Research Paper Each student will identify a public health issue with human rights implications, consider what evidence is needed to advance our understanding of that issue and develop a research proposal to generate that evidence. Students are encouraged to raise new questions and tackle issues for which a solution may not yet be articulated. Students are also encouraged to work in small groups on a common research question but to develop independent feasible research projects. This project can be: an evaluation of the impact of a policy/program/intervention and its health/human rights implications; or, an assessment of the health impact of the abrogation of a human right. A written paper of 3200 to 4000 words (about 8-10 pages) (1.5 spacing, 12 point only) of your own original work is due Wednesday November 15 . The paper must be uploaded to Canvas. Students will present their project orally to the class during one of the final 2 class sessions. Papers should include the following 3 components with drafts due throughout the course: A. PREAMBLE and SPECIFIC AIMS: A one page description of the public health problem, including the health burden and gap in scientific understanding along with Specific Aims. Specific Aims due Sept 20 at 10a uploaded to Canvas. Preamble and revised Specific Aims due October 4 at 10a. B. LITERATURE REVIEW and BACKGROUND: An explanation of how the problem can be framed in the context of human rights and in specific relationship to one of the international human rights instruments AND, a background of the relevant literature and population data that elucidates the problem and provides the scientific premise for the proposed research question. Due Oct 25 at 10a uploaded to Canvas. C. RESEARCH METHODS/APPROACH: A research proposal that addresses your scientific question and the gap in knowledge. Students are encouraged to set up a meeting with me to discuss study design. FINAL PRODUCT INCLUDES Revision of A and B, and new part C. Due November 29 at 10a uploaded to Canvas. Use of AI for the Research Paper: Any use of AI to produce any aspects of the Research Paper must be disclosed. Failure to disclose use of AI will constitute an academic integrity violation. Ultimately, you are responsible for the content of your paper so it is critical that you understand how AI works and ensure the accuracy of any product you submit.
