Assignment Task
The discussion forums will be on the following topics:
· Funnelling down your initial research idea into a specific research question
· Developing your ethical standpoint & ethical considerations of your proposed research idea
· Positioning yourself and others – who is the researcher and who are the ‘researched’?
· Reflecting upon your identity as a social work researcher – how have your values, worldview, and lived experiences influenced your research design?
Understanding of key concepts & application to research proposal Shows some knowledge of the topic but needs to improve level of detail and/or application to the research proposal
Shows good knowledge of the topic and applies this to your research proposal and/or the proposals of your peers Shows strong knowledge of the topic and very good ability to apply this to your research proposal and the proposals of your peers
Shows comprehensive knowledge of the topic and exemplary ability to apply this to your research proposal and the proposals of your peers
Analysis and justification Does not include adequate analysis and/or justification of ideas Describes/explains the topic with adequate justification but needs to include multiple perspectives to increase depth Considers multiple perspectives and shows very good justification of ideas Integrates multiple perspectives, forms connections between ideas, and shows comprehensive justification
Self-reflection No demonstration of self-reflection of, values, worldview, lived experience etc. Demonstrates some attempt at self-reflection, but does not demonstrate a new awareness of personal values, worldview, lived experiences, preconceptions and/or assumptions Demonstrates ability to question your own values, worldview, lived experiences, preconceptions and/or assumptions but does not show how this will change future thinking
Demonstrates ability to question your own values, worldview, lived experiences, preconceptions and/or assumptions and define new modes of thinking as a result
Clarity of expression Language is unclear and confusing throughout. Concepts are explained inaccurately. No citations are given where they are necessary. There are frequent errors in spelling, grammar, clarity and/or citations that impact on the clarity of your explanation and written expression. The language and concepts are expressed well, but there are minor errors in spelling, grammar, clarity, and/or citations.
The language is clear and expressive. Abstract concepts are explained accurately. Explanation of concepts makes sense to an uninformed reader. Citations accurately given, if relevant.
Contribution to the learning community Does not adequately participate in the learning community Respectfully contributes to the learning community by responding and validating ideas Respectfully engages in learning community by responding to peers, validating their ideas, and stimulating further discussion Thoughtfully engages in discussions with peers to provoke further exploration of ideas
TOTAL = /25
Assignment 2 – Literature Review
Literature Review – task description & marking guide
Literature review
Due date: 15 August 2021
Word length: 2000 words
Referencing style: APA 7th
In this course you will work towards developing your own research proposal for a research study of your own design. One of the first steps in developing a research proposal is to assess the existing research and literature on this topic. Therefore, your first assessment task is to complete a literature review of your initial research idea.
The function of the literature review is to critically analyse the available literature relating to your area of study/research focus and then develop a clear statement of the problem that needs further investigation. When applicable, consider including the following information:
• The philosophical or ideological issues relating to the topic
• The major theories pertaining to the topic
• The main issues or problems in this area of study
• The main findings relating to the topic
• Gaps in existing studies
• Where your own research fits within the broader literature
You should conclude with a clear statement of the research problem that needs further investigation.
Note that these questions are a general guide to what information you should include in your literature review. Not all these questions will necessarily be applicable to the sources you are reviewing.
Note too that you are required to write your literature review in paragraph form: do not use these questions as subtitles. It is, nonetheless, a good idea to extract themes from the literature and use these as subtitles.
You will be marked following these criteria:
Fail
0 – 49 Pass
50 – 59 Credit
60 – 69 Distinction
70 – 79 High distinction
80 – 100
Suitability of the sources and justification of how they relate to the research topic
(20%) Sources are not suited to the research topic and have not been adequately described, or linked back to the research topic. Low level research
skills, relying on non-academic
sources (e.g.
extensive use of Wikipedia and web-based opinion pieces). Demonstrates basic research skills, relying on a few academic sources. Sources are largely appropriate for the topic. Preliminary reflection on the applicability of the sources to the research topic has been provided.
Demonstrates intermediate research skills, with mostly suitable academic sources. Sources have been linked back to the research topic, but further justification would improve the response.
Demonstrates effective research skills, with entirely suitable academic sources. Sources have been linked back to the research topic, but there are some gaps in terms of justification.
Excellent research skills, with entirely suitable academic sources. Each source has been explicitly linked back to the research topic.
Depth of analysis
(20%) Review is entirely descriptive and no analysis is present. Largely descriptive and does not include multiple perspectives. Some preliminary analysis is present, but the response is largely descriptive and further analysis is required. Demonstrates effective analysis skills and analysis is of appropriate depth. Demonstrates excellent depth of analysis.
Synthesis of ideas
(20%) Lacks summary or any synthesis of the information, leaving each article as a standalone piece and/or misinterprets the information and makes statements unsupported by the literature. Summarizes the overall picture obtained from the literature review but needs extend this to consider & further justify the gaps and/or limitations and/or where your research may fit. Summarizes the overall picture obtained from the literature review and discusses the gaps and limitations. Basic understanding of where own research may fit. Further support and justification is necessary. Synthesises the literature and includes an analysis of gaps and/or limitations of the research. Shows an understanding of where own research could fit within the existing literature. Shows insightful synthesis of the literature, including analysis of gaps in and/or limitations of the research. Shows a strong understanding of where own research fits within existing literature.
