Hello, I have already started a BIG chunk on this assignment (I have attached this document of what I have done in the upload files section). I feel as though I need to be stronger in my synthesis of literature section and my review of methodologies.
Please select one of the topics covered over the course of the colloquium that is of particular interest to you and write an analysis on the topic in which you synthesize and critically analyze the empirical literature, discuss the primary theoretical and/or conceptual frameworks that formed the base of the studies you have included in your analysis, and describe the primary research designs and methodologies with which the studies were conducted. You will conclude this analysis with a summary of the major findings and with insightful conclusions about what the researchers have contributed to the body of knowledge on that topic.
This is your individual critical task for the semester. In addition to submitting your paper here, you will submit this paper to Via as evidence of your acquisition of the Student Learning Outcomes embedded in this course.
Additional Details:
Papers should follow APA 7 Student Paper Setup Guide and use appropriate citations and references throughout.
Please submit your paper in MS Word.
Students are strongly encouraged to review the rubric for this submission carefully as part of your ongoing work to complete this task.
For additional information, please see the rubric.
***Additional Details***
Literature and Methodology Synthesis: Further Details
Descriiption:
Please select one of the topics covered over the course of the colloquium that is of particular
interest to you and write an analysis on the topic in which you synthesize and critically analyze
the empirical literature, discuss the primary theoretical and/or conceptual frameworks that
formed the base of the studies you have included in your analysis, and describe the primary
research designs and methodologies with which the studies were conducted. You will conclude
this analysis with a summary of the major findings and with insightful conclusions about what
the researchers have contributed to the body of knowledge on that topic.
As you have learned in previous coursework, synthesis and critical analysis of the empirical
literature is important to:
a. Understanding the parameters of the issue you are interested in investigating,
b. Being familiar with how the problem has been defined and studied by others,
c. Recognizing and categorizing common themes
d. Comparing and contrasting findings and conclusions drawn from these studies, and
e. Identifying the gap in the literature.
This assignment takes you another step by requiring you to be cognizant of the role of conceptual
frameworks and theories, as well as the types of research designs and methodologies that have
been employed in the area in which you are interested. The purpose is to direct you to the
importance of (a) theory and conceptual frameworks in directing the focus of empirical
investigations and (b) research design and methodology in creating a systematic approach to
collecting and analyzing data required to answer the research questions.
To accomplish this, first identify the theories and/or conceptual frameworks discussed in the
articles and why the researchers chose them for their studies. As you would with a topical
synthesis of the literature, look for commonalties and differences (i.e., compare and contrast).
What are the prevalent theories or conceptual frameworks and why? In what ways do the
researchers justify the adoption of a particular theory or conceptual frameworks and are there
similarities in those justifications? In three words, synthesize and critically analyze.
Follow the same process for identifying and comparing and contrasting research designs and
methodologies. Are there commonalities in the choice of research design and methodology and,
if so, why? Be aware of the justifications that researchers give for adopting them to guide their
data collection and analysis. Are there similarities in the justifications and why? Again,
synthesize and critically analyze.
The paper should be concluded with a discussion of the major findings and conclusion drawn
from the body of literature that addresses the topic you chose. Reflect insightfully on what these
studies have added to the knowledge on the topic.
Structuring the paper should not be difficult inasmuch as the assignment is straightforward, but a
suggested outline follows. Note that you are being asked to organize, analyze, and discuss in
ways similar to previous coursework. That is deliberate. Practice makes perfect.
Do not assume what are listed below are to be the headings. Those are decisions you need to
make. This is simply an organizing outline.
I. Title page
II. Introductory section
a. Describing the topic and why it was selected
b. Identifying sources of the literature and selection criteria (i.e. like the intro to a
Chapter II)
c. Explaining how the paper is organized
III. Synthesis and analysis of the literature using whatever organizational feature you deem
appropriate (e.g., themes)
IV. Synthesis and analysis of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks using whatever
organizational feature you deem appropriate
V. Synthesis and analysis of the research designs and methodologies using whatever
organizational feature you deem appropriate
VI. Summary using whatever organizational feature you deem appropriate to summarize the
major findings and conclusions
VII. References