Introductionof assignment

This assignment is a group research project. Students who do not participate will get a zero

(0) score. Each group will create a topic for research. The topic chosen must be related to ‘Physical

Security.’

How to create your research topic

➢ Think of an idea

➢ Log into the school library and go to ProQuest or any other academic journal

➢ Type the idea as a topic in the search bar

➢ Examine the results and see which closely match what you would want to research

➢ Select the research that best fits your idea

➢ The selected study should not be more than five years old

➢ Read the abstract; this will provide you a better knowledge of

the

study

➢ Go to chapter five (Findings and Recommendations)

➢ Create your topic from one of the areas recommended for further research

The research project should be at least ten pages in length. Each section of the research project

has specific requirements. In this assignment, a paragraph is 4-6 sentences directed towards a

particular subtopic. Using the APA 6th Edition format, each group should provide the following

information about their research project. The group will then conduct a mock semi-research

project by doing the following:

The Assignment

➢ Research topic:
o Introduced and described to establish the main ideas and context of the proposed

research topic (Three (3) paragraphs with at least three (3) different citations)

Example:

The research topic is introduced and described to establish the main ideas and context of

the proposed study

➢ Provide an overview of the research project
o (Provide credible information from authors or practitioners who have conducted

research in this discipline or area and have recommended more research is

needed) (At least five (5) paragraphs at least 11 different in-text citations)

Example:

Over the past two decades, the [environment of your problem] has changed. While

………have improved,………….. aspects have not achieved the same level of expectations

(reference, 2013). Toward this end, research investigations have indicated [a shortage or gap in

the knowledge that is needed – what is this] (reference, 2013; reference, 2009). This lack of

……….. is creating……………., which must be improved to ……………. Therefore,

………….. research is needed to ………………(reference, 2013). Explain why is the topic of

current interest….Why is the research area of importance to practical concerns

➢ Provide the research methodology will be used
o Qualitative or Quantitative, and why?
o (At least two (2) paragraphs at least four (4) different citations)

➢ Provide a problem statement for the research project

o (At least two (2)

paragraphs at least six (6) different citations)

Example:

-Discusses the general issue/observation that in practice leads to the need for a study

-Citations are five years old or less from peer-reviewed literature or Government databases

The school library has a wealth of information

-Problem identified is a practical problem versus a theoretical problem

-Problem is directly connected to the course topic and concentrations

➢ Provide a purpose statement for the research project

o (At least two (2) paragraphs at least two (2) different citations)

Example:

Qualitative Methodology

• After establishing the statement of the problem, align the purpose statement with the

problem statement

• The purpose statement identifies the direction and goals of the proposed/accomplished

work

• The following content should be considered for inclusion in a purpose statement

• The strategy of inquiry

• The study’s method of conveying learning

• The central phenomenon of the study

• The participants in the study

• The site of the research

• The phenomenon or primary idea used to focus the study

• A tentative definition of the central phenomenon

Quantitative Methodology

• After establishing the statement of the problem, align the purpose statement with the
problem statement

• The purpose statement identifies the direction and goals of the proposed/accomplished

work
• The following content should be considered for inclusion in a purpose statement

– The study type description

– The study’s independent variable, dependent variable, and control variable

– Participants

– The geographical location of the study

– Definitions of the independent variable, dependent variable, and control variable

– Additional results the study may provide

– The intended users of the research results

➢ Provide a research question for the project

o -Questions are aligned with problem and purpose (i.e., research questions are the
problem stated as a question) Research questions are not answerable with a “Yes”

or “No” response

o (Qualitative research questions should start with the words such as what or
how…. quantitative should begin with is, are, or why) (At least two (2)

paragraphs at least six (6) different citations)
Example:

• Research questions are for the researcher only

• Research questions guide the researcher’s thinking to ensure the proper data are

collected, which answers the problem in the problem statement or fills the noted gap

