This assignment is designed to give students an opportunity to identify a social

This assignment is designed to give students an opportunity to identify a social problem and create a research project to address this social problem.  The research project will be written in the form of a research proposal. Thus, students will not be actually conducting the research project, but it may lay the foundation for future use.  It may lead to a project that each of you can possibly implement in your internship or after graduation in your first professional position.
Each student will identify a problem of concern to society that social workers might address using their person-in-environment/biopsychosocial disciplinary competencies. Once you have identified the “problem area,” (the gap in knowledge that needs filling) you will choose a topic that you might want to examine in preparation for a research proposal that you will put together over the semester. The assignment will be comprised of several assignments including worksheets that you will complete during the semester and will hone with the feedback from the professor. Then, you will formulate either a question or hypothesis for study and outline all of the methods required to reach a conclusion as to that question/hypothesis. The final culmination of the portfolio assignment will be a paper which ties all the assignments together into one cogent whole. The following is the final paper format.
Introduction: (No more than one-half of a page) (0.5 points)
Background of the Social Problem and Client Population (Between 1 ½ -2):
Discuss the prevalence and magnitude of the problem (e.g., the number and demographic characteristics of the people affected, the prevalence, and the impact) (e.g., social, economic, psychological effects).
Discuss the significance of the problem (i.e., the importance of the problem or the consequences if problem persists). For this section you may use credible government and other internet sources in addition to peer-reviewed articles. (2 points)
Literature Review: (3-4 pages)
Search the literature for 10 articles that pertain to your chosen social problem.
Begin your review with a purpose statement.
Review the literature by theme as opposed to author by author.
Describe the various themes that you found in your review.
End with a summary statement (3 points)
Research Question(s)/ Hypothesis: (1/2 page)
State your problem statement- the aim of your proposal given your previously articulated literature review.
State your research questions. What are you trying to discover in your study?
State your hypothesis(es).
Your variables of interest should be clearly articulated in this section. What are the independent and dependent variables? If you are doing a qualitative study, what are the variables you will focus on in your study? (1 point)
Defining, Operationalizing Variables & Measurement of variables: (1 page)
Give a formal definition for each variable.
Give an operational definition for each variable.
How will you measure each variable? What measurement instrument(s) will you use?
(2 points)
Sampling: Note:  Be sure to review Chapter 11)
(1-2pages)
What is the best sampling strategy for your proposed study? Probability or nonprobability sampling? Why? Give the rationale for your decision,
What are the limitations of your chosen sampling method?
How will you recruit participants for your study? From where? How will you specifically go about this in detail. What is the size of your proposed sample?
What are your inclusion and exclusion criteria for recruitment of participants? What ethical issues are involved in your sampling decision? (2 points)
Research Design: (1 page)
What research design would fit best with the purpose you describe? Why? Be specific.
Describe the type of research design you will be proposing.
Discuss your rationale for that selection. Include here statement of advantages and disadvantages of the design you are proposing.
Discuss threats to Internal and External Validity if applicable. (2 points)
Data Collection: (Between 1⅟2 -2 pages)
Describe the data-collection method(s) you will employ.
Describe the information you want to obtain.
Describe the instrument(s) you will use to collect data.
Describe any ethical considerations that need to be taken into account when collecting data.
What efforts you will make to protect confidential information collected in your study?
List and reference (on reference page) all standardized instruments you propose to use.
If you are developing an interview guide, list at least 8 fully articulated questions or items (including response options if closed) to be included.
(2 points)
Conclusion: (no more than one-half of a page)
Conclude your paper by briefly restating the importance of your topic due to gaps in the research literature, your proposal’s objective and importance to the social work knowledge base and possible benefits to potential people suffering from your chosen social problem.
(0.5 points)
APA Format: Paper adheres to APA citation rules All information that does originate from your brain must be appropriately cited in text. Your paper must have a Reference page. Additionally, every citation in your paper MUST be referenced on your reference page. Deductions will be made if not. (3 points)
Grammar: Paper has no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Word choices are appropriate for upper-level course. (2 points)
Further Portfolio Assignment Instructions:
Students must review no less than 10 peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles.
