research proposal

SOWK 309: Introduction to Social Work Research

Research Proposal

Total Points: 220

Overview

This Signature Assignment fulfills mastery for Bachelor of Social Work Program Learning Outcome 4 (Competency 4) Engage In

Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice. This assignment also fulfills Institutional Learning Outcome 2:

Innovation and Creativity. Be sure to review all rubric criteria prior to submitting your assignment.

Directions

This assignment will focus on the research design – that is, how you would plan to conduct your proposed research. You will not

actually conduct this study. It is just an exercise to create a novel and well-constructed experimental design study proposal. The

purpose of this assignment is to incorporate all of the knowledge you have learned in this class. Additionally, it is an opportunity to

use your practice experience and knowledge/interests in the field to think more deeply about reading, evaluating and conducting

research.

The paper should include the organization and all the sections described below. It should be written in APA format using paragraphs

and citations. DO NOT simply answer the questions in bullet form. Make sure to USE THE HEADINGS LISTING IN BOLD

BELOW.

Step 1:

Study Introduction

● What do you want to study?

● What population would you use for your study?

● How will the information from this study improve social work practice? This section is very important to explain the rationale

for the rest of your proposal.

Step 2:

Literature Review (brief)

● Why is this topic worth studying? Use figures, statistics and facts about your population and area of interest. Be specific and

cite research to support your claims of why the area of interest is worth studying.

● What have others (previous research) said on this topic? Is there a consensus on this topic or conflicting reports or an absence

of information? Are their major methodological flaws in previous research?

● What information is missing from current research and practice experience that your study will fill in? (Use the information

you gathered in the literature review here. Summarize it briefly.)

Step 3:

Conceptual Framework

● State the main research questions (no more than two questions). Write at least three hypotheses related to the research question

or questions.

● Using what you learned from your literature review, why do you think these hypotheses are appropriate? Why did you make

the predictions that you did in your hypotheses?

Step 4:

Methodology

● What kind of study will you conduct; primarily a qualitative study, a quantitative study, or a mixed- methods study? Why is

this design appropriate for your research question?

● Describe how you will carry out your methodology? How will you conduct the study?

Step 5:

Sampling

● Indicate the type of sampling plan (participant selection) you will use to execute the research design you chose

o Clearly state the population you will study and how it relates to your hypothesis and design

o How will you recruit participants?

o Indicate how you will select your participants and whether this is a probability or non-probability sample

o Discuss sample size, sampling frame, etc.

Step 6:

Measurement

● Identify your variables, and indicate how you will measure the variables you have identified

o What are the main variables in the study? Explain which variable or variables is/are the independent and which variable

or variables is/are the dependent.

o How will you operationalize the variables you have chosen to study? Be very detailed in how you respond to this. (i.e.,

counting certain behaviors, using a scale to assess opinions)

● How do you plan to assess your variables? If you plan to do qualitative research, what questions do you plan on asking your

participants so you can find out whether your hypotheses are correct or not? Or how will you observe them? What format

(written, over the internet, in-person, focus groups) do you plan on using to collect this information? If you plan to do

quantitative research, what variables will you study/manipulate to see if your hypotheses are correct?

● Create a sample survey/interview guide/focus group guide, or a description of independent variables you will study/manipulate

(if you use quantitative research) and include it in your paper as “Appendix A.”

● If you take questions from a standardized measure, you will need to include citations here. Also discuss the reliability and

validity of the measures you have chosen.

Step 7:

Implications and Limitations:

● How will the findings from your proposed study improve practice, policy or service delivery with your chosen population? Be

specific.

● What are the limitations of your study? Include at least three and explain why they are limitations.

● How could future studies address your study’s shortcomings?

Step 8:

Ethical considerations

● What are your plans to ensure that your study will comply with NIH and NASW standards?

● How will you address informed consent?

● What measures will you take to protect subjects?

● What measures will you take to make sure you are a culturally competent researcher?

Format

Your proposal should mimic the research articles you have been reading. Length should be between 7-8 pages (paragraph notes in

outline are suggestions), not including your title and reference pages. However, the paper should NOT exceed 8 pages of content (not

including the references and cover pages). You should have at least 5 ACADEMIC SUPPORTING ARTICLES on your topic in your

references as well as any other sources used, including the textbook and any instruments cited. All sources should also be properly

cited in the body of your paper. Make sure to answer ALL QUESTIONS IN EVERY SECTION. The paper must be a MS Word

document format using proper APA Standards formatting and referencing, and use Times New Roman size 12 font. Submit your

paper to the Turnitin Assignment area in Blackboard no later than Sunday by midnight. Refer to the rubric for grading expectations.

Be sure to include all references you used in your paper, and put them in APA format. All references cited in this section

should also be cited in your paper.

Rubric

Learning

Outcomes

Criteria

Exemplary

Proficient

Developing

Emerging

Not Complete

PLO

ILO

Introduction 20

The purpose and

population of the study

are clearly elaborated

with supporting

evidence. Information

regarding how study

will improve practice

is well-stated.

