Assignment Topic: Depression among Adolescents
A significant part of the Senior Seminar course is the Capstone Project. The Capstone Project involves writing a proposal. Your final proposal draft is worth 270 of 1000 points in the course, or about ¼ of your total grade. Refer to the Module 7 Final Capstone Grading Rubric at the end of the document for details. Each week in Modules 1-6, you will complete a Capstone Milestone to prepare for final submission in Module 7. In Module 8, you will create a PowerPoint presentation to summarize your proposal.
The Capstone Project will assess your understanding, synthesis, and mastery of the course and overall outcomes of the Baker College Psychology Program. For your Capstone Project, you will develop and create a proposal. You will choose between two roles in psychology: researcher or consultant. You will not do both projectsor blend the two projects in any way. This project is a proposalonly. Under no circumstances are students to actually conduct research or any type of pilot study.
In Module 1, you will write an essay comparing and contrasting the Researcher Role to the Consultant Role in psychology. You will then be ready to make an informed decision as to which type of proposal you plan to work on for the remainder of Senior Seminar.
Option 1: Researcher Proposal
As studied in Research Methods I and II, you may opt to assume the role of a research psychologist. In the researcher role, you will propose a research study to address an area of interest to you in psychology. You are not provided with a predetermined list of topics. In Senior Seminar, you are ready to select your own topic to explore. Select a topic that needs further study for increased understanding, presents research that could solve a problem, or follows up on published results addressing questions raised in a peer-reviewed journal article. It is common for researchers to include recommendations for further research at the end of their research articles. Looking at published research in your areas of interest will likely give you good ideas for your topic and research question.
OR
Option 2: Consultant Proposal
The other option for your Capstone Project is to assume the role of a consulting psychologist. In the consultant role, your proposal will generate a specific application of psychology in a particular setting. You are not provided with a predetermined list of topics. In Senior Seminar, you are ready to select your own topic to explore. For example, you may propose a program, a training series, a clinical intervention, or a community-based service. In this case, your problem is actually called a 'Need.' Where the research proposal is a road map for research to be conducted, the consultant proposal specifies a need and then proposes a solution that is supported by empirical evidence in psychology.
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module SIX
Discussion
After research has been completed, the discussion section of a report provides a discussion of the actual results. In a research proposal, the discussion section focuses on expected results and suggested future steps that psychologists may take in research and application. It then wraps up with a general conclusion to reiterate main points.
Expected Results
Given the findings of the literature review and the hypothesis posed by the researcher, this section projects the results that are likely once the study is conducted. The researcher speculates on the probable outcomes of the research. Will the results be consistent with the hypothesis? Or might they be contrary to the hypothesis? Sometimes results can be inconclusive - could this be a possibility? Remember that research studies elicit results that suggest, rather than prove.
In this section, be sure that to tie remarks and discussion to the previous sections of the proposal. This section serves the additional purposes of unifying the proposal and also tying it to possible future activity.
Consider how the proposed research may refine, revise, or extend existing understanding and knowledge in psychology. Look at this from substantive, theoretical, and/or methodological perspectives. Consider the implications of how the proposed study might affect scholarly research, theory, practice, educational interventions, curricula, counseling, and/or policy.
Suggested Future Research
Once the proposed study has been done, what are possible next steps in research? Let's say that a correlational study examined the relationship between unemployment and depression. The intention here would be a) to determine whether a relationship exists and b) to get a sense of the degree of relationship. A follow-up study might then research whether there is a causal relationship between unemployment and depression. A follow-up study might involve qualitative, in-depth interviews to further explore the relationship.
In this section, think ahead to the possible new questions that this study may rise. Might there also be questions that remain unanswered? Could there be any aspects of the topic that need clarification? Would it be significant to conduct this study with a different population? Asking questions like this will suggest future research studies to follow up on this proposed study. Suggest at least one and no more than three suggestions for future research in this section.
Suggested Future Application
Similar to suggesting future research, in this section the researcher speculates on potential applications that come out of the proposed research study. Let's take the example above that looks at unemployment and depression. If a study showed a positive correlation between unemployment and depression, this suggests that some prevention and intervention work could be helpful. Regardless of any causal relationship that may or may not exist, if there is a correlation, it seems likely that helping the unemployed prevent or treat depression would be useful, not only for their mental health but also in increasing their likelihood of them being able to present as strong job candidates.
