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Written Capstone Research Project accounts for 50% of your grade. Students are required to prepare their capstone research utilizing appropriate research design procedures. The proposal must include the following: 

I. I. Title Page: The title page should contain the title of the paper (no more than 15 words), the author's name, course name and number, institutional affiliation, capstone advisor, and date. Follow APA style for appropriate formatting. 

I. II. Abstract: The abstract is a short summary of the paper generally between 200 – 250 words in length. The abstract should start with a brief theme sentence to orientate the reader about the overall issue addressed in the article. This sentence should grab the reader’s attention. The abstract should then indicate the main aim or purpose of the study. Next, the academic and/or practical importance of the study should be explained. The methodology used in the study should also be briefly described. The main findings of the study should be 

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I. summarized. A statement of conclusions should indicate the contribution made by the study in filling gaps in the literature. Finally, the practical or managerial implications of the study’s findings should be highlighted where appropriate. 

I. III. Keywords: Include no more than 8 keywords that reflect the discipline, sub-discipline, theme, research design and context (industry and/or geographic location) of the study. 

I. IV. Introduction: The introduction can be described as the “executive summary” that provides readers a glimpse of what is to come and must grab the reader’s attention. In other words, the introduction must effectively “sell” the paper. This section includes the following: (1) the broad theme or topic of the study, (2) the academic and practical importance of the study, (3) a summary of the available literature with the most important previous studies that are relevant to the current research cited, (4) an indication of the most important gaps, inconsistencies and/or controversies in the literature that the current study will address, (5) a clear indication of the the core research problem/question to be addressed, the specific research objective that will guide your research, the context in which the study will be conducted, and the units of analysis of the study, (6) an outline of the structure of the rest of the article. 

The Introduction addresses the first criteria of the grading rubric “Identification and Development of a Solution for a Domestic or Global Health Services Management or Public Health Problem or Issue” 

I. V. Methods: This section includes a detailed description of the research methods that will be employed in your capstone project. The following areas must be addressed: (1) population and sample including the sample selection criteria, (2) study design, (3) data sources, (4) methods of data collection, (5) study variables (e.g., independent and dependent variables) specified in operational terms, (6) analytic methods to be used (make sure to identify the specific statistical procedures and discuss their appropriateness). You should describe your methodological choices in enough detail so that a reader who is not involved in your study will know exactly what you did and why. 

I. VI. Literature review: The literature review represents the core of the paper. This section includes (1) a brief discussion of where the specific topic under consideration fits into the “bigger picture” of the overall area under investigation, (2) conceptual definitions of all the key concepts/constructs included in the study, (3) a focused and synthesized discussion of relevant previous research findings involving the constructs/concepts relevant to your study, (4) a summary of existing approaches to the measurement of the relevant constructs, and (5) sufficient theoretical support for the hypothesis to be tested/problem to be addressed. 

The Literature Review addresses the rubric criteria one through six “identify and utilize appropriate Healthcare Economics, Health Policy, Marketing and Branding, and Financial Analysis Approaches to Develop and Propose Solutions using a Strategic Approach.” You must obtain at least two articles for each criteria. HCA 598 (20/SP) 5 

I. VII. Findings & Discussion: This section includes the key findings of your capstone project and appropriate managerial and policy recommendations. The following must be addressed: (1) a restatement of the paper’s main purpose, (2) a reaffirmation of the importance of the study by restating its main contribution, (3) a summary of the results in relation to the research objective WITHOUT introducing new material, (4) a detailed description of the key findings of your capstone project, (5) the managerial and policy implications of your key findings, (6) limitations of your capstone project and future managerial and policy recommendations, (7) insightful (i.e., non-obvious) directions or opportunities for future research on the topic. 

This section addresses the final criteria of the grading rubric “Evaluate Outcomes” 

I. VIII. References: A list of references must be included at the end. You are required to include at least 10 references from peer-reviewed research journals, using the “APA” style. You may use citations from trade journals, web sites, or other published or unpublished sources to supplement, but not replace, the minimum 10 peer-reviewed journal citations. 

Oral Presentation accounts for 30% of your grade. You are expected to prepare a 42” x 30 poster addressing the key information and findings of your capstone project and present it on campus to HCA faculty, students, and guests during finals week of the semester. The date and time will be provided during the first month of the semester. If travel to campus is a geographic challenge, you can record a professional presentation addressing the key information and findings of your capstone project. This exception must be granted by the program director.