Updated 8/30/07

Individualized Data Gathering and Analysis Project (IP)

Effective June 1, 2007, in order to use an IP as their Master's Project, students must use research that they completed after they finished all of their MSW coursework.

This option is designed primarily to allow students to get credit for community projects that involve systematic data collection and analysis.  As such, the Individualized Projects (IPs) can potentially be based on program development, evaluation, and/or grant writing done as part of a student’s human service employment.  If the original project did not include a literature review and other core components of well-designed empirical research (e.g., a clear problem statement and/or research questions, and a review of appropriate literature), these would need to be added. Individualized Projects must have been started after a student began coursework in our program, and proposals for IPs must be specifically approved by the student’s First and Second Readers who may consult the full faculty on this

To apply for this option follow these steps:

1. Write pre-proposal that include the following sections:
   • Introduction
   • Description of the Goal
   • Outline of Literature Review
   • Methods
   • Research Design
   • Limitations
   • Ethical Issues
2. Give to your primary reader who will take it to the full faculty membership for approval.
3. If approved follow the steps below:
   

Required components of the Individualized Project include:

      1. A clear statement of the problem or thesis and/or research questions or hypotheses.

      2.  A review of the appropriate literature.

      3. Evidence of conceptualization (not merely description).

      4.  Evidence of original thinking.

      5. Evidence of sound data collection and analysis; and, if appropriate, sampling techniques.  

      6. Discussion of the application of findings to social work.

The final product must be logically developed and generally well-written