Clarity of writing
(20%) Pervasive errors with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Response is lacking in clarity and does not adhere to the conventions of academic writing. Issues with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and general clarity of the response. A preliminary understanding of the conventions of academic writing is present but undeveloped. A few issues with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Presents moderate level of writing skills. An obvious attempt at formal academic expression is present. There is room for improvement in terms of the clarity of the response. Indicates a recognition of academic register in writing, with minimal issues with spelling, punctuation and grammar. The response is largely clear. Presents advanced skills in academic writing. Little to no issues with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Presents a high level of skill in articulating and presenting ideas/issues in a clear and concise way.
Logical sequencing of ideas
(10%)
Structure is not satisfactory. Ideas do not flow logically and transitions are unclear. Structure of review is satisfactory but could be ordered more logically or flow could be improved. Good structure and ideas are ordered logically. Continue to work on transitions between ideas. Well-structured and ideas flow logically. Excellent flow of ideas in a logical manner. Well structured.
Referencing
(10%) Non-adherence to prescribed referencing style. Largely adheres to the prescribed referencing style, but there are pervasive citation and referencing errors. General adherence to prescribed referencing style. Near perfect adherence to prescribed referencing style. Perfect adherence to prescribed referencing style.
Assignment 3 – Research Proposal
Research proposal – task description & marking guide
Research proposal
Due date: 13 September 2021
Word length: 2500 words
Marks allocated: 45% of your overall mark for the course
Referencing style: APA 7th
Students are required to write a research proposal that consists of the following sections:
1. Title
2. Introduction/background
3. Research question/s
4. Research aims/purpose
5. Concepts/variables
6. Methodology (including standpoint, theoretical framework & methods)
7. Ethical considerations
8. Reference list
Title
The title of the research proposal should sum up the focus of the research in a clear and succinct way. Try to keep it simple and precise: titles should “convey as much information as possible in as few words as possible” (Punch, 2000, p. 69).
Introduction/background
After stating the title of the research project, your proposal needs to begin with an introduction that provides a concise overview of the research that is being undertaken as well as some background information on the research.
Research question/s
This section should articulate the main focus of the research topic in the form of questions (Natalier, 2013, p. 26). Research questions need to incorporate the key ideas that the research seeks to address as well as the key concepts underpinning the research (Natalier, 2013, p. 26). Depending on your research topic, you may be required to formulate one research question or a series of research questions.
Research aims/purpose
Your research proposal should provide an overview of the aims of the research. Your aims should explain the reasons and motivations as to why you are undertaking your research as well as what you are hoping to achieve (Natalier, 2013, p. 28). How may your research contribute to social work practice or knowledge, or to the lives of people or communities?
Concepts
Students will also be required to break down and define the key concepts in their research. For example, if your research question is “Is smoking during pregnancy more common among teenage than older mothers?”, you will need to define the concepts of ‘smoking’, ‘pregnancy’, ‘teenage mothers’, and ‘older mothers’ (Natalier, 2013, p. 39).
As well as defining concepts, students will also be required to consider any variables pertaining to these concepts.
Methodology
A research methodology is comprised of the researchers’ standpoint, theoretical framework, and research method/s (Walter, 2013, p. 10). Accordingly, this section of your research proposal should address the following:
Standpoint
In writing your methodology, it is important to take into account your standpoint as a researcher. A standpoint is “[t]he way we see the world and our position within it in relation to others and society” (Walter, 2013, p. 11). Our lived experiences and personal identity impact how we approach our research. For example, female researchers will have a different worldview than male researchers and Indigenous researchers will have a different standpoint to non-Indigenous researchers (Walter, 2013, p. 11).
Theoretical framework
The second element of a methodology is an overview of the theoretical framework that the research will be utilising. A theoretical framework is a “theoretical map” that determines how you will conceptualise, analyse and interpret the data to answer your research questions (Walter, 2013, p. 16). For example, you might choose to conceptualise your research through a functionalist, interpretivist, feminist, postmodernist, or Marxist lens.
Method/s
Your methodology also needs to discuss the proposed method/s that will be utilised for your research and how these methods will be used. Research methods, as Walter (2013) explains, refer to “technique[s] for gathering information, such as an interview, questionnaire, or documentary analysis” (p. 10).
Research methods can be either quantitative (statistical) or qualitative (interpretative). For research focused on “what?” and “how many?” questions, a quantitative method will be of most use (Ezzy, 2013, p. 55). Research questions that are centered on questions of meaning will benefit from a qualitative method (Ezzy, 2013, p. 56). You might find that a mixed method approach might be beneficial if your research consists of a combination of these kinds of questions.
Ethical considerations
In this section, you will be required to outline the ethical implications of your research and how you intend on dealing with them. For example, if you are conducting interviews with vulnerable people, you will need to consider the potential for psychological harm and how you plan on addressing this as a researcher.
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