HLTH 505 Research Paper
Research Paper Instructions
The goal of this project is to evaluate a current environmental health issue, discuss the control and/or mitigation measures currently employed, and recommend methods to improve public health policy or practice for that issue. This required research paper project is a 15-page (approximately 4,500 words) document that must be double-spaced. Each student must choose a different topic. Therefore, before you submit your topic, look over your classmates’ submissions to be sure it has not been selected. It is first-come, first-served on topic selection.
Your paper must be well documented using current AMA format. You are required to use at least 10 professional, peer-reviewed, scholarly sources in the reference page of your paper. Avoid using newspapers, lay magazines, and fact sheets. Articles from non-professional sources will not earn credit. A Medline search is a great way to locate acceptable information. The American Journal of Public Health, New England Journal of Medicine, The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and similar publications are excellent sources. Start early to allow adequate time to find appropriate materials. You must support your opinions with data from the scientific literature. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in automatic failure of the course.
The paper should include the following:
- Title page with title of paper, your name/ID, date and course/section (HLTH 505.xx). This page does not count toward the 15 pages.
- Abstract – Provide a short summary of the content of the paper (less than 100 words).
- Introduction – present a description of the problem — its size, scope and affected population(s); stressing the available information or data that best supports the group’s position with regard to the public health significance of the problem or issue and its relationship to, or impact on, members of the community;
- Background – discuss the etiologic or causative factors involved with this particular problem, including the agent(s), mechanism(s) of injury or health impact, and the transmission pathway(s). Include a review of past policies and practices, both successful and unsuccessful. Compares International, Federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines, and authorities that address the environmental health issues.
- Current research efforts – Discuss what potential future develoments are being researched. Remember the project regards a current issue. If nothing has been published in recent years, it may not be as relavant as it may appear on the surface.
- Discussions – This is the heart of the paper. Thoroughly evaluate the material you have found. Discuss the pros and cons of various approaches. Analyze the available statistical measures provided by the researchers. Reveal the shortcomings and highlight the merits of the literature. Description of International, Federal and state policies that address the environmental health issues.
- Recommendations – This is where your opinions are given. They should be guided by logic and an understanding of the science gained from your research, void of emotional language, yet restrained by biblical truth. A scientifically valid opinion should not violate scripture or biblical morality.
References – This page does not count toward the 15 pages either