Purpose: students will be required to submit their research proposal as a final product of this course. Through this assignment, student will demonstrate that they will be able to:
Select a researchable topic and develop problem statements and research question and hypothesis.
Explain the use of critical thinking skills in the examination of beliefs, assumptions and generalizations when conducting social work research.
Understand the research fundamentals and research designs to develop scientific inquiry as a producer of social work research and employ evidence-based interventions as a consumer of social work research.
Explain how ethnic-based research is linked to African American culture and behavior.
Please, see the following guideline and complete your research proposal.
CHAPTER I
Problem Statement
General Problem identifies the need for the study. Provide current statistics and research to support that the problem is real and exists NOW.
General population group or sample who are affected by this problem are identified.
Specific “Problem” in the given context will be proposed for your research.
The background information needs to be included. It indicates the root of the problem being studied, its scope, and the extent to which previous studies have successfully investigated the problem, noting, in particular, where gaps exist that your study attempts to address. To narrow down and develop your inquiry to a research question, students are required to search and read the related scholarly writings.
Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of the study and specific study questions that you plan to investigate through this study
specific research question and hypotheses for each specific question
The central focus of the study
CHAPTER II
Literature review
After identifying the problems and research questions, you should investigate the literature thoroughly about the issue and synthesize the findings from various studies.
Choose at least two study issues (e.g., Independent Variable and Dependent Variable) and synthesize relevant study findings about the issues using scholarly articles.
Per each study issue, you need to include at least 5 scholarly articles.
Provide explanations in depth rather than statistics alone.
Afrocentric Perspective
Description of Afrocentric Perspective (definition, core values, tenets, etc.)
Application of Afrocentric Perspective to the selected research topic
How can we define the problem differently?
What strategic plan may be needed to recruit and retain more African American participant for your study given the characteristics of African American culture?
Given your target population (e.g., African American), if the problems are viewed from their own perspective, how the social reality can be interpreted differently?
What cultural values (or beliefs) and historical context should be considered in your research design and interpretation of the findings? Why?
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Introduction:
Social work research is an important component of evidence-based practice, as it provides the foundation for the development and implementation of effective social interventions. This research proposal aims to investigate the problem of racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors contributing to these disparities, and to identify evidence-based interventions that can help address them. The following chapters provide a detailed overview of the study, including the problem statement, purpose of the study, research questions and hypotheses, literature review, and application of the Afrocentric perspective.
Chapter I: Problem Statement
General Problem:
Racial disparities in mental health outcomes are a significant problem in the United States, particularly among African American youth. Despite advances in mental health care, African American youth continue to experience higher rates of mental health problems, lower rates of access to care, and poorer outcomes than their white counterparts. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), African American youth are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than white youth. They are also less likely to receive mental health services and are more likely to drop out of treatment prematurely.
Population Group:
The population group that is affected by this problem is African American youth between the ages of 12 and 18.
Specific Problem:
The specific problem that will be investigated in this study is the factors contributing to racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth. The study will aim to identify the risk and protective factors that contribute to these disparities, as well as evidence-based interventions that can help address them.
Background Information:
The problem of racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth has been studied extensively in the literature. However, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to these disparities. Previous studies have identified a range of risk and protective factors, including poverty, discrimination, lack of access to mental health care, and cultural factors such as stigma and mistrust of the healthcare system. However, there is still a need for more research to identify the most salient risk and protective factors, and to develop effective interventions to address them.
Purpose of the Study:
The general purpose of this study is to investigate the factors contributing to racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth. The specific study questions that will be investigated through this study are:
What are the risk and protective factors that contribute to racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth?
What evidence-based interventions are effective in addressing these disparities?
How can we ensure that these interventions are culturally appropriate and effective for African American youth?
Research Questions and Hypotheses:
Research Question 1: What are the risk and protective factors that contribute to racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth?
Hypothesis 1: African American youth who experience poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to mental health care are more likely to experience mental health problems than their white counterparts.
Research Question 2: What evidence-based interventions are effective in addressing these disparities?
Hypothesis 2: Evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and family therapy are effective in reducing mental health disparities among African American youth.
Research Question 3: How can we ensure that these interventions are culturally appropriate and effective for African American youth?
Hypothesis 3: Culturally adapted interventions that incorporate Afrocentric values and beliefs are more effective in addressing mental health disparities among African American youth than standard interventions.
Central Focus of the Study:
The central focus of this study is to explore the factors contributing to racial disparities in mental health outcomes among African American youth, and to identify evidence-based interventions that can help address these disparities. The study will also aim to ensure that these interventions are culturally appropriate
