ASSIGNMENT 4

Chapters I-III: Research Proposal

For this assignment, you will submit the final version of your 25-30-page research proposal. You will integrate additional edits, new conclusions, and smooth transitions into a proposal to create a cohesive document.

Note: Developing a research proposal requires specific steps that need to be executed in a sequence. The assignments in this course are presented in sequence and should be completed in sequence.

The elements of developing a proposal are overlapping and build upon each other. For example, after you complete a thorough review of the literature that applies to your research question, you might discover that a critical aspect of the literature review was left out. As a result you find that additional research and literature review is warranted. This is a normal process for any academic study.

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following assignment criteria:

• Determine the scientific merit of the professional literature.

o Evaluate the scientific merit of scholarly literature.

Apply theoretical and research findings from the discipline of psychology to professional and academic activities.

o Apply theoretical and research findings from the discipline of psychology to a research proposal.

Apply ethical principles and standards of psychology to academic and professional activities.

o Apply ethical principles and standards of psychology to a research proposal.

Apply appropriate understanding, respect, and response to individual differences and diversity in the practice of psychology.

o Integrate individual differences and diversity in a research proposal.

Communicate psychological concepts effectively using the professional standards of the discipline.

o Communicate psychological concepts effectively using the professional standards of the discipline.
o Present a complete formal research proposal in written form.

Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.

o Adhere to APA style and formatting guidelines; writing is concise and well organized.

Throughout this course, you have demonstrated your integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills, and professional attributes that you have gained and developed throughout your specialization or program of study. This transformative experience will continue to be very important for your professional growth and development as you move forward in your specialization and area of practice.

Basic Components of a Research Proposal

• Chapter I: Statement of the problem (based on scientific merit).

• Chapter II: Literature review (historical account of the problem and variables intended for measurement should be covered).

• Chapter III: Methodology (research design and explanation of how you will execute the study in a step-by-step manner, like a recipe).

• To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

• What is the structure of a well-formed research paper?
• What claim(s) are you making?
• What is the hard evidence that your problem exists, and how does the problem affect other people or things?
• Will what you suggest really solve the problem? Have you uncovered all the best solutions?
• What could be an unintended impact to your subjects as a result of your research?
• Who are your favorite authors on your research topic? Who do you disagree with? Why?

Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assignments in this course and are not required. American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• Cone, J., & Foster, S. (2006). Dissertations and theses from start to finish (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Gelfand, H., & Walker, C. J. (2010). Mastering APA style: Student's workbook and training guide (6th ed.). Washington, DC. American Psychological Association.

• Leedy, P., &Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Practical research: Planning and design (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Assignment Instructions

Note: The assignments in this course build upon one another; therefore, you must complete them in the order in which they are presented, beginning with Assignment.

For this assignment, integrate additional edits, new conclusions, and smooth transitions into a proposal to create a cohesive document. Your proposal can be assembled from your work in previous assignments with the additional edits, new conclusions, and smooth transitions added where appropriate.

Your proposal should comprise the following three chapters:

• Chapter I: Statement of the problem (based on scientific merit).

• Chapter II: Literature review. (A historical account of the problem and variables intended for measurement should be covered in this chapter.)

• Chapter III: Methodology. (This is your research design and explanation of how you will execute the study in a step-by-step manner, like a recipe.)

Additional Requirements

• Your proposal should be a complete paper that consists of the title page, abstract page, table of contents, the text of the paper (three chapters), and a list of references.

• The text of the proposal should be approximately 25-30 pages in length (not including title page, table of contents, and list of references).

• You should adhere to APA form and style, including using Times New Roman, 12-point font.

• The proposal should be carefully edited for spelling, grammar, and sentence structure errors.

• This proposal should be formatted as a Microsoft Word document.