How does the proposed study contribute to and/or build on existing research, knowledge, policy?

Assessment Guidelines:

Formative Blog (minimum of weekly entries using PebblePad)

A formative blog will be kept during the module recording the development of student’s interest and ideas about their review topic. The blog will form a record of the students learning and demonstrate how their knowledge and understanding of research has developed. The blog will culminate in the content for student’s research proposal which they will present to peers, service providers and co teachers.

The Blog must contain content that:

Records your ideas; aspirations; interests; thoughts; reflections learning about research and completing the assignment over time.
Logs the development of your topic focus
Highlights examples of learning and the skills you have developed such as search skills and research methods.
Explores the different search tools that you have discovered
Highlights examples of what you have read and what you think about it
Records your experience of writing your research proposal and what you have learned
Reflects on what you have discovered about yourself

Assignment

Students will produce a dissertation comprising of a research project proposal on an aspect of one of the following Topics (6000 words):

Children and young people’s mental health
Adult mental health
Perinatal mental health
Psychological (‘talking’) therapies
Dementia
Physical health of people with mental illness
Medication
Learning disability & mental health
Autism & mental health

You will find it helpful to review the research process and to identify appropriate literature to help you. There is no one specific way to write such a proposal but we advise using the following headings/format. The word counts, excluding the abstract, are advisory only.

Title of the proposed project.

Abstract:
First indication of the quality and content of the proposal
A brief summary of the aims of the study and how it will be carried out, in non-technical language.
All the key points of the proposal should be included, methodology, methods and analysis.
Usually written last, when you are clear on what you have proposed!
Maximum 200 words.

Introduction:
Background to the proposal/ /significance of the problem/issue to be addressed
Identify the nature of the issue or problem from practice and provide a rationale for the overall aim of the study.
Consider how the study will contribute to an understanding of mental health practice.
How does the proposed study contribute to and/or build on existing research, knowledge, policy?
300 words

Literature Review
Evidence of critical evaluation of current research/literature relevant to the research topic and the theoretical context of the research.
Start by explaining how you undertook your literature searches considering any pros and cons of the process.
Organise your findings into common themes which will enable you to synthesise the literature;
What is the up to date knowledge within your topic area?
What are the key arguments and issues presented in the literature?
How does this evidence relate to your key research question/aim?
Consider the quality of these sources as forms of evidence and whether they should be used to inform professional practice.
Identify any knowledge gaps in your chosen topic, helps justify your planned research.
Consider why some of these deficiencies are not being addressed.
Conclude by drawing together the key findings from your literature review which will lead to the aim of your proposed study, as you will have identified why it is important to explore.
2600 words

Aim(s) of the Proposed Study
Stated in clear, specific, concrete and achievable terms.
Also include here (if appropriate) the research question.
100 words

Plan of Investigation
Research design – including rationale for a particular approach, qualitative and/or quantitative.
Methodology (may be more than one methodology to be used ie mixed methods) and rationale for choice.
Population and sample.
Plans for gaining access to the proposed sample.
Methods/processes for data collection and analysis with rationale for choices (this should also include, in an appendix, samples of questions to be used in questionnaire or interviews/ focus groups)
1500 words

Ethical Considerations
Details of the ethical considerations associated with the study should be included, and how these will be addressed.
Examples – confidentiality, anonymity, dealing with sensitive issues, protection of the client, informed consent.
Include an informed consent checklist in the appendix
300 words

Work Plan
Details of the time-scale & plan of work should be included to show the anticipated duration of each stage of the study.
This may be included in chart form as an appendix.
200 words

Facilities & Resources
You should identify the resources required for the project, as well as any particular equipment that is needed.
Personnel/ expertise required to support the study (if appropriate) with costing.
Details of how you will resource any costs.
300 words

Conclusion
Summary of key points
500 words