The purpose of our research assignment this term will be DIFFERENT than what you are used to.  In a science or social science context, a research paper can have several different purposes, and so we have to narrow our choice.  In this case, since we do not have time to actually perform an experiment to prove our PICO question, the research paper will be focused on setting up an experiment’s viability—your job in this paper is to prove that the PICO question that you are proposing has some viability. This may cause you to change the focus slightly as you will not be doing general research.

For the purposes of this assignment, we will be primarily focusing in depth on the sections of an APA manuscript INTRODUCTION, found on pages 27-28 of the APA Manual, and some reference to research design and results (page 36—bulleted questions).  What your focus will be is to convince a group of scholars to provide the necessary funding for you to perform the research that you want to do, no matter the focus of the research. You are proving that a problem exists or that a historical or humanities-based conundrum exists that merits monetary support.

For the first draft, we will be focusing on the body of the paper—I am less worried about those aspects of APA manuscript style such as the running head, cover page, and abstract.  We will add those to the final draft (and this format will be part of your grade).  Instead, you will be setting up your paper in the following sections:

• Introduction—the introduction should open your paper with some statistics or anecdotes on the gravity of your topic, which might include a well-researched case study or examples from today as to why your dilemma is important. Then transition to the final question being your PICO question converted to a statement form.
• Background—You are going to want to provide a paragraph or two (sometimes more) on the background of your TOPIC (not your PICO question—for example, I might talk about the Yellow Warbler in Oregon using appropriate professional background sources, or find appropriate definitions of psychopathy out of the DSM-V, or a definition of Diabetes Type II out of the MErch Manual Professional Version). Talk about what your reader needs to know about your topic. For most topics, this might include statistics on how much of the population is effected by these in the US or world or some definable area (defining an area NARROWLY is a good idea).
• Literature Review—sites with instructions have been provided. Minimum 8 scholarly sources, as noted previous, 10-12 optimal. What you need to do is “divide and classify” your research studies into small groups, no more than 3, no less than one, and organize around these classifications. Use topic sentences and summary skills to guide your reader through these.
• Analysis of problem—Subheadings using each PICO letter or each part of the experimental set-up (see assignment 3.1 related to psychology textbook—Here you present research that shows the viability of the question. Some sources will be used here and in the literature review. Here also GVRL sources may be used, as in the background, and you might need to look at some discussions.
• Statement of Hypotheses and Justification—Here you close the paper, discussing why your PICO question ought to be studies and perhaps including a proposed research design with discussion of hoped-for results. DO NOT END THE PAPER WITH SUMMARY—end the paper with what you hope your outcome will be and how it will help the world, people or beings in it, or solve some sort of dilemma or present some new finding.

Please note that nowhere in this paper do you put any personal viewpoint, unresearched opinion, or emotional appeal (pathos).  The discussion in setting this up is wholly based on logos (logic) and ethos (ethical considerations).

All of this will fit into an essay that should be 3000-3500 words long.

Category: Uncategorized