A Comparative Study of Violent Extremism and Gangs

Hypothesis testing paper instructions

All students will submit an original hypothesis testing research paper that is relevant to the topic of the course. The research paper will employ either a qualitative or a quantitative methodology to test a hypothesis that has been generated based on the student’s research question. The body of the research paper will be 4,000 to 4,500 words in length.
Refer to the Hypothesis Testing Research Paper Instructions below or the file located in the Hypothesis Testing Paper folder on ELMS for a more detailed explanation as well as the grading metrics for the assignment.

DUE: Sunday, 8 May 2022, 11:59 PM Eastern Time, electronically submitted via ELMS
Note: The submission portal will be closed promptly on Monday, 9 May 2022, 12:00 AM (Midnight)

Hypothesis Testing Research Paper Instructions
Basic Requirement:
1. Cover Page: A cover page that contains at a minimum paper’s title, student’s name, and date of submission is required. At the bottom right-hand corner of the cover page, indicate the total number of words on the paper – both inclusive and body only word counts (Inclusive word count is the total word count of the entire document. Body only word count is the word count of only the body of the research paper.).
2. Abstract: A 250-word abstract of the paper is required on a separate page by itself (2nd page of the entire research paper package).
3. Keywords: Select five to six keywords that describe the paper. Place the keywords on the same page as the abstract three lines below the end of the abstract text.
4. Body:
1. Margins: 1-inch margins all around
2. Font: Arial 10 or Times New Roman 12
3. Line Spacing: 1.5 or 2.0
4. Paper Length: Minimum – 4,000 words; Maximum – 4,500 words
5. Paper Style: Choose one of the following:
■ APA Style: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
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■ Chicago Style: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/
■ (Links to an external site.)
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■ MLA Style: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
■ (Links to an external site.)
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6. Citation: In-text citation utilizing the same guidelines specified in the specific paper style you chose to use.
5. References: A reference page that lists all of the sources and materials the student consulted to conduct his/her research is required. Please ensure the reference pages are in the same style as the specific paper style you chose to use.
6. Appendix: Please attach all the quantitative data, tables, and graphs you used to conduct your research.
NOTE: The 4,000- to 4,500-word requirement for this assignment only takes into account the research paper body word count. The cover page, abstract, keywords, references, and appendix do not count toward the minimum/maximum word count requirement. They do, however, count toward the total word count that you will indicate on the cover page.

2. Research Paper Topics/Questions: Students can choose any topic and research question that interest them as long as the topic and research question is relevant to the course. Students will notify the instructor of their research question idea and receive approval to conduct research on that topic via email no later than May 9, 2022. If a student fails to get his/her topic and research question approved by the instructor, the resultant paper will not be graded.

3. Literature Review and Hypothesis:
1. In order to develop a testable hypothesis, students must first conduct a literature review that is related to the research question being researched. As the students conduct the literature review, students will be able to develop a hypothesis that is testable to determine its validity in relation to the research question at hand.
2. When conducting a literature review, students must keep in mind that a literature review is NOT a list of what other authors have said on the topic. Rather, it is a well-composed argument that supports the student’s central paper idea and justifies his/her hypothesis.
3. A well-written literature review should also be able to justify the relevance of the student’s research paper.
4. A well-written hypothesis should be a clearly stated single if-then sentence accompanied by a short justification that summarizes the student’s central argument.
5. This section of the paper should be approximately 800 – 1,000 words in length.

4. Methodology:
1. Once the student conducts a literature review and develops a testable hypothesis, the student needs to decide how he/she will test the hypothesis. There are generally two methods to conduct this analysis – qualitative and quantitative methods – the student needs to choose one. **I choose the quantitative method**
2. In this section, the student will explain the methodology he/she is choosing to employ in order to test the hypothesis. The student should also state why his/her chosen methodology is appropriate to test the hypothesis. Contained within the discussion of the appropriateness of the methodology, there should also be a short discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen methodology.
3. Once the methodology has been discussed, the student should discuss his/her dependent and independent variables. In this discussion, the student should describe each variable that will be examined as well as a discussion of operationalization of each variable (how each variable will be measured).
4. This section also includes a description of the data/cases the student will be using to conduct his/her analysis because data and case selection are essential to conducting accurate analysis.
5. If the student chooses to employ one of the qualitative methods to conduct the analysis (test the hypothesis), then he/she needs to conduct a minimum of three case studies. In this case, the student must not only describe the three cases chosen for analysis but also justify their selection. Ordinarily, this will be done as the student describes and operationalizes his/her variables.
6. If the student chooses to employ the quantitative method to conduct the analysis, then he/she needs to have a minimum of 80 observations/cases in his/her dataset. The same requirements about description and justification apply for quantitative analysis as they did for the qualitative analysis as noted in 5e immediately above.
7. The key point of this section is to convey to the reader how the student plans to test his/her hypothesis as well as how the test(s) will be conducted and measured.
8. This section of the paper should be approximately 500 – 800 words in length

5. Completed Paper:

1. This is where everything the student has done throughout the semester comes together. This is the full paper that contains the introduction, literature review, hypothesis, methodology, analysis, conclusion, etc.
2. Again, qualitative papers will have a minimum of three (3) case studies and the quantitative papers will have a minimum of 80 observations/cases.
3. When completed, the paper’s body will be between 4,000 – 4,500 words (this includes approximately 800 – 1,000 words written for the literature review and hypothesis as well as the 500 – 800 words written for methodology and variables).
4. The completed paper, fully assembled with all the components outlined in the Basic Requirements above is due by 11:59 PM, 8 May 2022, in electronic copy, submitted via ELMS.
5. The completed paper is worth 40% of the total course grade.
6. Your grade for the completed paper will depend on the following:
1. Do you explain your question?
2. How well do you explain the existing research?
3. Does your hypothesis make sense and do you explain it well?
4. How well do you describe your operationalization?
5. Did you correctly perform your data analysis?
6. Were your analysis and conclusions clearly explained?
7. Did you include an appendix that presents your data?
8. Is the paper coherent as a whole?

6. NO EXTENSIONS will be granted for the submission of the final paper unless the student can provide a valid medical excuse or furnish tangible evidence demonstrating exigent circumstances.