Directions:
This assignment addresses the first step in the problem–solving process. Use a 12–point font,
double–spacing, 1–inch margins, and a separate cover page in which the assignment number
and your name are written. Be sure to use the appropriate APA (7th edition) formatting and
include a reference list for the final studies. Use the bolded words below as the headings for
your paper.
Please complete the following:
A. Problem Analysis (3 – 4 pages)
• Introduction: Identify a practice/social problem of interest to you. Provide some detail
about the problem (1 – 2 paragraphs)
– This should start with a definition of the practice/social problem. Be specific. For
e.g. if your topic is homelessness – what do you mean by that? How is this defined?
Are you looking at this problem in the state of Ohio? At a national level? Global
level?
– Are you looking at this problem for a specific group of people (i.e. among the
LGBTQ+ community, in youth, women, veterans, or a specific a racial/ethnic
group)?
– Use local/state/national government websites (World Health Organization, Centers
for Disease Control, National institute of Health, etc.) to provide statistics on your
problem.
– How prevalent is this problem based on your definition above? (i.e. if you decided
to look at homelessness among youth in the U.S., then provide statistics on how
many youth are homeless in the U.S. Do this in total and by relevant demographics
like gender, age, race/ethnicity.
• Literature Review: Do a literature review about the problem. Highlight any important
findings that might be helpful to you as you narrow and focus the problem (2 – 3 pages).
– This is where you need to identify research articles that are about studies on your
particular problem. Start with 10 articles, then narrow it down to those that are
most relevant.
– Do not include literature/systematic reviews
– You will typically find studies that examine factors (risk/protective) associated with
your social problem (i.e. mental health and homeless youth), or ones that examine
the problem in a certain area or population.
This assignment addresses the first step in the problem–solving process. Use a 12–point font,
double–spacing, 1–inch margins, and a separate cover page in which the assignment number
and your name are written. Be sure to use the appropriate APA (7th edition) formatting and
include a reference list for the final studies. Use the bolded words below as the headings for
your paper.
Please complete the following:
A. Problem Analysis (3 – 4 pages)
• Introduction: Identify a practice/social problem of interest to you. Provide some detail
about the problem (1 – 2 paragraphs)
– This should start with a definition of the practice/social problem. Be specific. For
e.g. if your topic is homelessness – what do you mean by that? How is this defined?
Are you looking at this problem in the state of Ohio? At a national level? Global
level?
– Are you looking at this problem for a specific group of people (i.e. among the
LGBTQ+ community, in youth, women, veterans, or a specific a racial/ethnic
group)?
– Use local/state/national government websites (World Health Organization, Centers
for Disease Control, National institute of Health, etc.) to provide statistics on your
problem.
– How prevalent is this problem based on your definition above? (i.e. if you decided
to look at homelessness among youth in the U.S., then provide statistics on how
many youth are homeless in the U.S. Do this in total and by relevant demographics
like gender, age, race/ethnicity.
• Literature Review: Do a literature review about the problem. Highlight any important
findings that might be helpful to you as you narrow and focus the problem (2 – 3 pages).
– This is where you need to identify research articles that are about studies on your
particular problem. Start with 10 articles, then narrow it down to those that are
most relevant.
– Do not include literature/systematic reviews
– You will typically find studies that examine factors (risk/protective) associated with
your social problem (i.e. mental health and homeless youth), or ones that examine
the problem in a certain area or population.
2
– For your literature summarize around 4 – 5 studies. You want to speak to the
objective of the study, who they studied, where the study took place, when the
study occurred, and the study results.
B. Hypothetical Case (1 – 2 pages)
Imagine a hypothetical case in your practice context – the setting in which you will deal with
this problem.
• Describe a hypothetical case (affected by this problem) in your practice context. (It can
be a specific client, family, or community. You may use your imagination to detail a
plausible case which you are likely to have in your practice context.)
• Develop a problem inventory which includes a list of other possible problems that your
hypothetical case may be dealing with.
• Discuss your problem prioritization and identify the desired outcome(s) for your
hypothetical case.
• Based on your hypothetical case, develop a PICO statement in the table format below.
Fill out P & O in the following PICO, but leave I & C blank, because you will fill out I & C
later in Assignment 2.
– For your literature summarize around 4 – 5 studies. You want to speak to the
objective of the study, who they studied, where the study took place, when the
study occurred, and the study results.
B. Hypothetical Case (1 – 2 pages)
Imagine a hypothetical case in your practice context – the setting in which you will deal with
this problem.
• Describe a hypothetical case (affected by this problem) in your practice context. (It can
be a specific client, family, or community. You may use your imagination to detail a
plausible case which you are likely to have in your practice context.)
• Develop a problem inventory which includes a list of other possible problems that your
hypothetical case may be dealing with.
• Discuss your problem prioritization and identify the desired outcome(s) for your
hypothetical case.
• Based on your hypothetical case, develop a PICO statement in the table format below.
Fill out P & O in the following PICO, but leave I & C blank, because you will fill out I & C
later in Assignment 2.