Homework 1
A concept map is a visual representation of topics, ideas, and relationships. A concept map can help the researcher organize a large topic into smaller and more manageable components and to develop an outline.
Identify a topic that you are interested in pursuing for your doctorate dissertation project. Conduct research in the NCU library to find at least 10 recent research sources (preferably published within the last 5 years) related to that topic, including one doctoral dissertation. Based on the collected materials, create a concept map to help you organize your literature review. You do not need to obtain special software to complete this homework; you can use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. You should aim to identify four to five themes. A theme reflects a collection of ideas, specific angles, or issues reflected in the literature. Note that if you identify many more themes, your topic may be too broad or diffuse, which means you may have to narrow it to something more specific. You may subdivide your main themes if there is support for such in the articles.
Then, create a Word document in which you translate your themes and subthemes from the concept map to an outline, using level 1 and 2 section headings, respectively. Add an introduction section in which you explain your topic and possible focus (1 paragraph), and write brief introductions (two to three sentences) to each of your level 1 and 2 sections that reflect expected content. Include in-text references to show your themes are rooted in the literature.
Length: 1-2 pages.
HOMEWORK 2
Using your outline from the previous homework, write a literature review in which you review research from at least three articles per level 1 topic (conduct additional research as needed. A good way to identify relevant literature is to look at the references used by others). You may choose to leave the level 2 topics blank, or "TBD", and focus on the level 1 themes in your outline.
Remember, the goal of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize what other researchers have written about the topic and related issues. As such, a literature review is a meaningful narrative consisting of sequential reviews of research findings, strung together by transitions that explain how articles support or deviate from each other (this is the synthesis part). This is usually done by comparing and contrasting findings, assumptions, theoretical foundations, or other aspects of the studies.
For each study you cover, summarize as many of the following elements as possible:
a) Purpose of study
b) Research method
c) Participants (mention the demographics, if applicable)
d) Theoretical or conceptual framework used
e) Key findings
f) Limitations and their implications (this will require you to read articles critically)
Each major section of your literature review (level 1 entries in your outline) should end with a gap analysis that draws on the limitations and explains what is still missing from the body of knowledge. This gap analysis will be used to 1) identify problems that can be addressed by more research, and 2) situate a new study in a larger research context.
Length: 5-7 pages.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.