Systematic Literature Review – Topic Proposal Instructions

Systematic Literature Review – Topic Proposal Instructions Submit a Res

Submit a research question on a topic related to the political science subfield identified during your Self-Identification Assessment (PUBLIC POLICY). Specify your research question using the guidelines below. The research question must be narrow enough to effectively conduct an exhaustive search of all pertinent aspects of the issue within the course timeframe.

Your proposed topic must include a statement of both the practical and theoretical significance of your research question. Identify all relevant search terms associated with your research question. Be sure to specify the parameters for your investigation, including what will be included and excluded from your study.

Explain the procedures you will use to ensure a comprehensive balance of views in the literature, so that the works listed are representative of all major perspectives. The search for truth requires a thorough search without bias. Identify the relevant search engines, databases, and scholarly journal publications you will use to locate key voices on the research question. As this decision is critical to the success of your systematic literature review, you must secure written approval of your proposed topic from the instructor before proceeding.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of an effective systematic literature review on a public policy topic within political science necessitates a meticulously crafted research question that is both specific and feasible within the confinement of an eight-week course. The primary objective is to formulate a question that narrows focus to a particular aspect of public policy, enabling an exhaustive and comprehensive search of scholarly work, while ensuring inclusivity of diverse perspectives. This process begins with selecting a subfield—public policy—and identifying a specific issue or phenomenon that aligns with personal academic interests and broader societal relevance.

Formulating a precise research question involves understanding its practical and theoretical significance. Practical significance relates to the potential impact of the research in informing policy decisions, addressing societal challenges, or improving existing policy frameworks. Theoretical significance pertains to how the research contributes to understanding underlying principles, frameworks, or debates within the field of public policy. For example, a research question might explore the efficacy of policy interventions in reducing income inequality or analyze the political feasibility of implementing climate change policies. Clarifying these dimensions ensures that the research is grounded in real-world application while advancing scholarly knowledge.

Subsequently, the identification of pertinent search terms is essential for capturing the core concepts of the research question. These terms include keywords, synonyms, and related concepts that might appear in scholarly literature. For instance, if the research question pertains to "the effectiveness of urban transportation policies in reducing traffic congestion," relevant search terms could include "urban transportation," "traffic congestion," "public policy," "transportation planning," "urban mobility," and related synonyms or alternative phrases.

Determining the parameters entails setting clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria might involve peer-reviewed journal articles published within the last ten years, studies conducted in specific geographic regions, or research employing particular methodologies. Exclusion criteria could be articles outside the scope of public policy, non-peer-reviewed sources, or publications in languages outside the researcher's proficiency. This clarity helps focus the review and maintains relevance and quality.

To ensure a balanced literature review, it is vital to abide by systematic search procedures that prevent cognitive biases. These procedures include employing multiple databases such as JSTOR, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, along with specialized policy repositories or governmental databases. Additionally, constructing a comprehensive search strategy that combines different keywords and Boolean operators enhances the breadth of the search. Ensuring the inclusion of works from different geographic regions, theoretical perspectives, and methodological approaches prevents dominance of a single viewpoint and promotes diversity of thought.

The final step involves securing institutional and instructor approval for the proposed topic, which underscores the importance of clarity and scholarly alignment. This process involves presenting the formulated research question, search strategy, and parameters to the instructor for approval. The approval safeguards the relevance and feasibility of the review within the course timeframe and sets a clear pathway for systematic literature collection, analysis, and synthesis.

References

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