Methodology Paper
Purpose: To assess the synthesis of key course concepts and the ability to design and implement a statistical analysis plan.
From the CSP Handbook:
Chapter III should include a detailed description of the proposed research methods and procedures, in essence, the design of the study. It should be sufficiently explanatory and detailed to enable other researchers to read the proposal, and by referring to it alone, conduct the same research that the student proposes to undertake. This is known as "replication." As such, Chapter III must not be an abstract description, but a complete step-by-step account of what will be done, in what order, how, and by whom. Whether the study will be quantitative, qualitative, or a combination should be clearly stated.
The following sections must be included in the methods chapter. Any additional sections needed to appropriately describe issues associated with the research operations (i.e., transcripts from focus group interviews) can be included as an appendix.
Remember that the Methodology Paper, which will form the basis of Chapter 3, should build logically on the Background and Significance (Chapter 1) as well as the exhaustive literature review (Chapter 2). Please carefully review the CSP Handbook for detailed descriptions of each of the following required sections as well as the APA Handbook for formatting and content tips. Your paper should be structured as follows:
I. Title Page: Your title should be an empirical title (as discussed at immersion) (APA 2.01 and 2.02).
II. Abstract: Your abstract should be a "brief, comprehensive summary" of the paper (APA 2.04).
III. Overview: A brief introduction to the chapter (APA 2.05). Briefly introduce the problem and summarize the significance.
IV. Purpose Statement: Clear and concise explanation of the purpose of your clinical scholarly project. Remember that your purpose should use empirical language and address measurable outcomes. Your research question(s) should be clearly and empirically stated (APA 2.05).
V. Data
a. Population: This should describe the population addressed in your research question (APA 2.06).
b. Sample: Describe the subset (sample) of the population of interest, the sample size, and the extent to which results can be generalized (APA 2.06). Also include subject recruitment if appropriate. A mock APA table of descriptive statistics must be included and referenced in the narrative (APA 5.10).
c. Instrumentation: Describe the process or rationale used to select or design the data collection process if appropriate (APA 2.06)
d. Data Collection: Describe the process of data collection in detail (APA 2.06).
e. Variables: Describe, in detail, each of the variables you will be using (APA 2.06).
f. Research design: Describe the design of the study (pre/post, treatment/control, quasi-experimental, etc.). If appropriate, describe the intervention used (APA 2.06).
VI. Results
a. Analysis: Describe the analysis of the data, the methods used, issues of missing or abnormal data, and the results (APA 2.07). A mock APA table of results must be included and referenced in the narrative (APA 5.10).
VII. Discussion
a. Conclusions: Clearly explain your findings and make an explicit statement of support or nonsupport for your research question(s). If you had no significant findings, provide explanations. Clearly explain both the statistical and clinical significance of your study (APA 2.08).
b. Limitations: Explain the limitations of the study, address alternate explanations, sources of bias, and external validity of your findings (APA 2.08).
c. Significance and Implications: Present a "reasoned and justifiable commentary on the importance of your findings" (APA 2.08).
VIII. References
IX. Tables and Figures