Think about the types of applications (interventions, training or services) that may be prompted as a result of the proposed research. Consider who might use this information and how the results could be applied or used in real life settings. Suggest at least one and no more than three possible applications of the research results.
Conclusion
This will be the last section in the body of the proposal. This is the final summary that connects the identified problem to the literature review and proposed research, and then to the expected outcomes. Bring the reader to a logical conclusion of the proposed research and expected outcomes.
Abstract
Although it is the first section of the proposal and will go on the page directly after your title page, the abstract is the last section written. Until the proposal has been written, it is not possible to write a good abstract. The researcher succinctly provides a 'thumbnail sketch' of the entire proposal. APA recommends that the Abstract is 150-250 words. For this project, you will likely need closer to the 250 words to present a concise summary of the proposed research.
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module ONE
Topic Selection
How does a researcher select a topic? How does a researcher refine and focus the topic? Students often have a general idea for a topic because it is driven by their interests in an area of specialization. Often, students select a topic that is quite broad and needs to be refined and focused. Rarely, the topic is too narrow in scope and must be broadened. Unlike your previous Research Methods courses, you are not provided with a pre-approved list of topics (although they may serve as a source of inspiration). You are required in Senior Seminar to generate your own topic, which reflects your growth as an independent researcher.
Your PSY4910 instructor will work with you to ensure that your topic is sufficiently narrow and appropriate for psychological investigation. The more clarity and focus you have with your topic, the easier it will be to write a clear research question to focus your literature review.
To complete Milestone 1:
1) State that you have opted for the Researcher Role.
2) In 150-250 words, identify your research topic and reflect on why you selected it (e.g., personal curiosity or experience, alignment with projected career goals).For example, what sparked your interest? At this initial stage, what do you want to learn about your research topic? Is it general curiosity or somehow related to your career path? Are there any specific scholarly articles or other sources that inspired the selection of your topic? This is an important short essay, because if you find the right topic now, it will propel you through the remaining Milestones.
3) After identifying your research topic and discussing why you selected it, articulate a possible research question related to your topic. This research question may be refined later after you have worked on your problem statement and literature review.
4) Include at least two references to support your essay. Follow conventional APA format rules.
In Module 2, you will work on an annotated bibliography and reference list to set the foundation for your Problem Statement, Research Question and Hypothesis (Module 3), and your Literature Review (Module 4).
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module TWO
After you select a topic and have articulated your tentative research question (per instructor feedback), you are ready to starting working on your proposal. Research proposals usually begin with an Introduction that includes a Problem Statement, Research Question and Hypothesis, and Literature Review. Milestone 2 is designed to help you write these sections.
For expert researchers, the traditional procedure in generating a research proposal involves generating an idea, asking a research question, articulating a research hypothesis, and then writing a literature review. This procedure works well for seasoned researchers who are experts in their area of research. However, for novice researchers, how can they write a research question and hypothesis until they are somewhat familiar with the literature? What is the "problem" exactly? What is already known? What is a "gap" in the literature that can be addressed in the proposal? For novice researchers, it is best to first review the literature on a given topic to see what is already out there. Reading these articles sparks ideas that the novice researcher can use to generate his or her own Problem Statement and Literature Review.
Writing a good literature review for a research proposal takes a lot of time, and it is best to prepare in advance. One way to begin writing a literature review is to first conduct background research and create an annotated bibliography. This annotated bibliography helps you understand the main points of an article to include in a literature review. Think of your annotations as "building blocks" for the Problem Statement and Literature review.
Now that you have selected your Topic, you are ready to dive into the literature, find relevant articles, and analyze them. You will use the "PSY4910 Milestone 2 Annotated Bibliography Worksheet" to complete your work.
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module THREE
Problem Statement:
The first task of writing a research proposal is justifying the need for research. First, why is this research study necessary? What is the actual "problem" that needs to be addressed through research? You selected a topic back in Module 1, and the Problem Statement briefly covers why there is a need for research on that topic. Often, citing statistics is helpful to provide context, such as, "Depression affects more than 7 million Americans a year," or, "Fewer than half of American employees are satisfied with their jobs." The idea is that you start out by stating the "problem" that is being addressed in your proposal. This section justifies the remainder of the proposal.
