Description
Directions: Read the scenario below that provides all the information you will need to write a proposal for an experimental (or quasi) design research project.
You are a researcher with an interest in probation officer stress. There is much research related to stress among criminal justice professionals but not much in the way of helping probation officers handle stress in a positive way.
You have been doing some reading about techniques and you would like to pilot one that introduces physical activity as a way to alleviate stress. You approach the Director of the Florida Department of Corrections and ask for her permission to conduct the research. Additionally, she agrees to encourage her probation officers to participate in the research as she has concerns about stress as well. You outline your plan in the following manner:
You would like to include a sample of 100 probation officers in your research.
Since there are 3 specific activities (yoga, pilates, tai chi) as part of this technique, you will need to divide the sample.
Part of your sample will engage in yoga for 30 minutes during the workday.
Part of your sample will engage in pilates for 30 minutes during the workday.
Part of your sample will engage in tai chi for 30 minutes during the workday.
Part of your sample will engage in no physical activity for 30 minutes during the workday.
The experiment will last for one month (20 workdays M-F).
You have identified the Perceived Stress Scale as a valid measure of stress. The details of the scale are this link: PSS Details
(Links to an external site.)
After reading and pondering these details, answer the following questions in narrative form:
Are you going to set up an experiment or a quasi-experiment? How do you know? Why did you select this design? (3 points)
What is your hypothesis? What is your independent variable? What is your dependent variable? (7 points)
How will you determine to which group a participant will be assigned? (3 points)
Describe your procedures (7 points)
Which threats to internal validity are specifically related to your design? How will you control these threats? Which threats are not related to your design? Why are they not threats? (5 points)
All papers are to be written in narrative form (do not simply answer each question). You will need to cite material from the text. If you are unfamiliar with APA format, visiting the APA Style
(Links to an external site.)
website will be very useful.
Guidelines for all written assignments
You do not need an abstract
Double-space your paper
Include page numbers
Left justify
Use spell and grammar checker
Write clearly and concisely and include an introduction and a conclusion
Write in 3rd person (e.g., do not use I, we, us, you, etc.)
Do not use contractions (eg., it is instead of it’s)
Include a cover page with the following information:
Title of the paper (make sure it is reflective of the content of the paper)
Your name
The College of Education and Professional Studies
Course name
Date of submission
Identify the word count (600-700 words) at the end of the document
Include a reference page if necessary
Wikipedia is never an acceptable reference
Unless otherwise stated, all references are to be scholarly, peer-reviewed, and no older than 5 years
Direct quotes are to be used sparingly
Direct quotes must include a page or paragraph number
Always cite the author(s) of the article/reference
Do not say According to the textbook….
Say According to Smith and Wesson (year)…
(Links to an external site.)
The textbook for this course that MUST be used in the paper is..
Maxfield, M. G., & Babbie, E. R. (2016). Basics of Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.