In your paper, please follow closely the guidelines set forth in the 7th edition of the
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. When typing your
proposal, use third person, impersonal tense. Avoid using repetitious concept/language/
terminology. For example, the words “I,” “the author,’ or “this project,” appearing more
than twice in a page is not acceptable. There will always be overlapping sections and
words; therefore, it is imperative that you word the overlapping concepts/terms/
repetitions differently when you repeat them.
PAPER 1(PART I): Problem Statement/Introduction Section (EPAS 2.1.6).
The following discussions must be included in this section: (Grade = 12.5%)
Introduction. 1. Give a background statement regarding the problem you want
to explore; 2. address your interest-why you become interested in this
problem; and 3. how your research topic may contribute to advance
knowledge, practice or policy considerations to the social work profession. 4.
What is your research question? (1.5% of total grade).
Background. Provide brief current statistical data (include numbers, percents,
or ratios) concerning prevalence, antecedent, incidence, and other pertaining
information that support your interest. Government documents tend to be
very useful for this section. DO NOT overlap this section with the Literature
Review Section, which means the background here in Paper 1 is the recent
history in the last 2-5 years whereas in the literature review Paper 2 section,
the background is distant history (100+ years). (3% of total grade).
Rationale/Reason. A. Present several assumptions regarding your study. The
following are examples of assumptions: Assumption 1: This study includes
female only respondents, which then excludes males and the potential
differences between the two groups. Assumption 2: The study sample is
primarily or only from rural or only from urban areas; therefore both rural and
urban areas are not equally represented in the study. Or another similar
methodological assumption might be around quantitative versus qualitative
studies specifying that quantitative studies lack in-depth meaning and can only
describe phenomena. Assumption 3: This is an English speaking only study.
Non-English speakers may not be able to participate since study documents
are not translated into other languages; therefore, this study is likely to have a
higher proportion of Caucasian and English speaking only respondents.
Assumption 4: Child welfare workers are mostly women (over 80%) trained
in the social work profession. This sub-section on assumptions is short but
precise. B. Then state your goal(s) and objective(s) of your study here. State at
least (1) one goal and (2) one objective of the study here. The goal of the
study is a statement that describes or is a description of the main intent of the
study. In other words, what is the purpose of the study? The objective is a
statement or statements of a measure of something that is required to achieve
the purpose (the goal) of your study. The objective is a measure of some
progress that is required to achieve or to get to the purpose/destination/end
point of the study. C. Write the significance of your proposal to the profession
of social work. In other words, why should the social work profession be
involved or work with the social problem you selected? Provide one of the
principles from the Code of Ethics and a recent reference to the Code of
Ethics from NASW (3% of total grade).
2
Theoretical framework. 1. Identify the name of the theory that you want to
use as a guide. Describe the theory you select for your project, including the
components mentioned and use one or more references of those who
originally created and developed the theory. For example, if using Systems
Theory, then describe the theory at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. 2.
Then write a sub-section entitled: “Application of Theory (NAME THE
THEORY),” pose your main research question here in the form of a question.
A. In other words, what is your research question? B. Then, use the
components or parts of the theory(s) to apply to your research question.
Sometimes, only one component or part of the theory applies to your research
question. It is acceptable to have only a partial theory application and the
reason authors may use a second theory to fill or explain another part of the
research question not fully addressed by the first theory. Use the theory(s)
you have selected and describe how it applies or guides your research
question. Keep in mind that I am only requiring and even suggesting that you
use only one theory even if it doesn’t apply very well to your research
question because I would rather you learn how to describe and apply one
theory well than describe and apply two or more theories poorly (5% of total
grade).
Suggested page length: 5 pages
Submit PAPER 1 (PART I) under assignments in Canvas for Paper 1. Only one
paper per group is submitted by one group member representing the entire group.
Please do not submit more than one paper per group. Put all the names of each
group member on top of the page for each group.
PAPER 2: PARTS II-V (Grade = 12.5%)
Submit a revised version of Part (Paper) 1 on Canvas under Assignment for Paper 1
if correcting areas from my feedback for revised grade. Submit the Final Draft
Parts II-V (Paper 2) on Canvas under Assignment for Paper 2.
Paper 1 of the assignment needs to be submitted under Paper 1 Assignment in
Canvas, if your group made changes since you first submitted. The person in the
group who submitted Paper 1 needs to be the same person to submit again the
revised Paper 1 to be consistent with the rubric under Paper 1.
PAPER 2 (PART II): Literature Review Section (EPAS 2.1.6). (Grade = 4%).
Your literature review should include at least 10 sources that are primarily research and
synthesis articles that are relevant to your topic. DO NOT do a book report here. What
you need to do is to state who conducted the research (the reference such as: Jones, 2024;
Smith & Franklin, 2021) and what was/were found that is relevant to your research aims