use the following template for your research reports. Label each major section (#1 through #7) with the headings as indicated below. Focus first on addressing all of the required points on the template, then go back and write transitions between the major sections when you have time.

Template:

1. Introduction (2 paragraphs)

• Topic of research and brief description of problem being addressed and method used
• Description of structure of report

1. Background and Research Objectives (2- 3 paragraphs)

• How the topic fits into current events and/or long-term social trends
• Research questions and why the answers matter, including to whom

1. Abbreviated Literature Review - at least 8 sources, with 5 or more peer-reviewed/scholarly (4-5 paragraphs)

• What the literature review covers and how it relates to your topic
• Similarities among source research or findings as it relates to your topic
• Differences among source research or findings as it relates to your topic
• How your research builds from and/or contributes to the research

1. Research Methods (5- 7 paragraphs)

• Research method and why - review research questions
• Research hypothesis and why
• Researcher positionality - Research approach (ex. Inductive, Constructivist) and how your identity or experiences or social position motivated the research and may have affected the data gathering
• Who you planned to gather data from and why
• How the actual data collection went, research sample, what went well, what could have been improved
• Brief description of coding and any other analysis process used

1. Findings and Discussion (6- 7 paragraphs + 1 or more visualizations of results)

• Description of main patterns observed in the data analysis with explanation of visual(s)
• Detail and quotes that support main findings
• Detail and quotes that are somehow different from others
• Explanation of relationship of research results to research questions and research hypothesis
• How this research deepened your understanding of the topic and related issues
• Limitations of the research findings - research method, time period, population, etc

1. Conclusion and Recommendations (2- 3 paragraphs)

• Summary of research process, findings, conclusions with respect to research questions
• Comment on value of research, key insights gained, and how the value or insights could be expanded in future research

1. References list - at least 8-10 sources, 5 or more need to be scholarly articles/peer-reviewed sources, references to support research methods may be the text and videos.