Guidelines for final Project (there are 2 parts a research paper and presentation) If you are familiar/ have access to IBM SPSS it would be more helpful!
Due 05/22/2024
The purpose of this paper is to provide a final, coherent, carefully written data analysis and reporting on major findings from your proposed study that you developed last semester and end it with a discussion of your findings and whether or not, your findings are consistent with evidence from the literature, and finally end with some recommendations. Use at least seven scholarly sources and make sure to adhere to APA format. Use font type Times New Roman, Font Size (12). The paper should be No more than 15 pages in length double spaced (body of text, not including references and appendices) and should include the following major headings:
I. Background, Study Rationale and Aims
II. Proposed Methodology
III. Proposed Data Analysis
IV. Major Finding
V. Discussion, Conclusion, and Recommendations
NOTE: As indicated by the APA Publication Manual, the paper must end with a reference section. An abstract is optional in this paper. At least seven scholarly works (journal articles, evaluation reports, and/or book chapters) must be referenced.
Paper Sections/Major Headings
I. Background, Study Rationale and Aims [1 – 2 pages]. Begin with a problem statement that identifies the issue the study proposes to examine. Follow this with a brief section on the study rationale; why should this study be conducted, and what is its significance? How will the study be important to the target population, the community, the larger society, etc.? Remember, the objective here is to convince readers/funders of the need for the study. Be succinct but also strive for impact and incorporate relevant statistics and data that highlight the need to study the issue identified in the problem statement. Close this section with the study aim(s), research question(s), and hypothesis(-es).
II. Proposed Methodology [3 – 4pages]. In this section, address how the study will be conducted. The following bullet points are intended to guide the content of the methodology section:
• Describe and justify the study design. Be specific. For example, is the design quasi-experimental or experimental? Is it retrospective, cross-sectional, longitudinal, etc.? Will there be a comparison group/control group, and how will that group be constructed? Be sure to explain the choice of study design; why is it the most appropriate for the study? Moreover, address issues and threats to internal and external validities.
• Describe the sample (human participant characteristics) and recruitment strategies. What type of probability or non-probability sampling will be employed and why? What will be the source of the sample and the number of participants?
• Lay out the data collection procedures. What steps will be taken, and by whom, to collect data and provide informed consent? What specific data will be collected, from whom, and for how long? Articulate how the chief study variables will be operationalized and measured. Address the reliability and validity of measurement tools. Propose the use of at least one existing scale/measurement, identify it by name and report on its reliability and validity as noted in the literature (including the citation of such indicators as Cronbach’s alpha, etc.). For those variables where an instrument is not readily available, indicate the concepts that need to be measured and be clear about how these concepts will be observed. Be sure to identify the level of measurement of the variables. Issues of reliability and validity should be addressed for these measurement approaches, as well.
III. Proposed Data Analysis Plan [1 – 2 pages]. In this section you need to address the data analysis plan. What kind of data you have collected, how do you plan to analyze?
a. Quantitative, Univariate, and Bivariate Analysis: indicate what kind of variables you collected, and you intend to analyze, what test you will be using to answer your questions and test your hypothesis, and what kind of indicators you will be looking for.
b. Qualitative: Content analysis, thematic analysis, and coding. Indicate what approach you will be utilizing to look for patterns in the data, what indicators you would be looking for and what evidence supports your findings.
V. Major findings [3 – 5 pages] in this section you will need to report on the major findings from the collected data/secondary data based on the proposed analysis in the previous section. For instance, whether you were using quantitative or qualitative analysis approach you will need to report on the major characteristics/ demographics of your targeted population, for instance, age, income, education level, race, ethnicity, household type and size, incarceration history, history of mental illness, etc…
Whether you were using an open-ended or a close-ended questionnaires/surveys, interviews “structured, unstructured, or semi structured” focus groups, and/or observation “direct, indirect, participatory”
Quantitative: The following section should include the findings form the major test that you conducted to test your hypothesis, report the significance value and state your decision whether your hypothesis/hypotheses were accepted or rejected.
Quantitative: The following section should include the findings form the major patterns, themes and or codes that you have determined based on the collected data, you will also need to support your findings with anecdotes and quotes from the data, or numbers from examined records, and secondary data.
VI. Discussion, Conclusion, and Recommendations [1 – 2 pages]. Discuss the major findings from the previous section and explain whether your research question(s) were answered and why. Moreover, explain your findings from your hypothesis testing, for instance, if your hypothesis were accepted or rejected what does that pertain to. In addition, discuss and explain whether your findings were consistent with the findings from the literature and why? What do you conclude from that? Finally, end this section and your study with some recommendations based on your literature review and your study findings.
Submit the final proof-read draft of your paper in Word Format. Cite at least seven different scholarly sources and use APA format throughout the paper.
*I already have most of the paper written. I would like assistance with condensing and revising the topic to make more sense. Data may be needed as well but I would like to keep research qualitative if possible.
