This paper should be 3-5 pages

This paper should be 3-5 pages. you are required to write your research paper on a topic in class (LGBTQ Bullying). The format for your research proposal MUST resemble an academic style article (see peer-reviewed journal articles) but shorter and won’t include results/analysis of findings and a discussion section. You will include the following sections in the proposal: Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Research Design, and Conclusion. Use either ASA or APA citation style for in-text citations and bibliography (Google for either citation style guides). I also have a presentation that you could go by if you need help.

Human Sexuality Research Proposal Writing Guidelines Organize your research proposal under the following sections. Abstract Summarize the key points from the proposal within 150-200 words. Discuss the following: study goals, data collection methods, and the importance and implications of your study. Write this section after you have written the entire proposal but position it before “introduction.” Introduction Here, you will pitch your research idea and explain the significance of your research problem— answer the “so what” question, that is, why should we care about your research. Following, tell the reader about the study’s possible outcomes. Take a narrative approach to answer the following questions: 1) What is the central research problem? 2) What is the topic of study related to the research problem? What are the research questions (not more than 2-3 research questions) or hypotheses? 3) What methods will be used to collect data and answer the research questions? What is the research site (location) and what is the sample like? Or what are the hypotheses? And what dataset is being used and the variables to be considered? 4) So what? Why should one care about your study? Keep this section within 0.5-1.5 pages—within 2-4 paragraphs. Literature Review Keeping the importance of your study in mind, carefully review and synthesize prior studies related to the research problem under investigation. The goal is to contextualize your project at the backdrop of existing studies and show the reader that your work is novel and groundbreaking. Consider the research questions past researchers have asked, the methods they have used, what you understand about their results/findings, and their recommendations (if stated). Structure this section intelligently by breaking into themes or “conceptual categories,” and discuss works that fit those themes. You will be able to do so once you have read the literature. Besides reporting what existing studies have done, take a critical approach towards revealing their biggest contributions to the topic under investigation and what have they missed (or failed to examine) that your work will address and examine. Remember every research builds on past studies—they fill in the existing theoretical, methodological and/or empirical gaps in literature. Hence, don’t be shy or scared to challenge the conclusions made in prior research because that will support the need or importance of your study. Also, remember that the gaps you want to fill MUST BE connected with your research questions and research problem. Keep this section within 1-2 pages. 1 Human Sexuality Research Proposal To help frame your proposal’s review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review 1) Cite, so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem. 2) Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem? 3) Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars? 4) Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does (e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.). 5) Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature? Research Design Here, you will tell the reader how you will collect your data that will help answer your research questions and achieve your study goals. Describe and justify (explain “why” you will do what you will do) the following: data collection methods, research site, sample, ethics in research, data collection procedure (including how you plan to code your data, the questions that you will ask your respondents, or the survey questions and related responses you will send them), and validity and reliability in data. See the methods book I assigned to help design your research. If you intend to propose a quantitative study, discuss (and describe) the dataset you wish to use and the independent, control, and dependent variables. Following, discuss and justify the statistical measures/analysis and software you plan on using. Consult the methods book assigned to learn more about quantitative methodology. Similarly, consult the same book if you wish to design and conduct a mixed methods study. Remember you MUST convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study. Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used but also methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself (i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events and/or periods of time). 2 Human Sexuality Research Proposal Lastly, anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method is perfect! So, you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It’s always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor. Keep this section within 1-2 pages. Conclusion In this section, you will wrap up by striking the ultimate tone to the paper. Keeping that in mind, you will summarize the key points from the proposal and draw the bottom line based on your discussions in the paper—leave a certain image and knowledge in conjunction with the topic (i.e., what we already know and what still needs to be explored). Additionally, discuss the potential outcomes and implications of your study, and how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem. Keep this section within 1-2 paragraphs. Other Things to Remember: 1) Write in first person and future tense. Also, write in active voice because it is clear, brief, efficient, uses fewer words, and more engaging. 2) Take a narrative approach to writing and maintain connections between preceding and succeeding paragraphs. There should be a logical “flow” in the paper. And so, articulate and express your thoughts and ideas clearly. 3) Make sure your research questions, theory, and methods are connected with one another. 4) Use (and cite) the methods book that I assigned to write the proposal. 5) Make sure to cite your sources correctly (MUST use 5-6 peer-reviewed journal articles and/or books relevant to your topic of research) while doing the in-text citations and bibliography according to ASA/APA citation guidelines (Google for either style guides). If you are using the exact words of the authors to make a point, remember to put them within quotation marks (“….”) and cite it correctly (last name of the authors, year of publication, and page #) following APA/ASA guidelines. However, you should use the exact words of the authors ONLY when they are conveying a very important idea (e.g., definition of a concept/theory) or else, write in your own words. Additionally, you MUST cite ideas that are not your own and do not cheat in any way. See the syllabus for the policy on “academic honesty and student conduct code.” 6) Maintain 12 font-size, Times New Roman as the font style, 1-inch margin on all sides, and double space throughout the paper. 7) The paper should not be less than 3 pages and more than 5 pages (excluding bibliography). The last page will be considered full if 3/4th of it is typed. 8) Proofread for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, and clarity. These are the key elements that make an excellent paper crafted in any field. Download the free version of “Grammarly” on your computer to proofread your paper. 9) Contact and/or visit the writing center on campus (their website and phone number are available in the syllabus under “policies and other information”) to make sure that you 3 Human Sexuality Research Proposal are following all the guidelines. Turn in a polished paper. There will be no compromises with quality standards. [Note: This document was prepared with the help of “research guides” provided by the University of Southern California]