No more than 5 direct quotations are allowed in this paper. No Block Quotes are allowed.
The paper should contain all the components listed in assignment guidelines.
It is strongly recommended to use the outline or subheadings to organize your paper.
Paper should adhere to the page numbers assigned to each section.
If applicable, appendices should be submitted together with section they belong (sample survey questions, instrument used, etc.)
Paper must follow APA style.
Introduction
(0.5 points)
Introduction provides insights and thorough background
Introduction provides good background to the rest of the paper.
Introduction provides limited and basic background
Poor or no introduction
Background of Social Problem and Client Population
(2 points)
Identifies the extent or size of the problem using appropriate statistics and other information to support argument.
Identifies the extent or size of the problem but limited discussion or information to make magnitude self-evident to reader
Although some statistics and other information were giving, they were too broad, or the discussion fails to establish the magnitude of the issue/problem
Magnitude of issue poorly articulated or omitted
Literature Review
(3 points)
Review well organized; demonstrates logical sequencing and structure. Organized by theme. Multiple articles integrated
Review presents good organization but some lack of logic in sequencing or structure. Loosely organized by theme.
Review demonstrates weak organization with lack of logic in sequencing and structure. Rarely organized by theme
Little to no evident organization, sequencing, or structure. Not organized by themes
Research Question or Hypothesis(es)
(1 Points)
Excellent description of Research questions and/or Hypothesis(es)
Good description of Research questions and/or Hypothesis(es)
Weak description of Research questions and/or Hypothesis(es)/. Descriptions need more clarity.
Research questions and/or Hypothesis(es) were not described or poorly described
Defining, Operationalizing Variables and Measurement of variables
(2 points)
Provided excellent description of the variables and measurement of the variables pertinent to the study.
Provided good description of the variables and measurement of the variables pertinent to the study but needed some details
Provided weak description of the variables and measurement of the variables pertinent to the study. Some discussion of the variables and measurement of the variables; however, needed some clarification.
Description of the variables and measurement of the variables pertinent to the study was poorly discussed.
Sampling
(2 points)
Provided excellent discussion of the sampling strategy, limitations of method, recruitment of participants and inclusion and exclusion criteria for recruitment.
Provided good discussion of the sampling strategy, limitations of method, recruitment of participants and inclusion and exclusion criteria for recruitment. But some details were omitted.
Provided weak discussion of the sampling strategy, limitations of method, recruitment of participants and inclusion and exclusion criteria for recruitment. Description best described as average and multiple issues were not covered
Poor discussion of the sampling strategy, limitations of method, recruitment of participants and inclusion and exclusion criteria for recruitment. Lacks details and is difficult to understand.
Research Design
(2 Points)
Provided excellent discussion of all elements required for research design
Provided good discussion of all elements required for research design but needed some details
Provided weak discussion of all elements required for research design. Description best described as average and multiple issues were not covered
Provided poor discussion of all elements required for research design. Lacks details and is difficult to understand.
Data Collection
(2 points)
Provided excellent discussion of all elements required for data collection.
Provided good discussion of all elements required for data collection. However more detail was needed.
Provided weak discussion of all elements required for data collection. Multiple issues were not covered regarding data collection.
Provided poor discussion of all elements required for data collection section. Lacks details and is difficult to understand.
Conclusion
(0.5 points)
Conclusion clearly articulated all the main points of the paper and future studies.
Conclusion did not include all the main points of the paper
Conclusion included irrelevant information
No conclusion or was poorly articulated
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics, and Spelling
(2 points)
Paper has no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Word choices were appropriate for upper-level course.
Paper had minor errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Word choices were usually appropriate for upper-level course.
Paper has numerous errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Word choices were not always appropriate for upper-level course.
Numerous errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling hinder comprehension.
APA Style
(3 points)
Paper had few or no errors APA infractions
Paper had minor APA infractions
Paper has numerous APA infractions
Paper did not follow APA style or had numerous infractions