Explain how fitness can affect ones mental well-being.

Explain how fitness can affect ones mental well-being.Compare and contrast the theories/findings/conclusions in the various studies, and how they contributed explanations about your topic. In what important ways are the studies similar/different, and why does this matter?

What are the unique quantitative and qualitative contributions (compare/contrast them)? Taking all six of the articles together, what do you now know overall about your research topic, and what gaps in existing knowledge still remain?

In the last paragraph of the literature review, specify the research questions/hypotheses to be investigated in your proposed research based on the findings of your literature review and your analysis of your topic.

METHODS AND DATA ANALYSES
(10-12 pages – 50 points)

Since this is a research proposal, you will specify how you would do the study; a multiple method approach based on a survey design and a qualitative design is required. You must describe how you would use each method to draw your sample/select the setting, collect your data (how will you get it, and what will it look like?), and analyze your data (what is the data analysis process, what will the results look like, and how might you present them). (This is a much more developed version of your proposed design from Exercises 2/3.)

Quantitative Research Design
Your proposed survey research design will be approximately four-five pages. You must describe how you would use a quantitative survey method (population/sampling, data collection, and analysis), focusing on the issues covered in the course material and Exercise 2 (conceptual and operational definitions, questionnaire construction, mode of administration). If you choose a nonprobability sampling design you must explain why.
Be sure to address concerns unique to quantitative methods, including ethical issues (Eg., your mode of administration must be secure). Be as specific and detailed as possible within the suggested pages. (15 points)

Summarize what you learned about your questions and responses from your pre-test, noting any necessary revisions in your instrument or survey design. Describe appropriate data analyses procedures. Include a copy of your final questionnaire in an Appendix, including the response categories and instructions. (10 points)

Qualitative Research Design
Your proposed field research design will be approximately six-seven pages. You must describe how you would use qualitative methods, focusing on the issues covered in the course material and Exercise 3. Be sure to address concerns unique to qualitative methods, including ethical issues. Be as specific and detailed as possible within the suggested pages.

1. Your fieldnotes from your pilot test will include the following (15 points):

Describe When/Where you conducted the interviews/observations? How did you gain access, if necessary? How did you locate informants or establish roles and relationships (develop rapport) with your participants? What questions did you ask, in what order? How long did the data collection take? How did you record the data? Note any events during the data collection, and characteristics of the setting.

For intensive interviews, you will include a complete transcription (typed word for word record of your recorded interview). For observations, you will need to submit your complete raw field notes (including transcriptions of conversations/casual interviews). This should each be in an Appendix.

Was your social location similar to/different from your participants? How did that shape the experience and the data you collected? How did you feel as the researcher? How well could you listen/observe? How did your participants react? Did you encounter any challenges? What ethical considerations did you take into account?

Describe your data analyses/coding procedures. Read your literature review and all field notes for guidance. Consider the following: For the initial pattern-seeking/coding, go line-by-line. Ask of each discrete event, behavior, or place: 1. What does this represent? What it is this an example of? What is going on (what are people doing, or saying)? What are the assumptions made? Pay attention to meaning, tone, frequency, and emphasis.
In your focused coding, make a list of all of the categories/themes that emerge (including subcategories). Think about the relationship between the different categories. Compare the data from your observations/informants. As you stay focused on the research question, make notes of the most important similarities and differences between them.

2. Now, informed by your pilot study, clearly describe your finalized qualitative design – sample, setting, interview/field/data collection guides, proposed analysis strategy, coding, etc. You do not have to propose an intensive interview and/or observational study. Other approaches such as participant-observation, or focus groups are acceptable qualitative designs; remember to justify your choices. (10 points).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
(3 pages –13 points)

Briefly summarize the expected contributions of your proposed research, including results, interpretation of the results, and the limitations of each method. Do NOT write your conclusions as though you have already conducted the research, you have only conducted the pre/pilot tests.

Synthesize the expected results, comparing and contrasting each method in terms of the overall product (how will the findings fit together or complement each other?).

Conclude with a statement of what you hope to discover about your subject matter. Summarize what you learned about your topic in terms of the current state of theory and research findings. What issues remain to be investigated? How will future theory (and application of alternative theoretical paradigms) need to be refined?

REFERENCES
(as many pages as you need to cite all sources – 2 points)
Follow ASA bibliography format.

WRITING GUIDELINES
All papers must be typewritten and double-spaced with margins of 1” all around. All papers should have a cover page stating the title (name of your topic), your name, the class name or number and the date. Papers must be written in a size 12 font, using Ariel or Times New Roman print. The cover page should also be in size 12 font – not in boldface print. Pages must be numbered in the upper right corner. The cover page is page one (1). Do not show the page number on this page. The first typed page is page two.

Do NOT use any direct quotes from articles (phrases, sentences, text) in your paper without explicit quotation and citation, and even these should be used sparingly. Paraphrase the author’s key ideas in your own words (and cite the author, year). If you copy word for word without citation (parentheses, author, date and page number), you are committing plagiarism. This is against the law. Reference format must follow the ASA format and style of references in text of your paper and on your list of references at end of paper.

Clarity of Communication: A well-written paper communicates ideas of information in a clear-cut, understandable-to-the-reader style. Poorly written papers, even when written in English, slow the reader down so that he/she may have to “translate” the paper. This distracts the reader from the basic ideas of your paper. Follow the steps necessary for you personally to avoid spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence construction, and syntax (wording, word order) errors.

Last Completed Projects