Steps

Action

Summary of Proposed Plan

1. Choose your research topic.

Your matrix should be aligned with the sociological topic you've chosen for one or both of your analysis briefs - poverty/unemployment; juvenile crime; racial discrimination or gender/transgender inequality; educational inequality; healthcare inequality.

Please provide an rationale for why you've chosen to study this particular topic.  Why are you interested?  Is there limited information about this issue?  Will studying this issue help identify a better understanding of the problem?  Will solutions and interventions come from your study? 

2. Prior research or background information on your topic.

Provide a minimum of three citations here.  Your citation should include author name(s), date and title of research or narrative.  Type of publication.

(1) Citation

(2) Citation

(3) Citation

Provide a short summary of what you've learned about your topic from your three sources.  How does this information help validate/support the need for research? 

3. Write your hypothesis.

Based on the information provided to you in the text, how would you state your hypothesis? 

Please identify both your independent and dependent variables for your hypothesis.  In other words what proposed issue or experience causes what effect or outcome?

4. Choose your research methodology.

Please share how you would approach research on your topic. 

In 3-4 sentences share why this is the BEST method for your research.

5. Applying Theory.

Which of these (a) Conflict Theorist; (b) Functionalist; or (c) Symbolic Interactionist would be the best theory to help support your research method?

In 3-4 sentences share how your chosen theory is connected to your research method.

6. Research Implications.

Hypothetically, please share how your proposed research could provide a new perspective.

Be specific and share examples of who or in what ways could this research be useful in sociology or an related field.