SOC-481

Action Research Project Proposal

Assignment

Instructions: This is a three-part assignment, in which you develop a proposal for a viable action research project. The purpose of the proposal is to engage and inform potential funders of the project, as well as other key stakeholder groups invested in social change initiatives. The proposal should clearly and succinctly describe all aspects of your proposed project, clearly explaining what you will do and why. Please note that you are not required to implement the project as part of the SOC-481 coursework.

In PART 1 of the assignment, you will develop the initial sections of an action research proposal.

In PART 2, you will build upon and revise the initial sections of the proposal (as needed), adding the last sections of the proposal and completing a final draft of the proposal.

In PART 3, you will develop a PowerPoint presentation, to include an overview of your proposed project, as well as a completed SWOT Analysis which could potentially be used to guide further development of the proposed project.

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PART 1

Instructions

First draft of the initial sections of your action research project proposal. This section of the proposal should be approximately 1,000-1,500 words, and include the following:

1. Title of the proposed action research project

How can low-income women obtain the resources and assistance they need to combat gender inequality in the third world?

1. Introduction

DONE ------------

The purposed action research project I will be investigating is poverty and the relationship between gender inequality of people in the Third World. The scope and nature of this project will cover influencing factors that create gender inequality while researching the several dimensions of poverty. This includes the availability of resources as well as social exclusion from participation or levels of income. Research will focus on how women can get access to needed resources to help level the status quo. Through research and the identified association between the ability for rural households to produce enough income and food to meet their basic needs for stability, this analysis will be applied to create an action research proposal to improve opportunities in rural populations in the third world.

1. Description of a Social Problem in Need of Change

Research Problem: Craft a succinct description of a concern/issue, a problem in need of a solution, or an unknown area to be explored through the proposed project. Be sure to identify a local context (e.g., neighborhood or community) where the project could potentially be developed and implemented.

DONE-------------

Approximately one third of a billion people in the world are living in poverty, and over seventy percent of them are women. In the last two decades, the number of women living in poverty continues to rise by fifty percent. As the world's population grows, the need for food and labor will continue to increase, and the majority being in the Third World. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the requirement to produce enough of the food consumed in the developing world, at least fifty percent requires women's contribution. For example, in Africa female farming accounts for nearly seventy percent of the continents production of staple foods. Due to the prominence and requirements of women's participation in farming in places like Africa, men are migrating from rural areas to search for work. The role of women in the Third World can be identified as both contributors to economic growth as well as beneficiaries to alleviate poverty. There are different roles between men and women among rural populations in the Third World, as well as rights and available access to certain resources in society. Due to this, it directly effects how rural household's basic nutritional needs are met throughout the year.

Literature Review andJustification to Study the Research Problem: Summarize evidence from the scholarly literature,indicating why this is a problem in need of a solution, or why it is an area where additional research and learning is needed. Be sure to include information of relevance to understandingthe broader social area to be addressed (e.g., poverty, genderdiscrimination) as well as the local neighborhood or community where the project would potentially be implemented (e.g. a specific distressed neighborhood or community). You may also wish to include a briefreview of previous community-based projects focusing on your topic and/or communityof interest, noting how your proposed project could potentially build upon and/or strengthen earlier efforts to advance social change.

Gaps in the Evidence: Based on the evidence you have reviewed, summarize what is missing or what additional information is needed to better understand or change the social problem within the local context you have identified.

Relevance of an Action Research Project: Explain how a community-based action research project could be a strategically important approach to better understand and address the issue you have identified. Briefly describe why and how your proposed action research project could potentially make a positive contribution, and who might potentially benefit from investigative processes and outcomes.

1. Vision of Desired Change or Improved Conditions

Envisioning Success: Articulate a vision of what you hope to learn and how this proposed action research project could potentially bring about a desired change or improved conditions.

Project Aims: Articulate how this proposed project can help you achieve your vision of change. Describe what you hope to do, the intention of the project, and your aspirations for the project in terms of action, individual and/or organizational learning, community development, or community change.

1. Project Objectives

Articulate Concrete Project Objectives:Describe the steps you will take to achieve your vision of change and project aims. Be sure objectives are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely, as well as consistent with the purpose and scope of a community-based action research project.

1. Reference List

Scholarly Sources:Incorporate information and supportive evidence from at least three scholarly sources of direct relevance to your proposed action research project.