HSA 6977 MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Health Services Administration

 

 

 

Course Description:

 

In this course, the student will be afforded the opportunity to conduct a research project on a specific health care management problem in a community or institutional setting.  A formal proposal will be prepared first and, after faculty approval, the project will be carried out to conclusion in a final professional report.  Students will be expected to demonstrate during the course of this research project that they can apply theoretical knowledge and skills learned earlier, particularly research methods and design, to Prerequisites: HSA 6930 and Approved Plan.

 

Behavioral Objectives:

 

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

  1. Identify a problem in health care management, and via a hypotheses-testing and/or hypothesis-generation, study the problem in a scientific, professional manner;
  2. Prepare a written Proposal, for faculty approval, detailing the background of the problem, and a proposed plan of investigation—including relevant bibliography;
  3. Prepare a Final Report on the project, including discussion of the background, literature search, methodology used, analysis, findings and conclusions.

 

Course Function:

 

The purpose of this course is to afford the student an opportunity to conduct a research project on a specific health care management problem, as indicated in the Course Description (above).  Students will work individually with their faculty advisors and a field coordinator.  The grade for the course will be based upon the faculty advisor’s assessment of the Final Report.

 

The procedure to be followed by students wanting to complete a Masters Research Project is as follows:

 

  1. In HSA 6930: Select a topic directly related to health care management, which can lend itself to a research paper, or practical project dealing with a problem in your work situation (or at a facility which is accessible to you).
  2. Prepare a Proposal (10-15 pages) using APA Publication style manual.  The Proposal must contain the following sections:
    1. Title Page
    2. Statement of the Problem
    3. Background and Significance
    4. Procedure
    5. Personnel and Institutions Involved
    6. Timing
    7. Budget
    8. Bibliography

 

The general content of each of the above-mentioned sections is described below:

 

a.      Title Page

 

A sample Title Page is provided on page 5 for this handout

 

b.      Statement of the Problem

 

In this section, isolate and state precisely (specifically) and briefly the problem you intend to address in your proposed project and your purpose.  Try to avoid being either grandiose or vague.  Include here definitions of concepts and terms which are essential to understanding the Proposal, as well as any hypotheses to be tested.

 

c.      Background and Significance

 

Here you should demonstrate that you are familiar with existing research relative to your problem and should elaborate on the importance or significance of the proposed Project.  A major segment of this section will be a rigorous review of pertinent literature.  This review should help specify and determine the boundaries of knowledge which pertain to the problem being addressed.  In this section, you should also discuss the relevance of other established theories or related research findings from the field under study, or from a related field.

 

d.      Procedure

 

You should present firmly-developed methods of research which you intend to use in your pursuit of the solution to the problem.  The sophistication of the methods selected will be of less concern that the applicability of the methods to the specific problem area.  You will be given wide latitude in the selection of methods of approaches to the solution; however, you should be reminded that it is in the area of Procedure that criticism is quite often rendered.  All procedural steps must be consistent with the purpose of study.  This section should state clearly and precisely:

1.      Sampling Procedure

2.      Method of Data Collection

3.      Proposed Method of Data Analysis

4.      Anticipated Results and Expected Method of Presentation

5.      Sample Tables Showing How Data May be Arrayed

 

e.      Personnel and Institutions Involved

 

Any personnel other than the researcher should be listed here and elaboration made of the contribution they are expected to make.  Also, identify institutional settings within which the Project will be carried out.

 

f.        Timing

 

This section of the Proposal should include a step-by-step timetable, within which the Project will proceed.  Indicate such things as:

1.      When the Project will start

2.      When the Project will be completed

3.      Factors which might delay completion on time, etc.

 

g.      Budget

 

Any anticipated expenses which you expect to incur should be listed.  Those expenses you may plan to meet yourself should be indicated.  Those with which you may need Departmental help should be estimated.  If possible, the Department will attempt to obtain limited computer funds for student projects.

 

h.      References

 

Follow the format recommended in APA Publication.

 

3.   If your project will involve research on human subjects (including interviews or questionnaires where there is a possibility of “psychological risk”—personal or emotional –occurring to subjects, you must obtain clearance from the University Division of Sponsored Research.

 

  1. The Final Report (average length around 25 pages, excluding references and appendices) will be submitted to the project advisor for grading.

 

  1. The Final Report should contain the following sections:

 

    1. Title Page
    2. Statement of Problem
    3. Background and Significance
    4. Procedure
    5. Findings
    6. Conclusions and Directions for Future Research
    7. Appendices
    8. References