Module 5 Assignment 1
In Module 1, you began by brainstorming research topics and you submitted your research topic for approval. Once the topic was approved, you began working toward your final research proposal.
The structure of the research report is simple and almost the same as the structure of the research itself. The purpose of the report is to inform the reader about the problem investigated, the methods used to solve the problem, the results of the investigation, and the conclusions inferred from the results. The function of the report is not to convince the reader of the virtue of the research but to expeditiously and as clearly as possible report what was done, why it was done, how it was done, and what was concluded. The research report should always be written so readers can draw their own conclusions about the adequacy of the research and the validity of the reported results and conclusions. The ultimate test of a research report is its ability to be replicated. If this criterion cannot be met, the report is inadequate.
Although it is not always easy to develop and write a research report, there should be constant revision and consistent effort toward organization. You, the writer, must always be aware that deleting circumlocutions, redundancies, and other "verbal fat" is a necessity. Go over the report to achieve greater simplicity, clarity, and brevity and fulfill the obligation to give criticism the serious, careful, and objective attention it deserves.
Now that the course is coming to an end, there must be a time for deliberate and candid self-reflection on the journey you have just made. The area of research methodology and statistics, regardless of the research venue, is a difficult one to master. However, all learning must have a beginning. All learning should be purposeful and goal oriented. All learning should advance you to another level of thinking and add to your personal knowledge base.
When reviewing what you have covered in Modules 1 through 4, you will probably realize there were personal highlights and even situations of frustration. You will also realize your efforts have made you more appreciative of what research offers to the discipline of behavioral sciences. However, no matter how much content a person can absorb, how much critical thinking can be done, and how much knowledge can be brought to the forefront, one final professional research initiative must be addressed, namely ethics.
In this last module, in addition to developing your final research proposal, you will be looking at ethics and diversity within the context of research. Ethics is defined as having three components: respect for the person, beneficence, and justice. For students at all levels, the habit of applying ethics depends on the development of moral sensibilities and critical reasoning and on an approach to problem solving, honing in on both reason and practice. For students in the behavioral sciences, therefore, ethical decision making is essential to proper conduct when conducting research.
The Four Principles
One way to understand the implications or consequences of ethics is to know that moral action (ethics) is determines by four principles:
Moral sensitivity (the ability to understand moral content when present in a situation)
Moral judgment (the ability to recognize what is the moral thing to do)
Moral motivation (the ability to do what is actually moral rather than what other values dictate)
Moral character (the qualities of the strength of ego, perseverance and the courage to act)
The implication here is that for all students who practice the four principles, the consequence is clear—all life's important problems are dealt with positively by an individual who is in harmony with the self and the community. The end result is the development of a healthy personality and a moral framework guiding research endeavors along a clear path—one not bound by self-interest.
Learning Outcome
Describe the role of the forensic mental health professional in research.
Articulate and apply knowledge related to ethical and cultural factors which might affect the conduct, design, and interpretation of research.
Discuss the importance and methods of designing valid and reliable research in the behavioral sciences.
Examine the implications for evidence-based practice for the forensic mental health professional.
Discuss issues related to the calculation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of statistical output.
Identify and apply appropriate ways in which research information may be disseminated.
