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HCS204 Research Skills Guide: Assessment Item 2

What are you being asked to do?

Imagine that you are a Human Services/Social Worker or a student in Human Services/Social Work. You want to conduct a piece of research in an area of need/interest related to Human Services/ Social Work. In order to conduct the research, you need to put up a research proposal that clearly outlines the research problem, literature review, the aims of your research, the significance of your research, the methodology (research paradigm, research methods, research instrument, sampling, recruitment strategy, data analysis) and the proposed plan( timeline and budget).

Assignments must be well-researched and referenced according to APA7 guidelines.

Helpful steps in completing this assessment task:

  • Read, understand, and follow the steps in the research process in chapter 4, and get further information about developing your research proposal in chapter 19 of your textbook (Alston & Bowles, 2018).
  • Pay particular attention to defining your research question.
  • Follow the research proposal template available on the subject site.
  • Give a brief outline of the timeline and an itemised budget for the study.

Remember this is a proposal only; you are not required to conduct the research.

Check your Subject Outline for all assessment details. 

Where should you start?

Tip: You will find this assignment easier if you separate it into chunks!

The first assignment has provided you with a foundational knowledge of research methods that you can use to help you decide what sort of methodology you might employ to address your research problem.

 

Identify an area of need or interest
  • HCS204 subject learning modules and readings are a good place to start brainstorming your research topic. Look through the readings in your Readings and resources list in the left menu of your subject site. 
  • Newspapers, television and other media may offer ideas for topical issues in Social Work/Human Services and can be found using Video and News & Current Affairs database collections
  • Government or association websites could assist you in finding a topic.

 

Resources for your literature review
  • Books and ebooks will give you an overview, introduction, and/or background to your topic. You can find these using Primo Search.
  • Journal articles offer you the latest research and ideas on your topic, and examine aspects of your topic in very specific detail. You can find these in Journal Databases, Google Scholar, and Primo Search.
  • Websites can be used to locate reports and documents from government, academic, or professional organisations.

 

Resources to assist you in choosing a methodology
  • Books and ebooks will provide you with some broad information about research methods in the social sciences and are a good place to start. You can find these using Primo Search, but note that SAGE Research Methods Online (SRMO) also contains many ebooks in this area.
  • SAGE Research Methods Online (SRMO) contains a comprehensive suite of information about research methods including ebooks, articles, case studies, and dictionary and encyclopaedia entries. I strongly recommend taking a look this resource, particularly the Project Planner.
  • Websites can be used for general background on research methods, but may not provide appropriately scholarly material for your assessment. 

What is a literature review?

A literature review is a concise summary of the research that has been done on a particular topic. The emphasis is on integration and interpretation of primary research articles.The purpose of a literature review is to paint a picture of the field's collective knowledge and research on a specific topic while highlighting where further research may need to be conducted.

In general, when starting a literature review you will need to do the following:

  • define and write down your research question - what is it that you are going to research?
  • identify key words, terms and phrases - concept/mind maps can help tease out themes and keywords
  • identify synonyms
  • determine a timeframe from your research, if needed
  • consider what type of material you will include and why
  • identify where you will search for the information

See our Library Guide on Literature Reviews for additional information. Reviewing the SOC101 Research Skills Guide may also be helpful when completing this part of your assessment task.

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