Examples of Purple Cow Research Methods Topics

I asked students on the last day if it would be ok to list their purple cow research topics on the public blog so that future students could have a sense of what a purple cow is (a few decided not to, but most were happy to share their dream)...here are a few of them (from fall 2016-2018):

 

2ND CHANCE: Developing a program to connect first time college student convicted of a nonviolent crime (most often drug related) with local businesses who will give them a second chance.

 

ON A MISSION: For youth that have "mission trips" with a religious organization for a week abroad, there is often a let down on the return, no follow-up...this program pairs willing youth with older people in the parish that have house and yard work that they are no longer able to do for themselves.

 

TRUCK'N BIODIESEL: Surveying diesel truck drives showed that they are willing to buy biodiesel for just under the current price of gas, and that gas station owners are willing to sell biodiesel...there just is not a ready supply available, and the purple cow part was to make home made biodiesel from local restaurant vegetable waste to fill this need.

 

NONVIOLENT RESPONSE: For women that have been assaulted, taking self-defense lessons was the initial approach with this project, but soon it became apparent that learning to speak using Rosenberg's nonviolent communication method might be a better long term solution.

 

GREEN WINDOWS: Getting every college student that has access to a sunlit window to grow some veggie using hydroponics...each floor of a dorm could grow something different and then share the produce with each other.

 

MEDIA CONVERGENCE: News usually comes from the top down, but what if there were a way to find out what local people want to hear about, send out a reporter to investigate, and then report this news in the medium of their choice (social media, t.v., radio...).

 

GLITTERING: A little glitter can go a long way...what if we chose to see the glitter in life, the positive, and reinforce this literally by sprinkling glitter (on people, objects, paths...) to remind us to look to the positive.

 

DREAM MUSIC: Original lyrics, original instrumental, all recorded and mixed by the student with the intent to inspire people to reach their dreams.

 

A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS: A nonprofit that provides legal consultation (from law students and those just beginning their law careers looking for experience) for those that cannot afford it.

 

BACK TO NATURE: Want to cut down on the protein (meat) part of the grocery bill--how about visiting a hunt/fish site that lists all the rules/egulations, seasons, local places to hunt, plus providing links to sites to teach one how to hunt/fish and the proper equipment.

 

WRIT BY HAND: The simple hand written "thank you card" has become so rare that it is a purple cow...to take the time to hand write a note of sincere appreciation is a rare act of kindness...this student wrote individual thank you notes for each person in the class and distributed them after her presentation.

 

KINGLY LOVE: Asking people if they engage in racist behavior, and then telling them how to change was the beginning of this project; after i suggested reading M. L. Kings work, the project shifted to love, to tolerance, and eventually having students raise their hand and repeat a pledge of love/tolerance, and then signing their name to it.

 

MEANINGFUL WORK: Creating a website to help people discover what they want to do with their life...everything in one place...aptitude tests, skills assessment, career counseling, chat with people in different professions, internship and job opportunities, resource links, all in one place--i still think a discernment process with a retreat component would have been a nice addition (Dr B).

 

UNEXPECTED INSPIRATION: A mobile car detailing business with excel sheet of customers google mapped...the purple part is creating a variety of inspirational messages on one's business card that are left in the car after the service is performed.

 

THE LYM: Combination between a gym and a library; the goal is to enhance the health of body AND mind under the same roof.

 

COLLEGE LIST WEBSITE: Like the traditional "Craig's list" except designed to meet the needs of a specific college community. Instead of driving miles to obtain an item, all one need do is walk across campus to pick it up.

 

ANIMILIA: Farm like home for unwanted pets of all kinds, options for adoption included, pets stay until adopted or die a natural death, run by volunteers that care about animals.

 

SNEEKS & PEEKS: You design your own sneakers and sunglasses, and then they are custom made to fit your feet and face with the marvels of 3D printing.

 

I WAS THERE: Travel to famous park landmarks and prove you "were there" by using an app on your mobile phone device that is activated when you are within 10 feet of the landmark--a specially designed e-badge that matches the theme of the landmark and colors of the park appears on your mobile phone as proof that you "were there."

 

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT: a weather proof plastic bin with shelves was set up in an apartment complex with a note attached explaining that you can take anything in the bin (for free) and/or leave anything that you want to donate for people in the apartment complex...permission from the management was secured, tenants were notified, and a trial run proved successful.

 

GLOBAL COFFEE HOUSE: a friendly home atmosphere coffee shop with exotic brews from all over the world are available--pictures of the landscape from the places where the coffee is grown, pictures of the farmers and stories of their lives decorate the walls.

 

UGLY PRODUCE: a farmer's market type store that sells produce that is "ugly" (too small, mishapen, etc) at a reduced price--as much as 40% of produce doesn't make it to the market because it doesn't fit the "gold standard", this project saves some of that produce and makes it available at discounted prices (local in season produce only).

 

OUT OF THE CLOSET: a self-disclosure board game to be played with two to five friends covering topics like: family, school, career, and relationships--the unique twist is that the game is played while standing up, players advance by their disclosures.

