Assignment:
Introduction
After having decided on a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approach and after conducting a preliminary literature review and deciding on a format for a proposal, the next step in the process is to design or plan the study. A process of organizing and writing out ideas begins, starting with designing an introduction to a proposal. This chapter discusses the composition and writing of a scholarly introduction and examines the differences in writing an introduction for these three different types of designs. Then the discussion turns to the five components of writing a good introduction:
(a) establishing the problem leading to the study,
(b) reviewing the literature about the problem,
(c) identifying deficiencies in the literature about the problem,
(d) targeting an audience and noting the significance of the problem for this audience, and
(e) identifying the purpose of the proposed study.
These components comprise a social science deficiency model of writing an introduction, because a major component of the introduction is to set forth the deficiencies in past research. To illustrate this model, a complete introduction in a published research study is presented and analyzed.
Discussion
Research Design: Abstract/Introduction, Purpose, and Questions/Hypotheses
The abstract/introduction and purpose statement are important elements of a research study in that they advise the readers of your scholarly work what you intend to share with them, as well as the importance and context of your work. Similarly, the importance of a good research question or hypothesis cannot be overstated. It is integral to a research study and ensures the researcher is focused on a measurable target for the success of the research results. It also ensures that the research objective is clearly defined and that the target is specifically measureable.
In your initial post, address the following:
• Critique the following abstract based on the five elements of an abstract as covered by the text. What elements are present, and what elements are missing?
"Across the world, people are required, or want, to work until an increasingly old age. But how might prospective employers view job applicants who have skills and qualities that they associate with older adults? This article draws on social role theory, age stereotypes and research on hiring biases, and reports three studies using age-diverse North American participants. These studies reveal that: (1) positive older age stereotype characteristics are viewed less favorably as criteria for job hire, (2) even when the job role is low-status, a younger stereotype profile tends to be preferred, and (3) an older stereotype profile is only considered hirable when the role is explicitly cast as subordinate to that of a candidate with a younger age profile. Implications for age-positive selection procedures and ways to reduce the impact of implicit age biases are discussed. (Abrams, Swift, & Drury, 2016, p. 105)."
• Describe the elements that constitute a good qualitative purpose statement.
• Describe the elements of a good quantitative purpose statement.
• Discuss the rationale for using a mixed methods approach.
• Explain how research questions and/or a hypothesis work in conjunction with the purpose statement.
Your initial post should be at least 650 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.