Social Work Research
Final Research Paper
Follow the outline (below) to complete the final research paper which is a compilation of your previous three mini-assignments you have worked on and a brief description of your study methodology. Incorporate my comments and your revision of previous assignments in this final paper. Include a cover page: title of your study, the course number, your name and the professor’s name.
Introduction (about 1-2 page)
* A brief background placing the importance of the research problem in social context and/or service delivery
* Why your study topic is important and relevant to social work research, practice or policy.
Population of Interest and Research Problem (approx. 3-4 pages)
* Identify relevant population statistics (demographics) for your study population
* Provide more background information about your study problem – definition, extent, scope, prevalence, impacts, etc.
Review of Related Literature (approx. 3-4 pages)
Review what is already known about your topic. Include relevant literature such as book articles, empirical studies, government reports, census, statistics, websites, or other data sources, about the research problem that you are studying.
Synthesize and integrate what you have learned and highlight some of the followings:
(1) what is known about your topic,
(2) what the gaps are in knowledge, or
(3) how this literature is relevant for your topic.
***Consider creating headings and subheadings as you organize your review of literature and conclude with a short paragraph about how your proposed study will improve or extend research that has already been done.
If little or no empirical research has been done, indicate this. For example, your review of the literature may suggest that: 1) the topic you have selected has not been studied with the population you intend to study, and/or; 2) you are addressing a research question that no one else has yet examined.
References
Follow the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Publication Manual citation styles and provide full citations in the reference section. Include only last name(s) of authors and year of publication for in-text citation.