• Qualitative research questions should start with the words what or how

– Creswell (2009) indicated these words indicate an openness and emergence of

design, which addresses the phenomenon of interest

– Your qualitative study will have one overarching research question

– Qualitative research questions are developed based on a central question

– Qualitative research questions do not have hypotheses

Qualitative Research Question example … If the problem sentence is …The problem to be

addressed in the proposed study is since 1980, more than 50% of small business start-ups fail in

the first 5 years because the leadership competencies for start-up IT managers have not been

established (Greene, 2012). Then the purpose sentence is … The purpose of the proposed

qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the leadership competencies for start-up IT

managers. Then the research question is …What are the leadership competencies for start-up IT

managers? Quantitative Research Question example…

Focus your research questions on the possible relationship (correlation) between/among

variables, only. Consider formatting your research questions as

To what extent, if any, does (independent variable) relate to (dependent variable)

for (participants) at (the research site)?

In addition, hypotheses are needed for quantitative questions

Hypothesis statement format

H10:

H1A:

• H10: IT flexibility is not correlated to IT effectiveness

• H1A: IT flexibility is correlated to IT effectiveness

Example

To what extent, if any, is there a significant influence of operational software types (independent

variable [IV]) on user satisfaction (dependent variable [DV]) within small manufacturing

businesses?

H10: A correlation does not exist between operational software types (IV) and

user

satisfaction (DV) within small manufacturing businesses

H1A: A correlation does exist between operational software types (IV) and user

satisfaction (DV) within small manufacturing businesses

➢ Hypotheses/Propositions
o You do not have both. Hypotheses are for quantitative research, and propositions

for qualitative research

o Three (3) paragraphs six (6) different citations
Example:

Quantitative:

– Rationale for the hypotheses is provided

– Both null and alternative hypotheses are provided

– Hypotheses are testable with each variable operationalized

– Phrasing of hypotheses reflects the nature of analysis (i.e., comparison, relationship, or

association)

Qualitative:

– Provide statements that direct the focus of the study

➢ Significance of the Study

o At least three (3) paragraphs at least six (6) different citations)

Example:

Present the following

– A global reason for conducting the study

– The study’s uniqueness

– The anticipated value or impact to the problem domain (i.e., what specifically to

management)

– Who specifically will benefit from the study’s results

• Academic field,

• Society,

• Profession,

• Community, or

• Population

————————————-

From the checklist… Suggest a paragraph for each of the bulleted items.

• Indicates a global reason for the study and its uniqueness

• Indicates the anticipated value or impact to the problem domain (i.e., what specifically to

management or computer science)

• Indicates who will benefit from the study’s results (i.e., the academic field, to society, to a

profession, to the community, and/or to a particular population)

➢ Definition of Terms

o 15 commonly used words with cited definitions

Example:
A need exists for a knowledge sharing vocabulary that establishes similar meaning and

enable common understanding

• Words defined in an unusual manner or have more than one definition need to be defined

• Terms must be unique and critical to the study

• Presented alphabetically

• Suggest the following format

Term: The term is . . . (reference, year).

Phrase of words: The phrase of words is . . . (reference, year).

• Discusses definitions representing key operational terms or words that are unique and/or

critical to reader understanding (i.e., defined in an unusual manner or have more than one

definition)

• Definitions are supported with citations while minimizing quotations

➢ General overview of the research method and design

o (At least three (3) paragraphs at least nine (9) different citations)

Example:

Writing for this section should address

o Brief statement of what a methodology establishes

o Indicate three methodologies exist

o Indicate which methodology is chosen and why

o Indicate why other two methodologies were not chosen

o Based on chosen methodology, indicate design options available

o Indicate which design is chosen and why

o Indicate why other design options were not chosen

o In summary for this section, indicate simply why chosen methodology and design is

appropriate for proposed study.

• Presents a synopsis of the research methodology and why the methodology is appropriate for

the study

• Identifies and generally describes research design and why the design is appropriate for the

study

• Identifies and generally describes research procedures (e.g., action research, long interviews)

• Places the study in context with similar studies

Conclusion