17

The purpose and

population of the

study are explained

and supported with

appropriate

evidence.

15

Somewhat vague

description of the

purpose and

population of the

study with little

supportive

evidence.

12

Mostly vague

description of the

purpose and

population of the study

with little to no

supportive evidence.

0

Section is

missing.

PLO Literature

Review

30

Literature clearly

captures a picture of

current research on the

topic. Gaps and

methodological flaws

are all described well.

Articles summarized

in a useful and

thoughtful way tied

directly to the

student’s proposed

study. The content

thoroughly addresses

all bulleted prompts in

25

Literature captures a

picture of current

research on the

topic. Gaps and

methodological

flaws are all

described well as

appropriate. Articles

summarized in a

useful and

thoughtful way tied

directly to the

student’s proposed

study. The content

22

Literature captures

a beginning picture

of current research

on topic. Gaps and

methodological

flaws are somewhat

described as

appropriate.

Articles mostly

summarized in a

useful and

thoughtful way but

aren’t tied well to

the student’s

18

Literature barely

captures a picture of

current research on

topic. Gaps and

methodological flaws

are barely described.

Articles are not

summarized in a useful

and thoughtful way

and they are not tied

directly to the

student’s proposed

study. The content

minimally addresses

0

Section is

missing.

the instructions for this

section.

addresses all

bulleted prompts in

the instructions for

this section.

proposed study.

The content

partially addresses

all bulleted prompts

in the instructions

for this section.

all bulleted prompts in

the instructions for this

section.

PLO Conceptual

Framework

20

Research question(s)

is/are clear and well

connected to the

purpose of the study.

Information regarding

how information will

improve practice is

well-stated.

Hypotheses follow

appropriately from the

research question and

at least 3 are given.

17

Research question(s)

is/are stated and

connect to the

purpose of the study.

Information

regarding how

information will

improve practice is

stated. Hypotheses

follow appropriately

from the research

question and at least

3 are given.

15

Main research

question(s) is/are

stated, but are

somewhat vague

and only tentatively

relate to the

purpose of the

study. Information

regarding how

information will

improve practice is

partially well-

stated. Hypotheses

follow somewhat

from the research

question and at

least 2 are given.

12

Main research

question(s) is/are

vague. Research

questions are not

clearly related to the

purpose of the study.

Information regarding

how information will

improve practice is not

well-stated.

Hypotheses do not

clearly follow from the

research question and/

or there are 2 or fewer

given.

0

Section is

missing.

PLO

ILO

Methodology 20

The type of research

design is clearly stated

with matching

rationale that is

completely logical.

17

The type of research

design is stated with

matching rationale.

he assessment plan

is matched to the

15

The type of

research design is

stated with some

matching rationale.

The assessment

12

The type of research

design is not clearly

stated, and it lacks

matching rationale.

The assessment plan is

0

Section is

missing.

The assessment plan is

well matched to the

information that is

needed for research

questions.

information that is

needed for research

questions.

plan is partially

matched to the

information that is

needed for research

questions.

not well matched to

the information that is

needed for research

questions.

PLO Sampling 30

The sampling plan is

clearly appropriate for

the population and

selected design. The

content thoroughly

addresses all bulleted

prompts in the

instructions for this

section.

25

The sampling plan is

appropriate for the

population and

selected design. The

content mostly

addresses all

bulleted prompts in

the instructions for

this section.

22

The sampling plan

is somewhat

appropriate for the

population and

selected design.

The content

partially addresses

all bulleted prompts

in the instructions

for this section.

18

The sampling plan is

not sufficiently

appropriate for the

population and

selected design. The

content minimally

addresses all bulleted

prompts in the

instructions for this

section.

0

Section is

missing.

PLO Measurement 20

Independent and

Dependent variables

are clearly and

correctly identified.

Operationalization of

variables is clearly,

thoroughly and accurately explained.

Measurement choices

are appropriate for the

hypotheses.

Assessment plan is

clearly relevant and

17

Independent and

Dependent variables

are correctly

identified.

Operationalization

of variables is clear

and accurately explained.

Measurement

choices are

sufficiently

appropriate for the

hypotheses.

15

Some, but not all,

Independent and

Dependent

variables are

correctly identified.

Operationalization

of variables is somewhat

accurately

explained.

Measurement

choices are

somewhat

12

Most Independent and

Dependent variables

are not correctly

identified.

Operationalization of

variables is vague and

only minimally accurately explained.

Measurement choices

are not appropriate for

the hypotheses.

Assessment plan is

mostly irrelevant

0

Section is

missing.

explained in detail.

All appropriate

information is

included in Appendix

A. Reliability and

validity of measures

are thoroughly and

accurately discussed.

Assessment plan is

relevant and

explained in detail.

Appropriate

information is

included in

Appendix A.

