BENCHMARK RESEARCH PROPOSAL PAPER TEMPLATE
Literature Review(No more than 2 pages)
The purpose of the literature review is to make a compelling case for the study (i.e. the research topic/question that you are proposing). Each assertion must be supported by a citation.
The literature review must be no more than 2 pages and must include at least 5 citations and references from peer-reviewed literature in current APA format (you will/can use the source identified in your annotated bibliography). 3 out of the 5 citations must be published within the last 5 years.
Conclusions from peer-reviewed articles must be provided to make a compelling case for the significance of the problem. In addition, relevance to the counseling field must be established, and the literature review must include an articulation of how the proposed study fills a gap in the peer-reviewed literature. You will need to demonstrate scholarly writing skills, paraphrasing the literature with no quotations. The literature review portion of your research proposal must explain the following:
• What is the problem statement (gap identified in the literature) this research addresses? This must be stated clearly, using citations to tell the narrative.
• What is the purpose of the research proposal (how this study fills the gap)? This must be stated clearly.
• What is (are) the research question(s)?
• Why is this research question important?
• How will this research investigation contribute to the field of counseling?
Methodology
The methods section of the proposal is a description of what will be done to conduct the study.
Population and Sampling
This section is used to discuss the population that will be studied, and how a sample will be obtained from that population.
• Describe the population to be studied (attributes, diagnoses, demographics, etc.).
• How will you recruit participants?
• What sampling method will be used?
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria for becoming a participant (screening).
• Briefing of participants.
• What was the setting for the research (i.e. classroom, counseling agency, etc.)?
• Any other procedures or processes related to obtaining a sample
Instrumentation
The assessment instruments that will be used to measure the variable(s) of interest in the proposed study must be described in detail (for example, if you are measuring depression symptoms, you can use the Beck Depression Inventory-II). In addition, the reliability and validity of each assessment instrument must be included, as well as support from the peer-reviewed literature for using the proposed assessment instruments with your population of choice.
Note: You cannot make up your own assessment instrument for this assignment.
The proposed study must have at least 1 assessment instrument, but no more than 2. This portion of the paper addresses the following:
• What kind of reliability has been established for each instrument (test re-test? Split-half? Etc.)? (hint: go to the original article and you can find the psychometric properties there)
• What kind of validity has been established for each instrument?
• How does peer-reviewed literature support this instrument?
• What is the rationale for your selection of this instrument, based on the peer-reviewed literature?
• Are there any important cultural considerations in selecting the instrument?
Hint: The Jerry Falwell Library includes a database called The Mental Measurements Yearbook. This is a good source for learning what instruments are available at no charge, and to find details about the assessment instrument.
Procedures
The procedures describe the details of how the study itself will be conducted and what participants will experience. This section will be based on the design of the research study.
• Describe and name the design of the proposed study (single case design, between groups design, pre-test/post, test design, etc.).
• What variables will be measured? Keep consistent with the assessments discussed above.
• When will data be collected?
Analysis
The analysis section discusses how the data will be collected during the proposed study and how that data will be analyzed.
• What statistical test will be used for analysis?
• What is the rationale for using this statistical test for analysis?
• How will the results of the analysis be used to evaluate the hypotheses?
Integration
(No more than 1 page)
Conclude your paper with a one paragraph section discussing the implications that this study could have upon the counseling field and integrate a biblical perspective in light of these implications.
• Identify one biblical principle/scripture that can be seen in the development of this proposal
• Using at least one scholarly source, discuss how the implications of this research study furthers that biblical principle (for example, a proposal that discusses Hope Focused Marriage Counseling provides a framework for the biblical principle of forgiveness and therefore brings healing to the relationship; or a proposal that discusses cost-effective treatment for lower-income Latino families furthers the biblical principle of Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.