INTELLIGENCE STUDIES

Posted: January 6th, 2014

For this assignment, you will write the second component of your Professional Project, the proposed Project Methodology. In the methodology, you will propose the methods through which you plan to address the practice need, question, or problem that you have identified and described in the problem formulation. The paper should be organized according to the content areas described below for each type of project. Use the Research Project, Non-Research Project, or both formats as appropriate to your project design. Consult the appropriate outline and handouts provided. Use the bold text paragraph headings as section headings in your paper.

Research Project

Research Questions
Clearly and briefly restate the specific need, question, or problem to be addressed by your proposed project. (The proposed methodology should flow directly from the stated need, question, or problem and its elaboration in the problem formulation.) Conceptually define your study variables. State the specific research question(s) your study will ask or the hypothesis(ses) (if applicable) that your study will test.

Study Design and Procedures
Identify the type of study (exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory), the approach (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method), and the specific research design represented by your project (see outline). Indicate whether the study will be cross-sectional or longitudinal.
Identify and clearly describe the procedures you will follow in gathering your data. What modes of observation will you use (see outline)? Where will you collect your data? How will you administer the measures? What will you do to ensure that data is collected reliably, that instruments are completed correctly and completely, that enough participants respond or complete the study? How will data be recorded? If an experimental or quasi-experimental design is selected, describe to what extent and how threats to internal validity will be addressed. If a qualitative design is selected, what techniques will be used to enhance trustworthiness (dependability, credibility, transferability)?

Participants
Identify your theoretical population (population of interest). Describe your study population by delineating criteria for inclusion in your study. Describe procedures you plan to use to select a sample from this population (see outline) and procedures for recruiting participants (see outline). Include the expected sample size. Describe what you will do to protect participants from physical or psychological harm, how you will obtain and document voluntary, informed consent, and how you will protect the privacy or confidentiality of participants.
Identify and describe persons other than yourself who will be involved in the project. With whom will you collaborate and in what ways? With whom will you need to develop relationships at various points during the project? Whose approval and/or cooperation must you obtain in order to implement the proposal, and what will you do to obtain this? Who are the stakeholders (those whom the project is intended to benefit or whom it might affect)? What are the intended effects of the project on the stakeholders? What are possible unintended effects and ethical considerations in relation to these?

Measurement Instruments
Operationally define your variables by describing how they will be measured. Describe the data collection instrument(s), including the format, type of response categories, and how participants are to respond to them. Include specifics related to administration of the instrument, such as how contingency, probe, or follow-up questions will be handled.
You may select a previously existing instrument or you may create one of your own. If you use an existing instrument, you will have to obtain appropriate permission for its use and properly credit its author(s). What evidence is there to support the reliability and/or validity of the instrument? If you create your own measure, what will you do to address reliability and/or validity? State how you plan to pretest the instrument. A copy of the measurement instrument should be submitted with your paper.

Data Analysis
Identify data analysis methods you plan to use. Specify qualitative methods (such as content analysis) or quantitative methods (statistical analyses summarizing data, comparing groups, assessing relationships or testing hypotheses).

Feasibility
Address the feasibility of the proposed project in terms of the location or setting, time frame, resources required, access to participants or information, or other issues. Include as attachments to the paper a project time line (GNATT chart) and proposed budget.

Non-Research Project

Project Purpose/Goals
Clearly and briefly restate the specific need, question, or problem to be addressed by your proposed project. (The proposed methodology should flow directly from the stated need, question, or problem and its elaboration in the problem formulation.) State the overall purpose of the project in addressing the need, question, or problem. Delineate the major project goals (see general guidelines handout).

Project Design and Procedures
Identify the type of project you are proposing (i.e., program evaluation, grant proposal, community resource guide, training program, intervention program development, etc). Define and describe this approach and the general nature of the project.
Identify and clearly describe the procedures you will follow in implementing your project. Organize this description by delineating specific objectives consistent with your stated project purpose and goals, tasks necessary to achieve each objective, and activities necessary to complete each task (see outline and general guidelines handout). Be sure to include in these objectives, tasks, and activities the types of information that will be needed, potential sources for this information, and how you plan to acquire the information. Also include plans for obtaining resources, specific steps required for implementation of the project and creating products, and proposed methods for insuring the quality of the work and/or the final product. This section of your methodology should be detailed and reflect a thorough thinking-through of the steps and requirements for completing the proposed project.

Participants and Ethical Considerations
Identify and describe persons other than yourself who will be involved in the project. With whom will you collaborate and in what ways? With whom will you need to develop relationships at various points during the project? Whose approval and/or cooperation must you obtain in order to implement the proposal, and what will you do to obtain this?
Who are the stakeholders (those whom the project is intended to benefit or whom it might affect)? What are the intended effects of the project on the stakeholders? What are possible unintended effects? What are ethical considerations in relation to stakeholders and society in general?

Evaluation Plan
Create an evaluation plan that the recipient of your projects product can use to evaluate the outcome of the products use or implementation. Briefly describe the proposed evaluation research question(s), design, data collection procedures, participants, measures, and data analysis.

Feasibility
Address the feasibility of the proposed project in terms of the location or setting, time frame, resources required, access to participants or information, or other issues. Include as attachments to the paper a project time line (GNATT chart) and proposed budget.

The proposed methodology paper should be approximately 6 to 8 pages long, exclusive of title page and references. It should be typed and should conform to APA style. As in the prior assignment, the quality of your writing matters, both to your effectiveness as a professional social worker and to your credibility as a student seeking a graduate degree. Papers will be graded on both form and content. The quMy Experience with University Level Distance Learning

Distance learning curriculum consists of interactive video-conferencing, messaging, discussions, and development and delivery of online curriculum. My experience with university level distance learning courses would be limited to my experience with Ashford. Previous undergraduate classes I have taken would have us using the internet for checking grades, email, transcripts, or other information related to college. I had never taken a class exclusively online, nor have I experienced distance learning before.

Recognizing the Necessary Skills

Since enrolled in the Ashford program, I have realized the necessary skills needed to manage this course. The most important skills would be being organized and responsible. You are your own class. No one is there to motivate you to log into the internet. In a real life hands on class, other students may be around to drag you to class. In the aspect of organization, the teacher is not there to remind you of deadlines as much. In distance learning there is a announcement board with reminders. Those reminders are not as helpful as someone physically repeating guidelines and deadlines in your ears every class. Other than responsibility and organization, every student needs to have basic internet, computer hardware, and computer software skills. If a student does not know how to use Microsoft word, they are going to struggle trying to figure out a more difficult program such as Blackboard.

Recognizing There Is More Than Just Necessary Skills

There are many skills a person using online learning to gain knowledge/information need to succeed in an online course and/or environment. Students must be aware of the seriousness of plagiarism. There are programs available to instructors which allow them to scan over projects to find students that are plagiarizing. Also, students must be aware of how to type in a message board. Using all caps in a message board may be read to another viewer as anger or yelling. Students must be aware of netiquette. This basically comes down to what is acceptable and unacceptable in distance/online learning.

Anyone Can Do Distance Learning

Whether a student needs to learn netiquette skills, or start from the drawing board as to how to use a computer, anyone can do distance learning. Some students may struggle more than other, but it is possible for anyone to still be a part. Tutorials are available and instructors in online distance learning provide contact information so students can reach them for help. Most learners can be taught any skills. Support systems in the workplace need to provide these tutorials and help lines in order for the learner to be successful in the online environment. Step by step video demonstrations would be helpful as well.