When selecting a topic, ensure that it is not too broad or narrow and that you will have enough to research and write about. To select a focus, use the prompts below as a guide in developing an action research question focused on an aspect of practice with autistic students or practices in autism:

· I would like to improve…

· Something I would like to change is…

· I am perplexed by…

· I am very curious and want to learn more about…

· An idea I would like to try in my class is…

· Some people are unhappy about…

· Something I think would really make a difference is…

Directions: Complete each template section shown below.

Part 2: Annotated Bibliography

In Part 1 of the Autism Action Research Project you created the problem statement and research questions. The next step in the action research project is to begin compiling research in the form of an annotated bibliography. Using the topic you selected in Part 1, conduct research using the existing body of literature that pertains to your topic. You will use this research to make decisions and inform the autism action research project as you learn more about your selected topic.

Locate a minimum of 8-10 peer-reviewed articles that pertain to your topic using the GCU Library and the MA: Autism Spectrum Disorder Library Guide. These articles may include any scholarly work such as journal articles, position papers, a discipline-specific handbook of research, etc. However, the majority must be peer-reviewed, primary research articles (i.e., the researchers collected, analyzed, and reported on their own data). Sources should be current except in the case of seminal studies or theoretical work that continues to influence contemporary thought.

Create an annotated bibliography that summarizes and classifies your findings by following these steps:

· Use the library to search for and locate journals and articles relevant to your topic/research questions.

· Read the abstracts and skim the articles to determine whether they correspond well to your topic/research questions.

· Sort and classify the articles. Methods of classification include chronological (based on when articles were published), by trend, by theme, or methodologically (based on the research methods used by the researcher or writer).

· Write the annotated bibliography including the citation for each source and an annotation of 150-200 words.

Reference “Preparing Annotated Bibliographies” for additional guidance.

As you conduct research, if you find your topic is too broad or too narrow, make revisions to ensure you have adequate research.

The full annotated bibliography does not need to be added to the template and can be submitted as a separate document for this part of the project.

Include your citations at the end of the template as a reference page. Use APA 7th edition when completing this list. This will become the references section of your paper in the capstone course.

Part 3: Literature Review Outline

In Part 2 of the Autism Action Research Project you created the annotated bibliography. Now that you have developed research questions, conducted research, and completed the annotated bibliography, it is time to organize your information. Create an outline that includes the following:

Introduction: Establishes the context of your review to readers.

· Define the topic of your research, including the problem statement, and provide any necessary background information that helps readers to understand. 

· Explain your perspective for the literature review, including the theory or framework you are building the project around.

· State your research questions. 

Body: Explains the organizational framework of your findings and describes the findings from the research that support your research questions.

· Introduce the body of the literature review by explaining how the research was classified. 

· Describe the themes identified and compare and contrast the research selected. 

Conclusion: Connects the literature review back to the context of your topic of study. 

· Present your main findings from the literature reviewed.

· Specify the information particularly important to your research questions presented in the first paragraph of your review.

References and In-text Citations: The last page of your review is a listing of all references used in your outline. Use the references page from the annotated bibliography and ensure you add any additional resources you found while outlining. Use APA 7th edition when completing this list. In-text citations should be included throughout your outline and will save time when completing the literature review.

Keep in mind that building your outline will help you complete the literature review in the next course.

Part 4: Literature Review

In Part 3 of the Autism Action Research Project you created the Literature Review Outline. The literature review should provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the research problem. It may contain theories and models relevant to the problem, a historical overview of the problem, current trends related to the problem, and significant research data published about the problem. The literature review should be 1,250-1,500 words and address the following.

1. Introduction: Establish the context of your review to readers. You should define the topic of your research and provide any necessary background information that helps readers understand. Explain your perspective for the literature review and clearly state your research questions.

2. Body: Explain the organizational framework of your findings. Describe the findings from the research that support your research questions and explain how the research was classified. Each paragraph should describe the themes identified and compare and contrast the research selected.

3. Summary: Summarize your main findings from the literature reviewed and highlight information that is particularly important to your research questions. Conclude the literature review by connecting back to the context of your topic of study.

4. References: Cite all the references used in the literature review using APA 7th edition format.

The full literature review does not need to be added the template and can be submitted as a separate document for this part of the project.

This will become the literature review section of your paper in the capstone course.

Part 5: Researcher Role, Ethical Considerations, and Project Planning

In Part 4 of the Autism Action Research Project you created the Outline/Literature Review. At this point in your project, you have identified the problem statement and research questions for your project along with supporting research. The nature of action research allows a holistic approach to problem-solving and a variety of research tools to be used in your project. In this assignment you will choose and develop the researcher role and the participants you will use for your autism action research project.

As the researcher, your role in this autism action research is to produce a mutually agreeable outcome for all participants and to develop methods to continue the work. You will execute your project in a real-world situation that involves close and open communication among the people involved. You hold a primary role in your autism action research project. This means you must consider ethical principles in the development and implementation of your work. Additionally, you will need to consider methods for organizing and analyzing your data.

Action research methods commonly use qualitative research and include:

· Document collection and analysis

· Participant observation recordings

· Case studies

· Observing individuals or groups

· Using audio and video tape recording

· Using structured or semi-structured interviews

· Taking field notes

· Using analytic memos

· Using or taking photographs

· Distributing surveys or questionnaires

Directions: Complete each template section shown below to identify your role in the action research project, the ethical considerations of the project, and describe your research context, including the where and the who.

You will continue to look at methodology in the next course.

Part 6: Methodology

In Part 5 of the Autism Action Research Project you identified your role as a researcher and participant. Now, you are ready to further develop the methodology part of your study.

Directions: Complete each template section shown below to identify your methodology and the plan for data analysis.

Using your answers above and from Part 5, summarize the information above by writing a 250-500 word description of your methodology in the space below.

The methodology should focus on the following:

· Identification of the specific population and sample of your proposed study

· Explanation about how participants will be selected

· Explanation of the instrumentation to be used for the study

· Description of data collection and analysis methods to be used

· Concluding summary