Research

Research Topic: “Examining the Impact of Economic Interventions on the Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Among Impoverished Adults in the United States: A Longitudinal Study”

Rationale: This research topic captures the essential elements of your study, including the focus on economic interventions such as money, housing, and other essentials, adults in the United States, and the outcomes you are interested in reducing the prevalence of mental health disorders. The term

“Longitudinal Study” suggests that you will collect data over time to assess these interventions’ long-term effects.

Possible Research Questions:

1. What is the current prevalence of mental health disorders among impoverished adults in the United States?
2. How do economic interventions like financial assistance, housing support, and provision of other essentials affect the mental health of impoverished adults?
3. Is there a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of mental health disorders following the implementation of these economic interventions?
4. What are the specific mental health disorders most affected by economic interventions?

Research Proposal Format

1. Introduction and Problem Statement (what are you going to do?) [2-3 pages]

• Background (history of the problem)
• A brief statement of the problem
• Significance of the study

1. Review of Literature [2-3 pages]

• A brief review of current published works with a direct bearing on the problem.
• Review any “classic” studies related to the problem
• Establish if reviewed findings are consistent or disagree with each other and explain
• Summary

1. Research Questions and Hypothesis [1-2 pages]

• State two or three general research questions
• State two research hypotheses
• State independent and dependent variables
• Define variables and concepts

1. Research Methodology [2-3 pages]

• Type of research design and why it is needed
  • How will you structure the collection of data for your study?; What is the study design? i.e., experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental, survey research, qualitative, quantitative, cross-sectional, longitudinal, etc. Justify why you chose that research design and the strengths of your design. Is the design appropriate to the purpose of the study? If doing a program evaluation, describe the program and its objectives.
• Population and sample
  • What is the population you want to generalize to?
    What is your sampling frame for that population?
    What is your sampling method? (i.e., probability/non-probability.. be specific with the sampling technique)
    How will you identify and get access to the subjects for your study?
    How many subjects do you anticipate having?
    What do they look like demographically?
    Are you representing diverse groups?
• Plan of data collection
• Development of the Questionnaire:
  • What items will be included?
  • Existing instruments: Reliability & Validity
• Plan of data analysis
  • What variables do you include in your study? (If the study is explanatory and sets up a hypothesis, what are the independent and dependent variables?)
    How is each of the variables operationalized?
    You must provide the surveys, measures, etc., you will use.
    Is there evidence of triangulation?
    Discuss evidence for the reliability and validity of your instruments.
• Procedure
  • How will you get consent/assent and recruit subjects?
    What data will you collect? 
    [Be sure that the data you collect measures your variables and that the variables you choose to measure will help answer your question.]
    Provide copies of the instruments (surveys, questionnaires, interview/focus group guides, data tracking log, etc.]
    Who will you collect the data from? How will you collect the data? Who will collect the data? Where? When?
    Please provide a complete description of the details of the data collection so that it can be replicated.
• Extra points/Bonus (optional section)
  • Discussion Section (1-2 pages) <= ONLY this section is optional. NOT the ones below.
    • A brief paragraph summarizes your study, the purpose, and the design.
      Ethics: how are human rights protected?
      Limitations section: cover the threats to internal and external validity.
      Strengths section: what makes your study worth doing? This should include implications for practice and social and economic justice.
• Limitations of the study