Stages: This second assignment is done in three stages. Each stage builds on what came before. The final stage is the submission of a complete research design proposal. All assignments should be typed and double-spaced, using APA style.

Selecting a Research Topic: This first stage of Assignment #2 builds on Assignment #1, in which you identified research questions for agency-based research. Try to choose one of the research questions you developed in Assignment #1 and use it as the topic for your research design proposal. Whatever topic you select, choose one that is relevant to the concerns of social work and that can be addressed using a particular research technique, such as survey research.

For this first stage, you will justify your proposed research, conduct a literature search on your topic and hand in the following:

1.Problem Statement and Research Question (1-2 pages). Briefly describe the problem.Describe the purpose of your research and conclude with a clearly-stated research question.

2.Significance (1/2 page). This section provides the rationale and justification for the research. For example: Who cares about the answer? Is present opinion divided? How important is it to have an answer to this question? What are the implications for practice/policy of various possible answers?

3.Review of Relevant Literature (4-5 pages, double-spaced). This review provides background information about your topic – it summarizes what is known about the subject, and critically analyzes prior research on the topic. This review lets the reader know that you understand the problem and provides a context for your proposed research. Make use of at least ten theoretical/empirical articles in writing your literature review (reference each article in your paper using APA style). Discuss studies that include concepts that you are focusing on.

4.Conceptualization and Operationalization (1/2 page). Specify key concepts on which your study will focus and how you intend to operationalize them as variables. Discuss issues of reliability and validity of measurement of key variables.

5. Hypotheses. State the key hypotheses to be tested, indicating independent, dependent, and control variables.

6.A complete bibliography (minimum of ten references ) in APA style.
 
 

(F00132Ass2Stg1.doc)