The problem statement should be brief (i.e., about a page). You will get to the details in your Literature Review later. In order to provide a framework and context for your research, you will need to write a problem statement. Here is a good definition:
"A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study" (Creswell, 1994, p. 50)
For example, if you selected depression in young adult women as your topic, you would need to determine exactly what your research study will address. What problem are you hoping to resolve or address by conducting this research? Do you want to see whether culture is a variable? Would you like to look at the efficacy of a specific treatment for this population?
It is important in a proposal that the problem stand out-that the reader can easily recognize it. Sometimes, obscure and poorly formulated problems are masked in an extended discussion. In such cases, reviewers and/or committee members will have difficulty recognizing the problem.
- Present the problem within a context that you briefly explain. If necessary, include a discussion of the conceptual or theoretical framework and then clearly and succinctly identify and explain the problem within the framework of the theory or line of inquiry of the study.
- Use psychological and research terminology correctly and write at upper class college level. Yet, also use terms that are understandable to someone who may be unfamiliar with your specialization and interest area.
- These questions can help you in drafting and reviewing your Problem Statement:
o Why does this research need to be conducted?
o What might change as the result of this research?
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module FOUR
The Literature Review
"The review of the literature provides the background and context for the research problem. It should establish the need for the research and indicate that the writer is knowledgeable about the area" (Wiersma, 1995, p. 406). Here are some helpful links on writing a literature review:
- Tips for Writing the Literature Review
- Learn how to write a review of the literature
- How to Write a Literature Review in Psychology
The literature review sets the stage for the research that you are proposing. You will present an integrated review of recent psychological literature related to your topic and hypothesis. The literature review creates a framework that helps the reader to understand how your study will contribute to what is currently known about your topic and problem. You will need to include examples of similar studies and their findings. This section of your proposal also demonstrates that you as the researcher have a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Select and reference only the more appropriate citations. Make key points clearly and succinctly.
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module FIVE
Method
"The methods or procedures section is really the heart of the research proposal. The activities should be described with as much detail as possible, and the continuity between them should be apparent" (Wiersma, 1995, p. 409).
This section presents the 'how' and 'what' of the actual research study. This section describes the experiment or study that the researcher proposes in detail. It must be clear enough that another researcher could read this section and replicate the study. It is like a recipe in many ways. A well-written recipe can be followed by many people with the same results. A poorly written recipe generally results in inconsistent and poor results each time (ever heard of a 'recipe for disaster?').
Care must be taken to select a design that best fits the research question. Each step on the methodology must tie back to the hypothesis and research question. Some common approaches the researcher may use include, but are not limited to:
- Causal-comparison
- Correlational
- Experimental
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods
To test a research hypothesis, the researcher selects an approach and then describes the method in detail. Here are the important elements to cover in the Methods section of your Capstone, which are provided in the Template:
Sample: Describe the participants in the research including demographics of the participants and the total sample size. How will the participants be recruited?
Instruments: Describe any assessments, tests or surveys the researcher plan to use. Be sure to include the source of the instruments the researcher collect. It is essential that the researcher provide available psychometric data for the instrument(s) (previous studies and findings related to reliability, validity and norming). The efficacy of the instrument(s) and history of their use and application will reflect on the viability of the researcher's study. If the researcher creates an original survey (i.e., a semi-structured interview for a qualitative study), include sample interview questions and also how the researcher plans to pilot it. If the instrument(s) are publicly available, attach them in the Appendix of the proposal.
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module SEVEN
Submit the final version of your Capstone Project per instructor feedback on previous Milestones. Module seven allows you an additional week to revise/edit your proposal for final submission.
The body of the final draft should be 12-18 pages long (excluding the Title Page, Reference List, and Appendix pages) written according to the current APA style of writing. If you have followed the Template, your final paper is organized into the sections/headings below.
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Problem Statement
- Research Question and Hypothesis
- Literature Review
- Method
- Discussion
- References
- Appendix (if necessary)
PSY4910: Researcher Capstone Project Module EIGHT
In your final Capstone assignment, imagine you are asked to provide a PowerPoint presentation to Baker College psychology majors and instructors. Your task in this presentation is to provide your audience with an overview of your research proposal.
