Reference no: EM132315103

Section 2.

Propose an idea for a research project.

a. Briefly explain why your proposed research is important

b. Note any social work practice and policy implications

c. State the study objectives

Section 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

By synthesizing your review of individual articles, the Literature Review section of your research proposals includes the following components:

a. Discuss how the problem has been defined

b. Discuss theories related to causes of the problem (if applicable)

c. Discuss theories related to interventions (if applicable)

d. Synthesize

i. Main findings

- General agreements or disagreements among previous researchers
- What can you conclude about your topic after reviewing the past research?

Limitations

- Problems in existing research questions, methods, gaps, findings and theoretical models, etc.

e. Discuss how your research proposal relates to yet goes beyond and builds on the previous studies in the field.

Section 3: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

i. Specify theoretical framework (if applicable)

a. Include literature support

b. If there is no theoretical base (you must make sure of this, I will likely know if there is!), explain the concepts related to your research problem to justify your conceptualization of the research. In other words, the existing theories or concepts related to your problem of study should justify your approach to studying this problem.

2. Clearly, and succinctly, state your research question. The research question should be narrow and specific!
4. State your hypothesis(es).

- State the expected relationship (i.e., positive, negative, or curvilinear) between the variables. Your hypothesis should be narrow, specific, and testable.

1. Cleary, and succinctly, state your research question. Identify all the concepts (variables) that you will be studying.

2. Provide a rationale for your research question (again in light of what you presented in the literature review)

3. State your hypothesis. What do you think will be the outcome of your study? State it clearly as well. Make sure you identify the relationship between each of the variables in your research question.

4. Is your question/hypothesis exploratory, descriptive,  explanatory (causal)?

5. Based on your research question, list the variables that will be studied-include an operational definition of each variable. For each variable identify if it is an independent or dependent variable.

6. For each variable listed - how did you derive its definition? What other sources did you use (identify these), and how does your definition compare with other ways to measure the variable? Provide a reference for the sources that you used (USE APA)

7. What is the relevance of your question to social work?

8. How does your question add to the knowledge base of social work?

9. Provide a listing of references that you used in order to assist you with developing and refining your research question.