I. Research question conceptualization a. State your research question b. Please conceptualize the variables present in the research question (remember to cite the sources of this information using APA in-text citation rules). c. What is the epistemology of this research question? II. A brief statement naming and describing the research problem a. What is the problem? b. What are two to three components of this problem? c. Who are the people and communities that are affected by this problem? d. Why is it a problem that this particular group of people is experiencing this problem? e. What makes this a social work problem? f. What do you want to know about this problem? III. A brief background placing the importance of the research problem in the context of social work service delivery. What is the history of this problem? How has this problem (or ones similar to it) been addressed in the past? Will greater research into this problem area will benefit social workers, social work clients or social work policy? If so, please explain how. IV. Theory a. What is the relationship between the variables in the research question? b. Is there a theory that helps to explain this relationship? If so, please explain how this theory interprets how they are or are not related. V. Preliminary Methodology Restate the research question. Identify the type of research question it is. If there are independent and dependent variables, what are they? If there are not any dependent or independent variables, please discuss why. What is the ontology of this research question? What form of data collection will you use to access what it is that you want to know? Please explain why. Sources Note: This is where any sources about data collection will be incorporated VI. Random Family What are two (2) ways that Random Family has informed your thinking about social work research?
