Research Methods Term Paper (Research Design a.k.a. DETAIL, PRECISION, CLARITY)

For your term paper, you will create a research design in any area of social science research of your choosing. The design will consist of the following required elements:

Introduction: 1-2 paragraphs: A standard introduction explaining the basic purpose/thesis of your paper.

Literature: Literature Review: 2-3 pages, using 4-5 RECENT SCHOLARLY QUANTITATIVE sources.

Either using the internet or the library, locate 4-5 recent scholarly or academic books or journal articles that conduct quantitative research of their own relating to the issue you hope to study. In your literature review, in about one paragraph each, briefly describe and summarize the QUANTITATIVE research AND findings of EACH of those scholars (for purposes of this paper, do NOT criticize the research). What did they study, and what did they find as a result? Provide proper citations in your discussions, with a full list of bibliographic references at the end of your paper (unless you use footnotes). Then, in the final paragraph of your literature review, describe the literature GAP that you found: in other words, explain what none of your discussed authors did, but that you in fact plan to do in this research, and thus what new thing you hope to contribute to human knowledge (for example, knowledge about a new independent variable, a new dependent variable, a different group, a different location, a different time, etc.).

Theory/Model: Conceptual model with theoretical justification/explanations; 6-10 independent variables, 2-4 pages

Your "conceptual model" part of your research design explains what independent variables and dependent variable you are studying in your overall model (the concepts you are using, not the actual names of your variables). For purpose of this research design, limit yourself to a single model with a single dependent variable (more than one model is overly ambitious for this paper). Clearly explain the "theory" that justifies your research: in other words, you must explain specifically how and why you believe EACH of your independent variables influences or causes your dependent variable, and the SPECIFIC nature of that influence—e.g. positive or negative, and WHY you believe this relationship exists. Typically this is done using one paragraph for each independent variable.

Methods: Hypotheses, Unit of Analysis, N, Dep. and Indep. Vars., Operationalizations, Data Sources, Feasibility Issues, and Model Equation (3-5 pages)

First you will state EACH of your SPECIFIC hypotheses (the specific relationship you expect to find between EACH of your independent variables and your dependent variable) and then how you will specifically measure each of these hypotheses to find out whether they are accurate or not. (Note that scholars usually list only the hypotheses for their primary independent variable(s) and not their control variables; however, for purpose of this assignment, you need to write the full hypothesis for ALL your independent variables to help you develop the skill). Thus, you must describe in SPECIFIC detail your unit of analysis, your sample size, the operationalizations of EACH your variables (including variable names, labels, and values). Finally, you must explain exactly where and how you are going to get the measurements (data) for each of your variables (--e.g. opinion surveys, government statistics, databases created by other authors, content analysis of documents, etc.) For the purpose of this assignment, assume you have an UNLIMITED budget and staff, and UNLIMITED access to the data—in other words, feasibility of actually conducting your research is not necessary for the purpose of this assignment. However, in a paragraph, discuss the feasibility issues of actually conducting this research and obtaining this data in the real world. Finally, your "model equation" is simply the complete equation of your dependent and all your independent variables using the variable names. Be specific about what statistical test(s) you plan to use. ***Remember that CLARITY in the details of HOW your research is PRECISELY conducted is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, because your explanation should be detailed enough so that ANY other researcher can conduct EXACTLY the same research following your “recipe” for the research, without EVER needing ANY further explanation or clarification from you. That is, any other researcher should be able to identically replicate your research by following your research design.

References: 1-2 pages

Provide either footnotes with full citations OR standard citations with a reference section at the end of your paper. Be sure to provide the FULL bibliographic citations in proper format for each of the authors’ works discussed or otherwise cited as support in your research design. Remember that quoting without quotation marks is plagiarism, and paraphrasing or referencing an assertion made in another author’s work without citation to the source of your assertion is also plagiarism. Thus, if in any doubt, CITE IT.

Appendix (if needed): (1-3 pages)

If you want to include survey questions or other material that is necessary to clarify any of your research design, but that you feel is more appropriate to put in an appendix rather than the body of your paper, then include that information here. (For example, scholars who use opinion surveys typically include the actual survey questions in an appendix.)

Thus, your total research design will consist of roughly about 10-15 pages, double-spaced, using standard margins and font size. Be sure to include page numbers. The page limit is NOT so important, because instead what is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL is that you are CRYSTAL CLEAR in ALL THE SPECIFIC AND PRECISE DETAILS of your research design. Again, your research design should be a recipe that ANY other social science scholar could implement without ever needing to ask you for ANY clarification about how to do the research. As an option (it is NOT required), you may work with a single partner and turn in a single copy of the paper with both of your names listed on the paper, for a single grade. You also may turn in multiple rough drafts at any time, as long as they are either a substantial first effort, or substantial improvement over an earlier draft. Final due date is listed on the syllabus.