SOC -480
The final Research Proposal assignment for this course contains multiple parts that are due at different intervals in the course, with the final assignment due in Topic 8. Access and read the “Research Proposal Assignment Criteria” to understand each section of the assignment.
It is essential for social workers to be able to evaluate an existing program within a community in order to develop a proposal for an effective project/program that fills the needs of a community. Remember, you are looking for a gap in services provided and a project/program solution as to how your proposal will fill that gap.
Access and complete the “Program Evaluation Checklist and Essay” worksheet.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the
LopesWrite Technical Support articles
for assistance.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
This assignment is due by the end of Topic 3.
Benchmark Information
This assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:
Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an Emphasis in Social Work
4.3: Perform a system’s evaluation for both a client and an agency.
SOC-480: Program Evaluation Essay Checklist
It is essential for social workers to be able to evaluate an existing program within a community in order to develop a proposal for an effective project/program that fills the needs of a community. Remember, you are looking for a gap in services provided and a project/program solution as to how your proposal will fill that gap.
This assignment will help you learn this skill.
Read chapter eleven in the textbook and use Step 2 of the
SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework
to guide you in evaluating the agency or program you select.
Select a local agency/program that addresses your selected social issue. View the agency/program’s website and call or visit the agency/program and use the checklist below to interview the manager:
Name of agency/program you contacted:
What is the mission statement/vision the program/agency?
What theory (theories) is the program based on?
Describe the target population of the program.
What are the stated goals and objectives of the program? How does the agency/program measure the current program outcomes according to the program’s existing evaluation practices?
What are the data collection procedures? (Surveys, questionnaires, etc.) Explain if these procedures have been effective or not.
What are the data analysis strategies that they use? Explain if these strategies have been effective or not.
Who are the community stakeholders involved in the program?
List some of the resources available to which clients (the target population) are referred:
Are there any gaps in services/resources? If so, briefly explain how your proposed project/program can fill those gaps. If there are no gaps, propose some ways to raise stakeholder awareness. (50-75 words):
If there are no obvious gaps in resources/services provided, explain how your proposed program/project could still reinforce or complement what this agency/program is doing to address the selected social issue (75-100 words):
Describe the personnel structure of the program. Describe the leadership involved. What are the degrees required?
Explain if a strategic plan for the program is apparent or not. Is the program designed with culturally competent policies in mind? (50-75 words)
Explain the activities provided by the program. Is there a range of activities?
How is this program funded? How is the funding sustained?
What are the intended short, moderate, and long-term outcomes expected in the program? How are they measured or evaluated for effectiveness?
Program Evaluation Essay
After you have conducted the interview (via phone or in person), answer the following prompts in an essay (750-1,000 words), citing two to four scholarly sources to support your claims.
1. Briefly describe the program/agency you evaluated:
a. Administration-education level
b. Resources/services available to clients
c. Program description
2. After completing your checklist evaluation, explain whether or not the program effectively meets the needs of your selected community, addresses the social issue you’ve selected, and if there were any gaps between needed services and those provided.
3. Lastly, explain how this program analysis will help you design your program to fill any gaps in services provided. How will your proposed program address the social issue you’ve selected by taking into consideration sound management, stakeholder involvement, and effective evaluation strategies?
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Turn in this assignment by the end of Topic 3.
© 2017. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
© 2017. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
SOC-480 Research Proposal
Assignment Criteria
This assignment contains multiple parts that are due at different intervals in the course, with the final assignment due in Topic 8.
Complete each section of the assignment accordingly. You will turn in each section for instructor feedback. Once you obtain feedback, make necessary revisions.
The final draft of the Research Proposal assignment is due in Topic 8.
First, select a social issue (PTSD, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, obesity, poverty, racism, etc.) that is affecting your community. You will focus on this social issue for your research proposal throughout this course. [A social issue is a situation that, left untreated, produces a negative consequence for some group, institution or individual(s)].
Next, select between the following levels of analysis for your proposal:
· A client case study (micro level)
· Program proposal (macro level)
· Project proposal (mezzo level)
Lastly, you will use your selected social issue and level of analysis to complete each section of this assignment:
Part I: Needs Assessment
First, in order to analyze how current social issues develop and are perpetuated, you will need to assess your community regarding the social issue you selected.
Access and complete the “Needs Assessment Worksheet 1.”
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
This assignment is due by the end of Topic 1.
Part II: Cultural Competency
Social work students need to be able to explain the cultural aspect of a social issue. In order to understand this concept, complete the “Needs Assessment Worksheet 2.”
You are required to submit the assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
The assignment is due by the end of Topic 2.
Part III: Program Evaluation
In this section of the assignment, you will evaluate an existing program in order to develop a proposal for an effective program that meets the needs of a community. This assignment will help you learn this skill.
To complete this assignment correctly, access and use the “Program Evaluation Checklist” first and then use the information you gather to complete the “Program Evaluation Essay” assignment described at the bottom of the checklist.
Submit to instructor for feedback. Use this feedback to revise your work.
Both assignments are due by the end of Topic 3.
Part IV: Literature Review
In this section, you will begin to conduct research on the selected social issue:
Access and complete the “Literature Review Worksheet” to complete this part of the assignment.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
This assignment is due by the end of Topic 5.
Part V: The Christian Worldview Essay
Using your selected social issue, you are to approach it through the lens of the Christian Worldview (CWV):
Example:
alcoholism
Analyze how the CWV could influence prevention or evidence-based treatment strategies for clients dealing with the alcoholism.
Now, following the example, use your selected social issue to address the prompts:
In an essay (750-1,000 words), address the following:
1. Access and read the “GCU Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work” document. GCU believes that the work of the Christian should focus on helping people deal with social issues so that the human condition can flourish.
2. Explain how the Christian worldview could influence prevention and treatment strategies for clients dealing with the selected social issue.
3. Explain how a social worker with a Christian worldview could assist a client struggling with the selected social issue.
4. Explain how a social worker with the CWV can help alleviate the problems of a client living with the social issue you selected.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
This assignment is due by the end of Topic 6.
Part VI: Data collection & Analysis Rubric
In this section of the assignment, you will analyze data to support your research question and hypothesis:
You will need to analyze the data you collected by using the provided “Data Collection and Analysis Rubric.”
While APA style is not required for the body of this assessment, solid academic writing is expected and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Submit to instructor for feedback and use the feedback to revise this section.
This assignment is due by the end of Topic 7.
Part VII: Research Proposal Final Paper
Now that you have completed each part of the assignment, you are ready to use the outline to organize your findings into a research paper (2,000-2,500 words). Use the “Research Proposal Outline” and the revised portions of each assignment in addition to the worksheets to assist you in completing this assignment.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Submit this assignment to your instructor by the end of Topic 8.
© 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.