Download Beginning the Adventure of Your Thesis or Project!

Beginning the Adventure of Your
Thesis/Project (SWRK500)
or
Advanced Research (SWRK501) &
Capstone Course (SWRK502)
~Culminating Experience ~
Prepared by: Prof. Francis Yuen
Culminating Experience
•SWRK 500- Thesis/Project
•SWRK 501/SWRK 502 Advanced Research &
Social Work Graduate Capstone
Accreditation
Requirements
Second Research
Course
CSU
Requirements
Thesis, Project,
Examination
SWRK500
X
X
SWRK501
SWRK502
X
X
Thesis or Project???
 Thesis is an intellectual proposition
based on original research and
academic inquiry
 Project involves the development of a
product supported by a research
process
 Many of your culminating works could
be both a thesis and a project.
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Please note the above are definitions from Prof. Yuen, not official CSUS definitions.
CSUS Catalog definition
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Plan A: Thesis
A thesis is the written product of the systematic study of a
significant problem. It clearly identifies the problem; states the
major assumptions; explains the significance of the undertaking;
sets forth the sources for, and methods of gathering,
information; analyzes the data; and offers a conclusion or
recommendation.
Plan B: Project
A project is a significant undertaking of a pursuit appropriate to
the fine and applied arts or to professional fields. It must
evidence originality and independent thinking, appropriate form
and organization, and a rationale. It must be described and
summarized in a written abstract that includes the project’s
significance, objectives, methodology, and a conclusion or
recommendation.
Thesis/Project Requirements
Both require all phases of the research
process
 Both must demonstrate social work
relevance, academic rigor, and social
validity and utility
 Protection of Human Subjects
Applications must submitted for all
forms of project/thesis
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Thesis/Project Requirements (continued)
Thesis, a written product of the
systematic study, requires a second
reader in addition to your advisor
 Project, a research based product
involved empirical data analysis, e.g.,
curriculum, program plan, or research
report (which makes a project essentially the same as a

thesis – a written product).

A Thesis or a Project is a decision you
will make with your thesis/project advisor
The 5 Chapters of A Thesis/Project
Chapter 1:
 Chapter 2:
 Chapter 3:
 Chapter 4:
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Thesis Findings or Product
of Project (Study Findings)
 Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions
 References
 Appendices
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Considering the “Research” of A
Thesis/Project – examples:
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Needs assessment for a community, a
population, or a service program
Survey of providers’ or consumers’
perspectives: Questionnaire and interviews
Secondary data analysis
Program evaluation
Experimental designs
Case studies
Justification and data collection for product
development and utilization
Human Subjects Application Process

Plan with your Advisor when you should
submit your Human Subjects Application to
the Division’s Research Review Committee
–
Application is available on the Social Work Division and Graduate Studies websites

EVERY thesis/project requires human
subjects clearance.
 No data collection can take place prior to
human subjects approval
 The Division reviews applications about once
every two weeks in Fall, once a month in
Spring
 All students need to complete a university
required on-line human subjects research
training (NIH or CITI) http://www.csus.edu/research/irb/trainingeducation.html
http://www.csus.edu/HHS/SW/Masters%20of%20Social%20Work/SWHumanSubjects.html
Selecting a Thesis/Project Advisor
(7 Steps)

Step One: Review List of Thesis/Project
Advisors and their Research Interests
 Step Two: Identify potential Advisors who
may match your interests, working style, and
availability
 Step Three: Sign-up with your Advisor (Date
to be announced)
 Step Four: Make appointments with several
likely advisors to discuss interests, working
styles, and “goodness of fit”
Selecting a Thesis Advisor(continued)
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Step Five: Choose and reach agreement
with your potential Advisor by completing the
“VORTA” form (Verification of Research Topic
and Advisor)
 Step Six: Advisors will submit the signed
VORTA forms to the Division to secure the
spots. Advisors give copies to students.
 Step Seven: It is the student’s responsibility
to sign up with a thesis advisor by the end of
the Spring semester.
Considerations
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Each Thesis/Project Advisor can advise
ten (10) students
Keep updated on Thesis/Project Advisor
openings by checking the white board in
the Social Work Office
Group Thesis and Group Project are
limited to 2 students.
Follow University format, filed with Grad
Studies, stored in CSUS Library.
SWRK501/502 option.
CSUS Thesis/Project Formatting
Workshop Requirement
A.
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Attend a CSUS Graduate Studies Thesis
Formatting Workshop or review the PowerPoint
online
http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/Thesis.htm
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Obtain a Certificate of Workshop Completion. The
certificate needs to be turned in with your
thesis/project to Graduate Studies.
B.
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Attend the Division's Thesis Formatting
Workshop
SWRK501/502
•
501 Advanced Research Methods
•
502 Social Work Graduate Capstone
Based on PowerPoint developed by Dr.
Teiahsha Bankhead 2011
An Alternative to Traditional
Thesis/Project
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Two courses instead of guided study
1. 501 Advanced Research Methods
2. 502 Social Work Graduate Capstone
Instructors (not yet assigned)
 Scheduled course meetings
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– Different from instructor to instructor
Self-assessment Considerations for
this Option
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20 students per class
 Equivalent to SWRK500 in demand & rigor
 Work well with the structure of a regular
class
 Interest in quantitative/qualitative analysis
 Not wed to a particular topic or project
 Group work with partner and in class
 Flexibility
Organization of SWRK501
Advanced Research Methods
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SWRK 501 Advanced Research Methods course with a
particular focus
 Fall semester
 Begins with question of how to utilize particular research
methods
 Extension of SWRK210 in terms of methods or statistics
 Offers a deepened investigation of the research methods
and appropriateness of their use
 Interactive – group work with student colleagues
 Lab work
 Guest speakers from field with living laboratory research
possibilities (certain instructor only)
Organization of SWRK502
Social Work Research Capstone
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SWRK 502: Capstone Project
Spring semester
Group projects
Human subjects review
Organized around similar group and faculty
interests
Integrated paper as a result, not filed in library
or with grad. studies, no more than 2 students
working on each – less choice in research topic
Community service, secondary data, …
Sign Up for SWRK501/502
Meet with the course instructors
or email professors to explore
that option
 Complete the VORTA form
 Essentially same process with
thesis/project
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