Research Paper EXPERT

Research Project

Topic: Crime and Mental Illness. What can be learned about how mental illness influences whether or not someone is likely to commit crimes? Are certain mental illnesses more prone to criminal behavior?

The paper must follow APA format and need to be 12 to 15 double-spaced pages – this does not include cover page, table of contents, appendices, and references (you must have at least 12–15 credible sources—peer reviewed resources)

Your research design is expected to be written so that if the research was executed, it would add new understanding to the existing body of knowledge on your topic.  An analysis of existing literature on the topic alone will not suffice for your research design. Your research design should shed light on one or more aspects of your topic, discover new relationships between variable that were previously unknown by existing research, and/or provide new analysis not previously explored.

The paper must follow APA format and need to be 12 to 15 double-spaced pages – this does not include cover page, table of contents, appendices, and references (you must have at least 12–15 credible sources—peer reviewed resources). All must be in APA format.

Your Research Project will consist of the following sections/headings:

• Title page • Abstract (100–120 words) • Introduction • Literature review • Hypothesis/problem statement • Research methods/design, including definitions, participants, data collection, etc.… • References • Appendices as needed

· Tables and/or figures (if necessary)

Abstract:

A brief paragraph (100–120 words) that summarizes what you want to research and why it is important.

Introduction:

Why are you exploring this topic?  In this section, it is appropriate to use a few sources that are not from peer-reviewed journals.  These may include mass media, television, newspaper, magazines, etc., information found on the Internet, books, etc.  In addition, peer reviewed sources should also be used.  This section is expected to be 250–750 words. This section should grab the reader’s attention, and explain the problem you want to explore.  Would it inform policy? Might it lead to more safe conditions? Etc.

Literature Review:

This section contains only peer-reviewed research that is related to your particular topic. Peer reviewed research articles are those that appear in criminal justice, public policy or similar related journal articles that have passed a rigorous review process to validate the research contained in the article.  The review process for these journals frequently begins when the journal forwards the research study to several researchers experienced with the topic, methods, etc.  These researchers review the study for reliability and validity, bias, proper research policies and procedures, ethical treatment of research subjects, ethical practices of the researchers, etc.  If all of these and other criteria are met, the study can then be published in that journal. Most journals on the inside cover describe the submission process for researchers.  This is where if you see what is described above.  If so, the article has been peer reviewed.  This process is what sets peer reviewed articles apart from those found in magazines, agency publications, books, etc. 

This section is expected to be very thorough and substantial.  While there is no page expectation, all of the major peer-reviewed research should be related to your topic and a MINIMUM of 12-15 peer-reviewed articles discussed. This typically will be several pages and is to be in paragraph form and not in list form. There should be a smooth flow between articles and subtopics – much like you will find in published peer reviewed research articles.  Do not turn in an annotated bibliography for this section. You need to talk about the literature in summary fashion and note why each article is important and what the findings suggest. In general the information is woven together and synthesized throughout your paper.  You should read a couple of journal articles and note how they write their introduction and literature review. This will help guide you as you set yours up.

Hypothesis/problem statement: This is your research question (what you plan to measure/examine).  Your research questions may be in paragraph form, but may also be presented in a bulleted list.  Research questions must be individual questions that each measures only one item (one question = one measurement).  A minimum of 3 questions are expected in this section and you should not exceed 5 questions.

Research methods/design, including definitions, participants, data collection, etc.… Your research design is to be the “step by step” directions that would enable any researcher to replicate your research.  Think of this as directions from how to get to point A to point B.  This detail is necessary as it demonstrates that you understand how to best do your research. Include scale construction as well as sampling designs.

References: References are to be in APA format.  If you have a citation in the body of your work you must have the appropriate reference in the reference section.  Also if you have a reference in your reference section, you must have a citation from that work somewhere in the body of your work.  The citations and references must match u

Appendices as needed