Reliability and

validity of measures

is accurately

discussed.

appropriate for the

hypotheses.

Assessment plan is

somewhat relevant

but not explained in

detail. Some

appropriate

information is

included in

Appendix A.

Reliability and

validity of

measures is

somewhat

discussed.

and/or not explained in

detail. Most

appropriate

information is missing

in Appendix A.

Reliability and validity

of measures is not

accurately discussed.

PLO Implications 10

Thoroughly and

completely discusses

how the proposed

study will improve

practice, policy or

service delivery with

the chosen population.

8

Clearly discusses

how the proposed

study will improve

practice, policy or

service delivery with

the chosen

population.

7

Discusses how the

proposed study will

improve practice,

policy or service

delivery with the

chosen population,

but not thoroughly

or completely.

6

Partly discusses how

the proposed study

will improve practice,

policy or service

delivery with the

chosen population, but

misses some aspects.

0

Section is

missing.

PLO Limitations 10

Thoroughly and

completely describes

and discusses at least

three limitations of the

study, and clearly

8

Describes and

discusses at least

three limitations of

the study, and

explains why they

7

Describes and

discusses at least

two limitations of

the study, and

clearly explains

6

Describes and

discusses at least two

limitations of the

study, but explanation

does not clearly

0

Section is

missing.

explains why they are

limitations as well as

how future studies

could address the

study’s shortcomings.

are limitations as

well as how future

studies could address

the study’s

shortcomings.

why they are

limitations.

Discusses how

future studies could

address the study’s

shortcomings.

explain why they are

limitations.

Discussion of how

future studies could

address the study’s

shortcomings is

incomplete or

inaccurate.

PLO Ethical

Considerations

20

Ethical standards are

met and are clearly

defined. Informed

consent and protection

measures are

accurately described

and are completely

appropriate for the

study. Student displays

a thorough

understanding of

cultural competence in

research.

17

Ethical standards are

met and are defined.

Informed consent

and protection

measures are

accurately described

and are appropriate

for the study.

Student displays a

good understanding

of cultural

competence in

research.

15

Ethical standards

are partially met

and defined.

Informed consent

and protection

measures are

somewhat

accurately

described and are

appropriate for the

study. Student

displays some

understanding of

cultural competence

in research.

12

Ethical standards are

not clearly met or

defined. Informed

consent and protection

measures are not

completely or

accurately described.

Student displays a

limited understanding

of cultural competence

in research.

0

Section is

missing.

ILO Innovative

Thinking/

Decision

Making

20

Demonstrates

sophisticated,

innovative thinking by

creating a novel and

well-constructed

17

Demonstrates

innovative thinking

by creating a novel

and well-constructed

experimental design

15

Demonstrates some

innovative thinking

by creating a

mostly well-

constructed

12

Presents an

unsophisticated

proposal that shows

little knowledge of

research design, and

0

Section is

missing.

experimental design

that meets all required

criteria. Presents

sophisticated proposal

that shows strong

knowledge of research

design, and

demonstrates

thoughtful decisions

that relate to the

hypotheses.

that meets all

required criteria.

Presents a proposal

that shows a solid

knowledge of

research design, and

demonstrates

thoughtful decisions

that relate to the

hypotheses.

experimental design

that meets most of

the listed criteria.

Presents a proposal

that shows fair

knowledge of

research design,

and demonstrates

somewhat

thoughtful

decisions that

mostly relate to the

hypotheses.

demonstrates decisions

that are only

marginally related to

the hypotheses.

CLO Writing and

Organization

20

Correct APA

formatting is applied

throughout. Writing is

logical and organized.

Research terminology

is used appropriately

throughout the paper.

The writing is free of

errors in grammar,

spelling and writing

mechanics. The report

is the specified length

of the assignment and

includes more than the

required number of

academic sources. All

sources are correctly

17

Correct APA

formatting is mostly

applied throughout.

Writing is mostly

logical and

organized. Research

terminology is used

appropriately

throughout the

paper. The writing is

mostly free of errors

in grammar, spelling

and writing

mechanics. The

report is the

specified length of

the assignment and

15

Correct APA

formatting is

partially applied

throughout. Writing

is somewhat logical

and organized.

Research

terminology is

partially used

appropriately

throughout the

paper. The writing

includes several

errors in grammar,

spelling and writing

mechanics. The

report does not

12

APA formatting is not

applied throughout.

Writing is not logical

and organized.

Research terminology

is not used

appropriately

throughout the paper.

The writing includes

many errors in

grammar, spelling and

writing mechanics.

The report does not

meet the requirements

for length or number

of academic sources.

All sources are

0

APA

formatting is

not applied.

cited in the paper and

on the reference page.

includes the required

number of academic

sources. All sources

are correctly cited in

the paper and on the

reference page.

meet the specified

length of the

assignment and is

missing one or

more of the

required number of

academic sources.

All sources are

correctly cited in

the paper and on

the reference page.

correctly cited in the

paper and on the

reference page.