 

CONNECTIONS: pairing seniors that need help around the house/yard with youth and young adults that volunteer to assist them once a week--both the seniors and the youth are from the same church community.

 

COOL HATS: starting a new fashion line of cute clothes for larger sizes requires an entry point of designing, marketing, and selling cool hats with hand embroidered logos--sold out.

 

MOBILE STU: buy an rv off craig's list, reconvert it into a mobile studio for young musicians, and promote their work with social media (facebook and twitter)--this duo didn't get the rv, but they did record and promote some work of young musicians.

 

EDUCATION FOR REAL LIFE: tired of the disconnect of most college classes, this student designed a syllabus to address real life including how to fill out taxes, healthy nutrition, best exercise, and meditation.

 

HOOK UP ARTISTS: design a website for artists to post their creations and then connect them with employers interested in hiring artists.

 

CENTERS OF CREATIVITY: after school program with "centers" where students can choose to work on art, music, video production, poetry, dance, yoga, mediation...

MULTIPLEX TRAINING FACILITY for major sports that includes everything an athlete would need under one roof: weight training, running speed and technique training, field training for major sports, and sport specific coaching.

TURQUOISE TOUR: Travel the southwest in a vintage RV, finding raw turquoise and silver smithing it into beautiful jewelry that will be sold on the road from the RV.

LU LA ROE: Letting go of dead end job and starting own business by researching client needs and then buying inventory specific to those needs.

ATM: "Addicted to Music" label created and copyrighted, songs created and uploaded to social media, live shows performed for promotion, and vision of the future includes ATM studio and nationwide tour.

NEW WINE: Using surveys to determine what types of wine labels are most appealing, creating sample labels and using focus groups to discuss the labels--gift labels, mad libs, and connect the dot labels were all found to be appealing and increase the likelihood of purchasing wine.

CULTURE VULTURE: Exploring the diversity of places people have traveled with an eye toward learning about other cultures and creating a life worth living. 

TRAVELING VIDEOGRAPHER: He didn't get to travel to exotic places and shoot the kind of footage he wanted to for his big dream, but he was able to shoot a professional looking promo video for the university that rivaled the best I've seen on the university website--his aerial footage, special editing techniques, music, and mesmerizing female voice over made this project a real purple cow. 

FUEGO TACO TRUCK: During a surfing trip last spring break, this student and friend ate the "greatest fish tacos i ever had from a taco truck near the beach front." They dreamed of having their own taco truck some day, and this project prompted the question: Why not find out what it takes to create a taco truck business here in Virginia Beach? So he investigated through ethnographic observation and interviews and web research the possibilities of creating the Fuego Taco Truck business.

THE GIRL THAT DOES IT ALL: An ambitious attempt to "do it all"in the music-entertainment business...writing, singing, acting, radio show hosting, music videos...she couldn't "do it all" in one semester, but she did manage to write and produce a song, wrete a script and stare in a short video about dating violence, and hosted several radio shows...it won't be long before she will have "done it all."

NEWS FROM GHANA: On a trip a few years ago, this student visited her parents native land of Ghana, and she fell in love with the people and wanted to help, but how? Now a determined student, she studies news writing, reporting, broadcasting, radio--anything to get the word out about Ghana. Interviews with experts in news communication were the heart of this story, and video footage from friends in Ghana gave us a taste of what it means to live there.

CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST FOR DIABETES: What do you do when most of your relatives have diabetes and soon you might too? This student decided to climb mount Everest as a fund raiser for diabetes. She didn't make it to Everest, but she (never having seriously hiked before) investigated what it would take to do a long term hike, took off time from work, and went on two different hikes during the weekends. Next, is the Appalachian trail, and this time with fundraising.

REVITALIIZING PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA WITH RADIO: When your home town is economically depressed, how do you respond? This student decided to revitalize his hometown of Petersburg by becoming a well known radio personality that inspires everyone...a tall order. He began by auditioning to host his own campus radio show and ended up producing three shows in the time span of the project, and being a runner up for a radio show award...good experience that will one day lead him back to Petersburg and his big dream.

HIP HOP JOURNALIST: "To become one of the most well known and connected hip hop journalists in the industry" was this student's dream. He visited NYC three times during the term, held a focus group with upcoming artists in NYC, and did several interviews with those in the industry. I have no doubt he will soon write about his experiences and publish them, first in the campus newspaper and in blogs, then in local magazines, and eventually in larger venues, perhaps his own magazine that will combine hip hop and b-ball--he's on his way toward becoming a well known hip hop journalist.

