Overview
Research Project
The final paper will include an introduction, literature review, data and methods, findings, conclusion and reference section. Please use my handout “Format of Most Sociological Papers” for specific information that is required to be included in each
Below, I have provided a check list to be sure that you have included the most important elements of each section.
INTRODUCTION
What is the research question and why is it important?
Introduce your key variables.
LITERATURE REVIEW
(Each student must find and include at least 1 peer-reviewed article to support their research)
(Do not call this section “Literature Review”. Instead, name it something about the relationship between your variables. Look at other articles for examples).
What is the research topic?
Why is it important?
Do you propose an hypothesis? If so, state it.
Each student is required to find (and include) at least 1 applicable scientific article in this section. (Remember to cite it in the body of the essay (Last name year), and in the REFERENCE section using ASA format:
A literature review should try to answer questions such as
Who are the key researchers on this topic?
What has been the focus of the research efforts so far and what is the current status?
How have certain studies built on prior studies? Where are the connections? Are there new interpretations of the research?
Have there been any controversies or debate about the research? Is there consensus? Are there any contradictions?
Which areas have been identified as needing further research? Have any pathways been suggested?
How will your topic uniquely contribute to this body of knowledge?
Which methodologies have researchers used and which appear to be the most productive?
What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful to you?
How does your particular topic fit into the larger context of what has already been done?
How has the research that has already been done help frame your current investigation?
DATA
I will pick Sex as my X and measure it as Male and Female. I will pick 2023. The 2023 unemployment for men is 3.8 and the rate for women is 3.5.
Define measures and unit of analysis
The data are drawn from the insert the data source agency that I will attach below. They include information from the year/s insert the years of your data. They include the population/sample of insert the group being surveyed and include n=insert the number of cases in the study insert the unit of analysis here – people, nations, schools, etc.. These data are particularly useful for the analysis because they include measures of insert your measures here. The data are not perfect as they do not consider insert any draw backs or limitations here. Despite this limitation, they do consider the key measures of this study.
{Choose population or sample. If your data include all people (like all college students) write "population"; if your data are a sample, write the word "sample." Choose year OR years - if your study is a snapshot of 1 year, use "year"; if it spans multiple years use "years."}
EXAMPLE The data are drawn from the Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. They include information from the year 2017-2018. They include the population of all high school students in Los Angeles Unified School District (N=170,093). These data are particularly useful for the analysis because they include measures of race and gender and graduation rates. The data are not perfect as they do not consider students who have dropped out prior to 9th grade. Despite this limitation, they do consider the key measures of this study.
METHODS
Describe how will you conduct your study.
The study will measure the effect of insert your independent variable here on insert your dependent variable here. It will compare insert the units of analysis here by insert race, class or gender here, specifically by considering how insert your measures here pattern the outcome of interest.
EXAMPLE
The study will measure the effect of sex on unemployment. It will compare male and female unemployment
FINDINGS
Describe what you found. Does it support your hypothesis? Rejected? Theory holds? Refuted?
Each analysis MUST have at least one graphic representation of the findings (table or figure).
CONCLUSION
Synthesize your research with existing knowledge.