:

* research, evaluation, or program results
* position papers; or
* reviews of the literature.

An abstract for a paper presenting research, evaluation, or program results should include the following:

* a statement of the problem
* a brief description of the research that provides the theoretical grounding for the problem
* a summary of the methods which includes a description of data collection, instrumentation, analysis, and subjects
* results, and
* conclusions/implications of the study

Evaluation criteria will include the five areas listed above. Abstracts not including this information in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to evaluate the study adequately are likely to be rejected.

An abstract for a position paper should contain the basic tenets of the position and supporting evidence.

An abstract for a review of literature should include a statement of the problem, method of selecting relevant articles/studies, basic findings, and implications.
2. Display Sessions

Displays are to be organized to permit informal discussion of research projects, innovative instructional or administrative techniques, or new types of instrumentation. Display presenters will be provided a table and chair for their presentation; therefore, the display should be free standing. No other equipment will be provided (electrical access, easels, display boards, etc.). Displayers will have at least one hour for a session. Abstracts for displays should include a description of the topic, its significance, and methods used.
3. Symposia

Symposia are 50 minute sessions that contain several research papers on a single topic. Abstracts for a symposium should include an overview, summaries of several papers, and suggestions for audience participation. The cover sheet for a symposium should list the organizer as the senior author and should include the title and presenter of each of the papers in the symposium as "Co-authors." If the organizer presents a paper, s/he should be listed among the co-authors in addition to the listing as organizer.
4. Training Sessions

Offered on pertinent and popular topics, these sessions last one or two hours. Registration fees are optional and are set by the trainer. Abstracts should include scope of the session, objectives to be covered, and a brief summary of the activities. An abbreviated vita for each trainer must be sent as a separate e-mail attachment to the program chair.

5. Research in Progress Sessions

These sessions are reserved for graduate students who are not yet finished with their research studies. Each participant will make a 10-13 minute presentation. A general discussion will follow the presentation. Papers must describe research or the plan/literature review on which the student is currently working. Papers may be one of two types:

* research, evaluation, or program results
* reviews of the literature.

An abstract for a Research in Progress session should include as much of the following that the student currently has. Not all elements are needed to submit for these sessions:

* a statement of the problem
* a brief description of the research that provides the theoretical grounding for the problem
* a summary of the methods which includes a description of data collection, instrumentation, analysis, and subjects
* results, and
* conclusions/implications of the study.

Once a student's presentation has been provisionally accepted, the student will be required to submit their contact/affiliation information and a letter of support to the RIP reviewers in order to receive any available funding and to be scheduled for the conference.

6. 40th Year Celebration Proposal (Special session type this year only)

If you have a 40th year celebration proposal, please submit it as you would any other proposal (via the online submission system). After you receive a proposal number, please send the title and proposal number to Eddie Shaw or Michelle Haj-Broussard. Your 40th celebration proposal will not be evaluated in the traditional manner. Your session will have a symbol next to it in the final program to indicate that it is a 40th year celebration session.