MY SONG: Produce one song and get it played on the radio. This student had been singing since she was a child--school plays, church choir, football games...and over the years, she had written over 20 song lyrics, but she never was able to produce her own song for others to hear. She spent over 30 hours in the course of four weeks in a sound booth trying to make beats for her song and edit them together with her voice. Ultimately, she did not get the song on the radio, nor did she even finish the song. She did interview local song writers and artists and found out-you can't do it alone, you need to ask for help. When she presented her project to the class at the end of the term, she narrated a story of two friends that ended their life recently, and then sang for us her song titled, "Hold On"--she said humbly, "Maybe my song will help others hold on and have hope so that they won't end their life like my friends did." My face was wet with tears...i was so proud of her. I have no doubt she will make her dream come true. 

POST IT: Posting sticky notes with positive phrases in creative places for friends to read and take encouragement from. This student began their freshman year finding such a note on the ground that said, "You got this!", and this simple phrase became a mantra that carried her through her freshman year. There is power in the little 3 x 3 post it note.

ASSISTASCOUT: Designing a mobile app that brings together student skills and employer needs...all with a tap and sweep of the finger.

DEEP DIALOGUE: Developing multiple methods in a quasi-experimental setting to facilitate empathy and understanding for difficult to talk about topics.

TEACH PEACE: A class syllabus for teaching peace to 6th graders in the public schools complete with topics, activities, and assessment.

BRING YOUR DOG: Designing dog-friendly eating places with a pub like atmosphere for people to bring their dogs, socialize, eat, and relax.

TEA ANYONE? The design, menu, and business consideration for a tea garden (in and out-door) are explored with a special emphasis on herbal teas to heal and balance the body.

HOME: A residential place for homeless individuals to live in a small family context with provisions for food, shelter, skill building, creative arts, socializing, and spirituality focused on health and healing.

SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY: gather students from local universities to compete in team building, select the best teams that will be awarded scholarships that have a group accountability component where students meet weekly during the term. 

INVESTIGATIVE NEWS APP: provide local campus news for students through investigative reporting of sports, weather alerts, crime, college events, public speeches...

ENGAGING THE BRAIN WITH FRIENDS: A series of brain changing activities are introduced in a group of friends that want to journey together. Self-report measures for compliance with activities in addition to cognitive, affective, and behavioral measures are included. 

KINGS AND QUEENS: A unique series of activities for tweens to promote positive self-identity and esteem. AIRFIT: Mobile gym (a retro airstream rv) fitted with a variety of work out equipment and personal training for individuals, groups, and communities. 

MOBILE BARBER SHOP: A barber shop on wheels that caters to college students without transportation. 

FOOD APP: A mobile app that notifies students when leftover food from university events is available  (what, where, and how long available) to address food insecurity issues on campus.

JOY OF HOMEMADE KIMCHI: Several versions of fermented kimchi were prepared and test-tasted on a variety of dimensions in a focus group with the goal of teaching people how to make kimchi and the health benefits of fermented foods.

BROTHER TO BROTHER: Travel the 50 states delivering inspirational presentations to educational organizations promoting the uplift of brothers.

PEACE MUSIC: Creating spiritual music that inspires peace and cuts across different faiths, e.g., songs about coping with inner demons.

SUPER 8--Shooting a super 8 film with nostalgic effects as a student comedy to promote the idea that we're all human.

GREATEST B-BALL COACH--Ethnographic study of footage and live practices of women's basketball to discover the verbal and nonverbal behaviors of coaches that promote and inhibit team performance.

PRO TENNIS--Research the secret methods of professional tennis players that contributed them to being great, and plan a course of action to test out some of these methods in my own life and the life of my teammates.

FEMALE HEROINE--Write an interactive on-line adventure story where the main character is a queer female heroine to provide a positive role-model of queer females in society.

THE REMIX--Begin with an older music video that didn't do well telling a story and remake the video using the same song, but with a story sequence that reaches viewers with an emotional, vivid, and positive message.

PAVING THE WAY FOR FOOTBALL--Interview college players to ask what led to their success in playing football, and provide these tips to high school football players via news story blog, and presentations.

LOCAL WOMEN HEROINS--Inspire young African American women with live presentation of stories of local African American women in business, service, sports, and entertainment industries--plan to take on nation wide tour with each stop focused on local women heroins.

LASS TRUCK--mobile eyelash truck that pops up at festivals and events to "do eyelashes" while providing a positive environment for women with music, poster, and positivity cards.


MUSICAL MERRY GO ROUND--develop an app that converts one's favorite songs to a new listening experience where it sounds like the music goes round one's head.


SING YOUR HEART OUT--live band for kareoke instead of singing to pre-recorded music...the singer will dress in costume and the event will be like a concert in a club or bar setting.


MOOKS--developing a MOOK for a book where MOOK stands for movie plus book...there are trailers for movies, so why not movie trailers to advertise/promote books (the ones that do exist are typically animated but not done as a movie trailer).


WHERE ARE YOU GOING?--a workshop for students that want to explore their careers, beginning with personality tests that match a set of careers, a mock job interview for that career, and helping the student line up an internship for said career.

 There were many more project that i wish i had time to include here, but this gives future students a sense of some of the projects complete in this first purple cow research methods class...great variety, great passion, moving toward the truly remarkable.