Week 5 Assignment: Best Practices Recommendations

Overview

A formal search of the literature is an integral part of the research and evaluation process. After identifying a research problem, a topic for a study, or a practice problem, the researcher must begin to gather as much information as possible about the topic. Beyond anecdotal or artifact types of information, the content of scholarly articles—found in various databases and on the Internet—represent the core of the review of the literature. 

For this assignment, the review of the literature serves the purpose of systematically examining the existing literature, research, and scholarly works, analyzing, and synthesizing the information relevant to the practice problem identified in the scenario. This will assist you in making informed evidence based intervention recommendations to address the hypothetical scenario presented in the instructions below. You will use this same scenario and the results of your literature review for the Weeks 8 and 9 assignments

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following EPAS and practice behaviors:

C1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.

• C1.GP.A Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context.
  • Select two interventions based on critical analysis and ethical practice.
• C1.GP.C Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication.
  • Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standard.

C4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice.

• C4.GP.A Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
  • Formulate a research question based on a scenario.
• C4.GP.B Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
  • Critically analyze how a search of the literature on the topic can inform the researcher and influence the design process employed for research and evaluation.
• C4.GP.C Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.
  • Evaluate the major findings of the sources relevant to the topic.

C9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities. 

• C9.GP.C Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes.
  • Evaluate the credibility of the sources relevant to the topic

Instructions

Scenario: The city of Erickson has allocated 4 million dollars to develop an outpatient mental health treatment center for people in the community facing housing insecurity or those who are unhoused. They have asked you to recommend two best practice intervention methods for the new service.

1. Consider the mission of the clinic, the setting, and the task assigned to you (recommendation of two best practice intervention methods based on the evidence) and formulate a research question based on what you have been asked to do in this scenario.
2. Review the literature relevant to your assignment task and your research question. Use and cite at least seven sources (peer reviewed, academic/scholarly, recently published) related to your topic of housing insecurity, mental health and community programs. Consider the following as you review the sources.
   • Evaluate the major findings of the sources, comparing and contrasting the information:
     • What do you know about the origins, prevalence, and correlates of the problem?
     • What are the major themes or “take aways” of your review?
     • How is the information similar or different?
     • Evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches presented.
     • Evaluate how these sources might be applied to the scenario presented to create a new service model, e.g., your recommendations.
3. Evaluate the credibility of your sources including a rationale for inclusion.
   • Consider the following in your evaluation:
     • Publication dates.
     • Type of publication.
     • Peer reviewed, academic, scholarly.
     • Type of information presented, e.g., research based, methods employed, expert opinion, etc.
     • Author information, credentials.
     • How they added to your knowledge and informed the recommendations you will make to the clinic.
4. Critically analyze how a search of the literature on this topic informs you as a researcher and the research methods you might employ for research and evaluation.
   • What is your experience of conducting this search? Did you have difficulty finding what you needed? What search terms did you use? Did you need to revise them?
   • How did your review of literature influence you, e.g., your opinion and analysis?
   • Did it change your perceptions or expectations? Were you surprised by what you found?
   • Did you find any studies that really made an impression? Why or why not?
   • How might this review influence your program evaluation proposal for the Weeks 8 and 9 assignments in evaluating the recommendations you will be making? Will you propose a qualitative or a quantitative design? Why?
   • Use supporting evidence to support your work.
5. Based on a critical analysis of your literature review and ethical practice as discussed in Week 2, recommend two best practice intervention strategies for the outpatient mental health treatment center for people in the community who have insecure housing or who are unhoused.
   • What are the two best practice intervention methods you will recommend to the City of Erickson based on your analysis of the literature review?
   • Explain why you have selected these two interventions.
   • Do the interventions align with ethical practice and standards?
   • Support your choice with the relevant scholarly literature.

Additional Requirements

The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free from errors that detract from the overall message.
• References: Cite at least seven academic or scholarly journal articles.
• APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format standards. Evidence and APALinks to an external site. can help with this.
• Length of paper: 3–4 double-spaced pages, not including cover page and references page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday of this week.

Research and Writing Resources

You may find the following resources helpful as you work on this assignment.

• Evidence and APALinks to an external site..
• The Writing CenterLinks to an external site..
• Library Research and Information Literacy SkillsLinks to an external site.
• Social Work Bachelor's Program Library GuideLinks to an external site.
• Assignment TypesLinks to an external site.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria:

• Competency 1: Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research. (C4.GP.A)
• Formulate a research question based on a scenario. (C4.GP.A)
• Competency 2: Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings. (C4.GP.B)
• Critically analyze how a search of the literature on the topic can inform the researcher and influence the design process employed for research and evaluation. (C4.GP.B)
• Competency 3: Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery. (C4.GP.C)
• Evaluate the major findings of the sources relevant to the topic. (C4.GP.C)
• Competency 5: Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes. (C9.GP.C)
• Evaluate the credibility of the sources relevant to the topic. (C9.GP.C)
• Competency 6: Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context. (C1.GP.A)
• Select two interventions based on critical analysis and ethical practice. (C1.GP.A)
• Competency 7: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession. (C1.GP.C)
• Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards. (C1.GP.C)