1. 1 The Special Project & Thesis School of Health and Human Services Southern Connecticut State University Department of Public Health Master of Public Health Program Presents

2. 2 Special Project as a Culminating Option in the MPH Program 9 Core Courses 27 Credits Internship 3-6 Credits Electives/Spec. 9-12 Credits Culminating Experience 6 Credits Special ProjectThesis Total Credits Required = 48

3. 3 The Special Project & Thesis: A 3 Stage Process Special Project & Thesis Components Application Prospectus Prospectus or Proposal Final Report

4. 4 The Special Project & Thesis: Calendar ApplicationApplication –June Complete the proposal or prospectusComplete the proposal or prospectus –Fall semester Finished thesis or special projectFinished thesis or special project –Spring semester

5. 5 Special Project & Thesis: The Process Application

6. 6 Special Project & Thesis: The Application Process No Submit Application Application Review and Decision Not Approved Resubmit Meet Eligibility Requirements Yes ConferenceApproved Reapply next year Not approved

7. 7 Advancing the Mission of Health Agencies Providing Service and Research through a University-Agency Partnership to Improve the Public’s Health AgencyUniversity

8. 8 The Special Project: A Description A planning and development activityA planning and development activity An opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to integrate:An opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to integrate: –Knowledge and theory –Content and concepts –Science and ingenuity into professional practice Any research involving human participants must be approved by the IRB!

9. 9 The Special Project: A Description, Cont’d Ends with a delivery of a product for use (by the agency) in an intervention to address a health related problem/need. Starts with a service agreement

10. 10 The Special Project: A Description, Cont’d Types of Service Agreements 1. Agency-based specified 2. Agency-based Unspecified Unspecified 3. Entreprenurial

11. 11 Special Project: The Process The Application, cont’d 1.Statement of the Problem/Need 2.Proposed Service Agreement

12. 12 Special Project: The Process The Application, cont’d 3. Significance and Relevance 4.Description of Host Agency (Not required for entrepreneurial proposals)

13. 13 Special Project: The Process The Application, cont’d 5. Author’s Qualifications 6. Ethics Governing Project

14. 14 Special Project: The Process The Application, cont’d 7. Definition of Terms 8. Summary

15. 15 Special Project: The Process The Prospectus The Plan for Conducting the Special Project

16. 16 Special Project: The Process Special Project Prospectus Section Two Background Information Section Three Proposed Process and (Application) Section One Introduction

17. 17 Special Project: The Process The Prospectus, cont’d Section Two- Background Information 1.Analysis [Demonstration*] of the Problem/Need 2.Prior Interventions [Appraisal of Selected Strategy and Methodology**] 3.Conclusion * For entrepreneurial projects ** For agency-based specified projects

18. 18 Special Project: The Process The Prospectus, cont’d Section Three- Proposed Process 1.Description of Proposed Process 2.Work Plan 3.Work Analysis

19. 19 Special Project: The Process The Prospectus, cont’d Section Three- Proposed Process, cont’d 4. Budget 5. Work and Budget At-a-Glance 6. Summary

20. 20 Special Project: The Process Special Project Report Section Four Results of Process Section Five Reflections and Sections One-Three

21. 21 Special Project: The Process Section Four- Results of Process 1. Planning Procedures and Findings 2.Design of Intervention 3.Pilot Test of Intervention 4.Final Intervention 5.Summary Special Project Report

22. 22 Special Project: The Process Section Five- Reflections 1.Quality of Process 2.Quality of Response 3.Effect on Professional Capacity Special Project Report

23. 23 Special Project: Examples of Products Policy and procedure manualsPolicy and procedure manuals BrochuresBrochures Multi-mediaMulti-media CurriculaCurricula In-service coursesIn-service courses Educational games Resource manuals Handbooks Self-instructional manuals Websites Program evaluations

24. 24 Special Project: Required Documents Written Report Product CD Rom

25. 25 The Thesis: A Description Pose research questions or hypotheses that are answered through data collection and analysis Apply your general public health and specialized knowledge and skills (conceptual, human and technical) to the investigation and analysis of a public health issue The thesis does not have to be unique researchThe thesis does not have to be unique research

26. 26 The Thesis: A Description, Cont’d Ends with a document describing how you analyzed and answered that question. Starts with the problem that you frame, the question you pose.

27. 27 The Thesis: A Description, Cont’d Five types of theses: 1)investigative or experimental, 2)historical or descriptive, 3)qualitative, 4)interpretive, analytical or critical, 5)creative.

28. 28 Thesis: The Challenge Thesi s BIG IDEA!

29. 29 To get started - read! To add to the body of knowledge in your area, you must know the current level of knowledge Read other theses to see how they are done & understand what is expected Reading is the best resource for ideas on –Identifying a problem –Designing a method to investigate that problem

30. 30 Thesis Application: Part I: Identification of the Project Purpose of the research project you are proposing for your thesis Specific research questions or hypotheses Population you plan to study Rationale for this research project Significance (value) of the topic

31. 31 Thesis Application: Part II - Research Scope and Resources The literature review plan, with a list of reference The theoretical framework for your research or how you will develop one Strategy for obtaining access to your study population Research design Data collection methods Analysis plan

32. 32 Thesis Application A Special Requirement For a thesis that uses secondary dataFor a thesis that uses secondary data (An existing data set) There are additional requirements for preparation & analysis.There are additional requirements for preparation & analysis. Talk to Dr. Perlin before youTalk to Dr. Perlin before youproceed

33. 33 The Thesis Proposal Your proposal is a written action plan of what you intend to do (your topic) and how you intend to do it (your methodology)Your proposal is a written action plan of what you intend to do (your topic) and how you intend to do it (your methodology)

34. 34 Thesis Seminar I (The Proposal, cont’d) Generate your ideaGenerate your idea –Determine how to test it –Write a plan It is the contract for your thesis.It is the contract for your thesis. It must be approved by the Department and the Graduate SchoolIt must be approved by the Department and the Graduate School

35. 35 Thesis Seminar I (The Proposal, cont’d) Serves as the first 3 chapters for your thesisServes as the first 3 chapters for your thesis IntroductionIntroduction Literature ReviewLiterature Review MethodsMethods Any research involving human subjects must be approved by the IRB!

36. 36 Thesis Seminar II Conducting the Thesis Use the proposal as the plan to carry out your researchUse the proposal as the plan to carry out your research Final thesisFinal thesis –Findings –Discussion Approval from the DepartmentApproval from the Department and the Graduate School

37. 37 The Time Has Arrived

38. 38 Towards a common goal… Best Practices at Southern Connecticut State University