Soc 2206a/b Research Assignment
Guidelines (10% of Mark)
General Instructions:
The research paper, due in class on Thursday April 1, will consist of three parts: (A) a statement of your research question or problem along with variables and possible hypotheses to be tested; (B) a simple model of your hypothetical research; and (C) an annotated bibliography relevant to your problem. In essence, this assignment represents the first stage in putting together a proposal for a "hypothetical" future survey research project in which you would describe a problem, do research relating to that problem, write a literature review, and then go on to do actual data collection using a survey.
In submitting the assignment, it should be handed in personally in class: "faxed" or "e-mail" copies will not be accepted. The assignment must be typed (12 point font), double-spaced, on 8.5 x 11 paper, and stapled with a cover page indicating your name and student number (no plastic covers or binders).
The assignment should be approximately 3 – 4 pages in length. Late assignments will be penalized at 2%/day.
Part A. The Research Problem, Variables
and Hypotheses:
In a paragraph or two, outline your proposed research problem. Discuss also why you believe this problem is worth studying and what contribution it might make to existing knowledge. A sample research problem is shown below. At the end of your description, identify, briefly describe, and suggest a simple survey question for a dependent variable that represents one of the main concepts in your problem and for three independent variables that might affect that dependent variable. Remember, these should be variables that could actually be measured rather than abstract concepts. For instance, the concept of "schooling" could be measured by the variable "years of education" and the survey question that could be asked of the respondent would be "How many years of education do you have? _____ ". State three research hypotheses that you could investigate to "solve" your problem.
Part B. The Model
Combine all four of your variables into a simple but feasible model using the modelling examples shown in class. Indicate the direction of the relationships and if applicable, whether you expect the relationship to be positive or negative. Show also where you think the independent variables might be associated with one another on this model. There is a link to the models shown in class below the assignment guidelines.
Part C. The Annotated Bibliography:
An annotated bibliography is a detailed list of
citations for books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a
brief (usually about 100-150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph called
the annotation. To do this step, find citations to books, periodicals,
and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic.
Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that
provide a variety of perspectives on your topic. Your annotated bibliography
will consist of your 5 most important or useful references that you have
found relevant to your research problem that represent various examples of the
type of research you have found on your topic. Write your bibliographic entry
according to the ASA style guide (see Neuman
A note on plagiarism: "Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence" (see Scholastic Offences in the Western Academic Calendar).
SAMPLE RESEARCH PROBLEM
adapted from http://edf5481-01.fa01.fsu.edu/SampleResearchProblems.html, Jan. 21, 2002
Body Image and
Exercise
Despite the acknowledged physiological and psychological benefits of regular exercise, researchers consistently reveal a pattern of declining involvement in physical activities. Given that physical activities generally take place in a social context, it seems reasonable that concerns of a person’s body image and perceived physical fitness would have strong influences on his or her exercise participation. Body image is defined as “the subjective evaluation of one’s own body and the associated feelings and attitudes” (Huddy, Johnson & Nieman, 1993, p. 851). Perceived physical fitness (PPF) is defined as “A set of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity” (Caspersen, Christenon, & Powell, 1985 p. 129). The degree to which people are satisfied with their body image and physical fitness will have deep implications for their self-perceptions and behaviors. Bain, Chaikind, and Wilson (1989), for example, reported that many overweight women, who participated in exercise programs, preferred an exercise program constructed only for obese people of similar physical fitness. That is why it is important to understand the effect of both body image and PPF on people’s exercise behaviors. Through this investigation, this study’s findings will provide some psychological understandings and guidelines for exercise programs administrators and promoters when designing physical activity program.
Therefore, the purpose of this study will be to examine the effect body image and PPF might have on college students’ preferences for different exercise settings. Those exercise settings include exercising with people with physically fit and exercising with people of similar body shapes. In addition, this study will examine the relationship between both body image PPF and peoples’ preferences of different types of physical fitness activities.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Body image. Perceived physical fitness (PPF)
DEPENDENT VARIABLE: Exercise behavior.
Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses will be tested through this study:
1. Body image will be significant predictor of one’s preference for exercising with people physically fit.
2. Perceived physical fitness will be a significant predictor of one’s preference to exercise with people of similar body shape.
LINK TO MODEL EXAMPLE
LINK TO ASA STYLE GUIDE at UWO library: http://www.lib.uwo.ca/files/styleguides/ASA.pdf