2 PAGE TOPIC SELECTION FIND THE GAP STATEMENT

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TOPIC: SELECTION: FINAL TOPIC SELECTION EXAMPLE

Topic Selection: Final Topic Selection Example

Student Name

Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies,

Author Note

Student Name

I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Student Name

Email:

Topic Selection: Final Topic Selection Example

Final Topic of Interest:

Addiction: Does animal-assisted therapy affect parenting among women incarcerated due to addiction?

MFT: Does animal-assisted therapy affect parenting among women incarcerated and with a family?

Gap Statement: “With a significant number of children in the US with incarcerated parents, there is a need for evidence-based treatment to help incarcerated mothers re-establish health relationships with their children (Collica-Cox & Day, 2022, p. 609).

Reference

Collica-Cox, K., & Day, G. J. (2022). When dogs make the difference: Jail-based parenting with

and without animal-assisted therapy. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 33(6), 608-638. https://doi.org/10.1177/08874034211063455

This article explores the idea of animal assisted therapy (AAT) for incarcerated women to help them reestablish a relationship with their children. The study concluded that there is encouraging evidence that AAT improves the parent and child relationship.

Variables To Be Measured (If Quantitative Example)

State which proposed experimental design to support question (experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational). Briefly state rationale for chosen design.

This study will use animal assisted therapy as the independent variable and parenting as the dependent variable.

**Note the example below is not related to this quantitative paper, but is a simple example of what a qualitative Final Topic Selection will look like:

Research Strategy (If Qualitative Example)

State which proposed descriptive design to support question (phenomenological or grounded). Briefly state rationale for chosen design.

A phenomenology approach would be most appropriate in answering the research question because the researcher is exploring the lived experience of working mothers in the medical field.

Cultural Consideration

The term parenting can have different meaning among various cultures and families. I need to be aware of the possible cultural differences as well as possible differences for family make-up regarding who might be caring for the children of women that are incarcerated.