Title
Introduction
Brief summary of significance and purpose of study and relevance to social work
Research question
Abstract
Brief background of study
Any theories, concepts, definitions of terms and/or variables
Studies/data to support significance of study
Brief explanation of purpose and rationale for study
Methods
Sampling Procedures
Who will be the participants in the study?
How will the researcher (you) go about obtaining them?
Why is this particular group of individuals being chosen for the study?
What will be the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
Instrumentation
What type of instrument design will be utilized (survey, questionnaire, standardized instrument, or a review of records)?
How many questions will the instrument contain and what type (open-ended, closed-ended)?
Will demographic information be obtained on participants? If so, what type of information will be collected and why?
Indicate the approximate amount of time it will take for the instrument to be completed
Indicate that the instrument will be pre-tested for validity (for non-standardized instruments)
What are the strengths and limitations for the type of instrument being used?
Data Collection
Indicate that informed consent will be obtained from participants and they (participants) will be informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time if they so choose
Where and how data will be collected (via email, instrument handed out, via phone, etc.)?
Will participants have a certain amount of time to complete their instrument and return it via email or handed out?
Will an incentive be used to increase participation?
What are the strengths and limitations of the method of data collection?
Data Collection & Analysis
How do you plan to collect data? Will you review/evaluate/explore programs? Do you plan to review and analyze literature?
Explain in detail what you plan to explore or evaluate.
Results
What do you hope to find out?
How will you set aside your bias to objectively research your topic?
Study Limitations, Ethics, and Dissemination
Limitations
Consider the following possible limitations of the study: small sample size, limited time to conduct study, bias, etc.
Ethics
Indicate that to maintain ethical principles, researcher will protect confidentiality of any individual and/or program utilized during your research project. All instruments will be anonymous and randomly marked via numbers. Consent forms and instruments will be collected, placed into an envelope, and locked away. At the end of the research study, all documents will be destroyed.
Dissemination
Indicate the researcher will disseminate the findings by presenting them to agency staff, University of Memphis faculty and students
Results
What did you find out? Results only.
Display data visually via quotes, themes, brief summary, table, graphs, pie charts, etc.
Does your results support or refute literature you reviewed? What did you learn?
Discussion
Briefly, what do the findings of your study mean for the agency, staff, members, participants and/or social work profession?
Briefly highlight strengths
Briefly highlight limitations
Conclusion
Based on your study, what programs, policies, and practice actions do you think should be taken by your agency or others?
How can someone else further extend your study?
Did you learn anything additional that you were not aware of before?
Any new questions arise from your study?
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