Using the PSY4910 PowerPoint Researcher template, address the following elements:
1) Title Slide
2) Preview Slide to preview main points
3) Problem Statement
4) Research Question and Hypothesis
5) Literature Review
6) Method
7) Discussion
8) References
For Slides 2-7, add Notes on the oral component of your presentation. That is, what would you say to the audience that accompany your brief and concise bullet points? You are required to audio record your Notes to accompany the slides.
PSY4910: Consultant Capstone Project Module ONE
How does a consultant select a topic? How does a consultant refine and focus the topic? Students often have a general idea for a topic, as it is driven by their interests in an area of specialization. Often, students select a topic that is quite broad and needs to be refined and focused. Rarely, the topic is too narrow in scope and must be broadened. Unlike your previous courses that involved proposal writing, you are not provided with a pre-approved list of topics (although they may serve as a source of inspiration). You are required in Senior Seminar to generate your own topic, which reflects your growth as an independent professional in training.
Your PSY4910 instructor will work with you to ensure that your topic is sufficiently narrow and appropriate for a program or intervention. The more clarity and focus you have with your topic, the easier it will be to focus your Statement of Need, Projected Outcomes, and Literature Review.
There are various methods for identifying an appropriate topic including mind mapping and reviewing the scholarly literature. Mind-mapping is a great way to help with both topic selection and then to help you in focusing the topic. Mind-mapping is a way to get your ideas flowing and to provide you with graphic prompts so that you can see the connections and relationships among your ideas. It is brainstorming for individuals. Here is a very good site with much information on mind mapping, including the background and theory behind it
Keep in mind that you do not have to generate a consultant topic from scratch. You should, at this initial stage of your proposal, be somewhat familiar with scholarly articles in your topic of interest. You may have a favorite scholarly article or two that inspires your own proposal. If not, spending some time generally perusing scholarly articles in your topic area can spark ideas on a research topic.
To complete Milestone 1:
1) State that you have opted for the Consultant Role.
2) In 150-250 words, identify your consultant topic and reflect on why you selected it (e.g., personal curiosity or experience, alignment with projected career goals). For example, what sparked your interest? At this initial stage, what do you want to learn about your consultant topic? Is it general curiosity or somehow related to your career path? Are there any specific scholarly articles or other sources that inspired the selection of your topic? This is an important short essay, because if you find the right topic now, it will propel you through the remaining Milestones.
3) After identifying your consultant topic and discussing why you selected it, articulate a possible guiding question (i.e., similar to a research question) related to your topic. This guiding question will help you focus on what your program or intervention will entail. An example might be, "How can my program assist (a specific population) with (a specific issue or problem)?"
4) Include at least two references to support your essay. Follow conventional APA format rules.
PSY4910: Consultant Capstone Project Module TWO
After you select a consultant topic and have articulated your guiding question (per instructor feedback), you are ready to starting working on your proposal. Consultant proposals usually begin with an Introduction that includes a Statement of Need, Projected Outcomes, and a Literature Review. Milestone 2 is designed to help you write these sections in later Milestone assignments.
For expert consultants, the traditional procedure in generating a consultant proposal involves identifying a problem (or Need) and writing a literature review to assist them in designing the best program to address that need. This procedure works well for seasoned consultants who are experts in their area of research and intervention. However, for novice consultants, how can they write a Statement of Need, Projected Outcomes, and Literature Review until they are somewhat familiar with the literature? What is the "problem" exactly? What is already known? Are there any preexisting programs/interventions reported in the literature, and what is the efficacy of those programs in addressing the problem? These questions are difficult to answer for novice consultants. So, it is best to first review the literature on a given topic to see what is already out there. Reading these articles sparks ideas that the novice consultant can use to generate his or her own intervention.
Writing a good literature review for a consultant proposal takes a lot of time, and it is best to prepare in advance. One way to begin writing a literature review is to first conduct background research and create an annotated bibliography. This annotated bibliography helps you understand the main points of an article to include in a literature review. Think of your annotations as "building blocks" for the Statement of Need and Literature review.
Note: Need only Researcher Capstone Project Module SIX
Attachment:- Researcher Capstone Project.rar