Research Question:
Why do adolescents in prison system experience high rates of incarceration?
Working Hypothesis:
What is a qualitative study in clarifying young offender’s perceptions
of risk and protective factors for delinquency?
Major Concepts: Substance Misuse, Mental Health and Behavioral Issues, Trauma and Adverse Childhood
PAPER MUST BE 14 1/2 TO 15 PAGES NOT INCLUDING TITLE PAGE OR REFERENCE PAGE. REFERENCES MUST BE SCHOLARLY. REFERENCES MUST HAVE DOI#!!!!!!
Research Proposal Guidelines and Grading Criteria
1. Title Page
2. Abstract (not more than half a page)
3. Introduction (not more than one page)
4.
Literature Review (4-6 pages)The literature review shows what previous
researchers have discovered. It expands the points touched on briefly in the introduction section. The literature review section should demonstrate that the student has extensively reviewed the existing literature on the issue or topic he/she seeks
to investigate. The literature review should cover a broad spectrum of the existing literature on the topic, and should include opposing findings/results/conclusions, f if available. Literature review section should answer the following questions:
What are the current and keys issues/arguments relating to the general topic
area ?
What are some similarities and differences between the current study and similar studies conducted in the past?
How does the existing literature help readers understand the current study, and how the results of the current study could help answer the identified research question(s)?
What variables would be studied in the current study, and what are their conceptual definitions?
5.
Theoretical/Conceptual Framework (not more than one and a half page)
A theoretical framework forms a basis for developing arguments and informs readers of the assumptions underlying them. It helps researchers to “explain phenomena, draw connections, and make predictions.” For your theoretical framework section, discuss some of the existing theories that support your research to help establish the relevance of your research and ground it within established ideas. Your theoretical framework section should answer the following questions:
What are the theories and models that other researchers have developed for your research area?
Which of these theories/model can explain the phenomenon you are studying? (For this assignment do not discuss more than two theories)
6.
Problem Statement (not more than one quarter of a page)
The problem statement is the focal point of your research. For a social work problem, you are looking for “something that is going wrong” or “something that needs close attention.” The
problem statement is just one sentence accompanied by a number of paragraphs that elaborate on it. Two examples of a problem statement
“The frequency of job layoffs is creating fear, anxiety, and a loss of productivity in
middle management workers. However, only few studies have focused on the
relationship between fear of job lost and workers’ productivity”
“High unemployment and a decline in the economy have resulted in a recent reduction in charitable giving. We don’t know how this has affected not-for-profit agencies and their clients.
7.
Objective of Study:
This section creates a perspective for looking at the problem and points out how your study relates to the larger issues. The section should specify, in a single sentence or paragraph, what kind of knowledge the study is expected to obtain and give a clear indication of what the study seeks to accomplish. Example of study objective:
“The objective of the study is to estimate the prevalence of breast-feeding among low-income mothers who receive Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services and those who receive medical assistance.” Other examples: The objective of the study is to
…overcome the difficulty with ….
…discover what….
…understand the causes or effects of…
…refine our current understanding of….
…provide a new interpretation of ….
8.
Significance of Study
This section describes the type of knowledge expected to be obtained and the intended purpose of its application. It should make a convincing argument that the knowledge generated will be useful. It should indicate the strategy for disseminating and using the research findings. The sections should answer the following questions
What knowledge and information will be obtains? Or, what do you hope to reveal as a result of your investigation?
How will the results of your study be used, and who will it benefit the field of social work?
9.
Research Question and Hypothesis:
From your literature review, specify your research question and/or hypothesis. For the purpose of the assignment, state only one research question and only one research hypothesis.
a.
What is your research question (state only one)? Examples research question:
Is the rate of math phobia higher among social work students than in the general student population?
Why do parents of children who die while committing violent crimes often withdraw from contact with their communities?
b.
What is your hypothesis (state only one)? Examples of hypothesis:
Clients who complete job training Program A will have a greater success in finding
employment than clients who complete Program B.
There is a positive correlation between grades on a statistics exam and number of math courses previously completed.
10.
Methodology (not more than 3-5 pages)
This section should read like a recipe. It explains how you will conduct the study, the exact steps you will take. The section should operational definition for variables used, the type of variables and the ways to measure them. In addition, this section should consider the study design and the techniques and procedures used.
a.
Operational Definitions: This section should contain definition of special terms that are unique to your field of inquiry or that might not be understood by the general reader. Examples of operational definition statements are:
For this research, “improvement” is operationally defined as posttest score minus
pretest score.”
To encompass the functional and social characterizations of old age in non-
western countries, for this study, an “older person” is defined as an individual
aged 50 years or above.
b.
Study Design: What research design will you use (i.e. survey, experimental, explanatory, quantitative, qualitative, etc.)? You should clearly state the type of study to be conducted and provide a detailed explanation of its design. The type of study design should be decided
based on the purpose of the study, available resources, and ethical considerations. For example:
“An experimental controlled study will be conducted with two groups of women; those who participate in the WIC program, and those who receive medical assistance. Two groups will
be formed based on the service received.
c.
Population, Sample Selection and Size, and Unit of Analysis:
What is the population you will use in the study and how will you obtain a sample?
The population is any group of people who can theoretically take part in the research?
What sampling issues or procedures that may affect the validity of your study result?
Note that the study sample can usually be defined by a single statement, but the
sampling procedure involves multiple steps. Describe in detail, where the research
will talk place, potential participants, and how you will select participant from our
population to form the sample.
Examples are: “The population for this study is defined as all adult families who
receive service from DSS in 2009,” or “…all homeowners in the city of Minneapolis,”
or “…all potential participants of an after-school program, “or “… mothers who have received WIC and Medical Assistance services from Hilltop Department of Social
Services.”
d.
Data Collection Procedure and Instrument:
This section should include the procedures that will be used to collect data (e.g., in-depth, interviews, survey, observation, focus group, content analysis, etc.) and the data collection instrument (e.g., questionnaire, interview guide,
observation recording form, content analysis guide, guide for focus group moderator, etc.). Describe how and when the procedure or instrument will be used
Note: procedures or techniques that are standardized and/or documented in the
literature should be described briefly, and sources cited. Describe data collection
procedures that may undermine the validity or reliability of your results. *If a
secondary data is will be used as the primary source of data, describe their sources, content, and quality.
e.
Ethical Consideration
f.
Data Analysis: Based on your study purpose and types of variables, specify how the variables will be measured and how they will be presented (quantitative and/or qualitative, indicate the analytical models and techniques (statistical, or non-statistical or analytical techniques for non-numeric data, etc.). provide a preliminary scheme for tabulating the data (especially for variables that are presented numerically). Briefly describe the software packages that will be used and their anticipated applications.
11.
Limitations of the study (not more than one page) All research studies have limitations. Describe the extent to which you believe that limitations (e.g., budgetary, time, and methodological [reliability and threats to validity]) will
affect your research findings. (Do not repeat limitations you have discussed in earlier sections
12.
Conclusion (not more than half a page)
13.
References
14.
Appendix (attach copies of instruments, sample letters, informed consent, etc.). If you are using an instrument designed by another researcher, state its source. Describe the theoretical constructs that the instrument attempted to measure and any reliability and validity issues.
Instructions:
Reference Section – minimum of 8 peer-reviewed journal articles
APA formatting required for all elements of paper
