Research paper

Individual Research Paper Instructions

1.      References.

a.       Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (2009). (6th ed.): American Psychological Association (APA).

b.      Jones, P. S. (2013, April 19).  Research Skills [Lecture 6].  How to write a great research paper.  Video cast retrieved from http://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/1464870

Note:  I encourage you watch this 34½ minute video.  Watch the first five minutes and if you do not like it, stop watching.  I think you will finish it.

c.       Creswell, JW. (2009).  Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches: Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

d.      Bhattacherjee, Anol (2012) Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices (2nd ed).  Published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. ISBN-13: 978-1475146127.  Free download:  http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3/

2.      Appendices.

a.       Grading Rubric, Research Paper (Appendix A)

b.      Report Title, Abstract, and Detailed Outline Template (Appendix B)

3.      PROCEDURES. 

a.       Research Paper. The purpose of the research paper is to enable students to develop and refine their research and writing skills on a topic in the field of health care administration. Research and prepare a 10-12 page (excluding cover page, abstract, references, and any appendices you may optionally include),research paper and an abstract).

b.      Topic.  Research and prepare a 10-12 page (excluding cover page, abstract, references, and any appendixes you may include) paper that addressing the following question:

How will developments in health informatics change the role of healthcare managers by 2020?

To address this question, your analysis must include specific sections on the following:

        i.            Identify, analyze, and discuss current trends in health care technology, including biotechnology, smart phones, health informatics, and other relevant technologies in the context of the overall US healthcare system.

      ii.            Identify key factors driving and/or limiting the further growth of health care technologies.

    iii.            Based on the above analysis, identify five (5) ways health technology will likely change the role of health care managers by 2020.

    iv.            Each student must interview three healthcare professionals about the  impact of the health informatics on the role of healthcare professionals now and in the future.

o   Further information about these interviews is provided below in the Interview Checklist.

c.       APA Manual/Rubric.  Ensure you follow the APA Manual, 6th edition when preparing your research paper.  Please read the grading rubric thoroughly before you submit your paper.

d.      References.  Appropriate/valid references include published books, articles in peer reviewed journals, or first-tier print media.  Magazine articles and articles from non-peer reviewed journals are generally not appropriate and may be referenced in this paper only by exception.Cite at least eight (8) relevant and valid sources in the draft and final paper submissions.

e.       Format.  Ensure the draft and final versions of the paper are typed, double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1” margins on all sides, and follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed. (APA) format.

f.       Submission schedule.  Submit papers in the appropriate online assignment per the schedule found in the syllabus/course schedule. 

g.      Suggestions for a Literature Search Strategy.  Using your topic from above, develop a detailed search strategy using available databases:  Google Scholar, OVID, MEDLINE, EBSCO etc.  Collect articles relevant to your topic.  Ideally,the articles you choose should reflect the most recent research and be published within the last five years.  Review articles can be used for background material, but the majority of references used should be original research.  Articles of particular significance may be used if older than five to 10 years; however they should reflect landmark discoveries on the topic.

h.      Title / Abstract  / Outline Template (to guide your research).   I provided a title, abstract, and outline template to help you design your paper.  This template is for your optional use; do not submit it as part of any assignment.  Creating an outline early in your research can help guide your research and writing.  It is not to lock you in to a finished product before you get started.  In other words, your finished product will differ slightly from what you create with the outline.     After gathering materials relevant to the literature review topic, spend time reading the material and making a detailed outline.  Doing so will aid in organizing both information and thoughts; it will result in an abstract/paper that is more complete and more easily written.  See the Title, Abstract, and Detailed Outline Template (Appendix B) for detailed instructions.

i.        Draftversion of the Research Paper.  The first phase of the research paper is the rough draft.  Compose a rough draft of the paper and submit it to the appropriate assignment in our classroom.  The purpose of the rough draft is to allow me to provide constructive feedback and guidance.  I will evaluate the submission per the Research Paper Evaluation Rubric (Appendix A). Consider all of the criteria when researching and writing the paper.

j.        Final version of the Research Paper.  Upon receiving your grade and the review comments (feedback) for your draft version, revise your paper appropriately and submit the final version in the appropriate assignment in our classroom.  I will evaluate the submission per the Research Paper Evaluation Rubric (Appendix A).  Consider all of the criteria when researching and writing the paper.

k.      TurnItIn.  You must submit your paper to both Turnitin (see Turnitin Instructions in the Course Content area) and to this assignment here in LEO (see assignment below the description).  Ensure you submit the same paper to both Turnitin and LEO; you do not want to give anyone a reason to suspect your integrity.

        i.            Turnitin is an online originality checking program that UMUC uses.  Once you complete your paper, submit it to Turnitin to receive your originality score.  I will see it, too.  You may submit your paper to Turnitin as often you would like, up until the due date, so I encourage you to submit to Turnitin early and often.  I will assess the most current research paper submitted to Turnitin and LEO. 

      ii.            I encourage you to submit your paper to Turnitin SEVERAL days before the due date to allow you to see your originality score and make adjustments.  It may take up to 24 hours before Turnitin will provide you with an originality score.

Appendix A

Research Paper Evaluation Rubric

Student: ____________________­­                                          Assignment: ___________

Total Score:  90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; <69 = F

Appendix D

Title, Abstract, and Detailed Outline Template

Note:  The purpose of creating the abstract and detailed outline is to guide your research and writing.  It is not to lock you in to a finished product before you get started.  You can expect that your finished product will differ from what you create with the abstract and outline.

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Proposed Title

[Title should be about eight to ten words (APA limit is 12) and should indicate the topic of the paper.  Avoid funny, silly, or “catchy” titles]

Structured Abstract [A good abstract will entice the reader to read further.  Your abstract should be between 100 and 250 words and should include the following]:

1.      Problem/Purpose Statement – [Provide a brief statement of the purpose of your study and/or the problem you are addressing]

a.       Why you are doing the study – [Explain why the problem or purpose is an interesting one]

2.      Research design/method – [Explain what way you are doing your research.  Provide enough information that another researcher could replicate your study.]

3.      Findings/results – [State what your solution/research accomplishes/achieves.  What are the facts you found?]

4.      Conclusions – [State what follows from your solution/research]

5.      Relevance– [State the value to the health care community (either in practice, research, or both)]

Main body of the research paper

1.      Introduction/Background/Literature Review [You should include at least 2-3 valid references in the draft outline to support the introduction]: 

a.       Describe the problem [Should include some background for the reader to understand why the problem is a problem]

b.      Briefly state the contributions your research will provide to healthcare

2.      Research Design/method [Explain the steps to take to complete your analysis.Explain what way you are doing your research.  Provide enough information that another researcher could replicate your study using your methods section.]

3.      Findings/results [Explain the facts you have revealed in your analysis.  In this section, you should have very little (if any) of your opinion or perspective on what you found.  Instead, be specific about the details that came from your research]

4.      Conclusions[State what follows from your solution/research.  In this section, you should interpret your findings to explain the meaning of the facts you found in the findings section.]

5.      Relevance[State the value to the health care community (either in practice, research, or both)]