Assume that you are hired as a researcher to provide consultation to the university in helping the institution to better support the students. Based on interviews with school administrators, you have concluded that the university is interested in improving student retention and graduation rates. You have also formed the operational theory that student retention is influenced by general and academic adjustment, including financial and living conditions of the students. You are asked to conduct a qualitative study, either through one-on-one interviews (at least three students) or a focus group (at least five students). In preparation for your study, answer the following questions: Assess if your research is confirmatory or exploratory in nature. What is the orientation of your research, and why

1. in recent lessons, you have been reading about some of the challenges and issues that the united states faces in both foreign and domestic affairs. review your notes from chapters 39–41 and make a list of these issues. make sure you review the looking to the future and charting future courses sheets from the divisions and new realities lessons. of all the challenges and issues that the united states faces, which do you believe is the most serious in terms of foreign affairs and which in terms of domestic affairs? choose one of each and write an essay that describes each issue and explains why you believe it is the most serious. there is no right or wrong answer—you will be graded, in part, on how well you make the argument that each issue you chose is the most serious. refer to the rubric and scoring instructions on the next page to see how your teacher will grade this assignment.