Research Proposal

The components of this assignment include a research question, a purpose statement, and a literature review. The specific research question must address a SOF-related topic related to the Course Objectives (meaning that you are able to include and address aspects of both SOF theory and SOF application in it). Your literature review must identify and assess the main relevant sources related to your research question.

a

I made this assignment due in Week 3 to allow us to complete our study of SOF Theory in Weeks 1 & 2 before requiring you to select your topic, since the substance of Lessons 1 & 2 should inform your choice of topic for this assignment.

a

Learning Objective

Analyze the theories of special operations forces and the history of special operations.

Possible Topics

You are free to select any topic related to the course objectives (meaning that you are able to include and address aspects of both SOF theory and SOF application in it) and for which you are able to access sufficient number of credible sources (i.e., at least six, at least two of which must be scholarly (i.e., peer reviewed)) as the subject of your research paper in this course.

a

Here is a list (modified from the US Armys 2021-2022 Key Strategic Issues List (KSIL)) of possible research topics regarding SOF in Irregular Warfare to consider.

Irregular Warfare: The US military will continue to conduct irregular warfare, whether it is counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, or advise and assist operations, and SOF will remain essential to the conduct of irregular warfare successfully.

Research Topics:

1. Evaluate the potential effectiveness of SOF counterterrorism efforts in Africa to mitigate the terrorist threat to Europe.

2. Analyze how SOF can help African militaries to increase stability on the continent, counter illicit trafficking of WMD materials, and assist other African partners.

3. Analyze and assess SOF options for partnering with Eurasian forces to combat terrorism while addressing Russian assertiveness.

4. Assess Russias use of proxy or patriotic hackers and evaluate international laws and norms that can be used to limit their use.

5. Examine a particular Services (e.g., Army, Navy) role in support of SOF activities in the pre-crisis period to counter PRC gray zone actions.

6. Assess SOF options to balance direct action, advisory roles, and capacity development when partnering with Middle Eastern and Central Asian militaries combating transnational VEOs.

7. Assess options for the ability of SOF to prevent extremists from migrating from a conflict zone in one region to another conflict in a different part of the world.

8. Assess the appropriate role of, and requirements for, SOF in USG programs that support militaries and law enforcement entities combatting criminal, terrorist, and illicit networks.

9. Identify how SOF can assist institutional and force generation capacities of Libyan and Somali security forces in support of political reconciliation and countering VEO operations.

10. How can the US military recruit and retain a SOF culture to attract and incorporate women, minorities, and Generation Z?

11. Assess the evolution of PRC or Russian gray zone approaches and the Army and

allied role in effectively countering them.

12. Analyze Russias Reflexive Control theory and evaluate SOF capabilities that can be used to counter it.

13. Evaluate how SOF should incorporate hybrid warfare and constant competition in its operational planning to achieve desired strategic effects.

Specific Guidance for the Two Main Parts of this Assignment

The first part of this assignment requires you to develop a legitimateRQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis social science research methodology.

a

Here is a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of creating a legitimate RQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis social science research methodology by crafting the following:

• Research Question (RQ): identifies the topic and scope of your research project

I will use the first topic listed above to provide an example of how to use it to develop a legitimate RQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis research methodology

Research Topic: Evaluate the potential effectiveness of SOF counterterrorism efforts in Africa to mitigate the terrorist threat to Europe

• Corresponding Research Question: What are the three most effective ways that SOF counterterrorism efforts in Africa can help mitigate the terrorist threat to Europe?
• Identifies the topic and scope of the proposed inquiry
• Is stated in the form of a question
• Is stated qualitatively, which allows you to use research to answer it and present an argument in support of your findings
• Dependent Variable (DV): For this research topic and question the Dependent Variable is:most effective ways that SOF counterterrorism efforts in Africa can help mitigate the terrorist threat to Europe
• only one
• this is the effect you are investigating
• the main focus of your research project
• Independent Variables (IVs): Here are three possible independent variables (IVs) for this Research Question
• Supporting Foreign Internal Defense (FID) efforts
• Taking Direct Action
• Conducting Special Reconnaissance
• Regarding your IVs:
• best to identify and investigate three IVs to keep the scope of the project manageable and within the length of the requirement
• these are the main causes of the effect you are investigating and the specific areas you will research for the project
• Hypothesis: this is a single statement that incorporates your variables, provides a direct and viable answer to the RQ you have posed, and is phrased so that it is easy to test its validity through research.

Each hypothesis will be different based upon what you think the most likely answer to the RQ is with respect to the historical individual you have selected, but will be something along the following lines: Supporting Foreign Internal Defense (FID) efforts, taking Direct Action, and conducting Special Reconnaissance are the three most effective ways that SOF counterterrorism efforts in Africa can help mitigate the terrorist threat to Europe.’“

Notice how this statement incorporates the DV and IVs and provides a direct and viable answer to the RQ posed that can be testing for validity using researchto confirm or refute it (either outcome is acceptable, as both contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding this topic). Doing so provides your research methodology with sufficient internal integrity to make it a legitimate guide for your research and to present your findings.

Following this process closely and as outlined above will allow you to create a legitimate RQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis social science research methodology to use on this assignment.

You are free (and encouraged!) to use the examples I have provided as a template for developing your own RQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis research methodology

You are also most welcome to send of draft of your RQ-DV-IVs-Hypothesis research methodology to me via email up to 48 hours in advance to evaluate prior to this assignment

a

The second part of the assignment requires you to conduct a preliminary Literature Review to ensure that there are sufficient sources of credible information/evidence available to support the subject of your research (and to which you have access). These sources must relate to the specific topic you intend to study and cannot include course material (i.e., sources that I have provided).

For this assignment, it is most important that you identify an appropriate number of credible and/or scholarly sources relevant to your subject and to which you have access to support your research.

• Credible sources those for which we can identify and evaluate the reliability of both the author and sources of information used in the work; if you can’t identify and evaluate the credibility of both the author and sources of information used in the work, then the source is not credible and should not be used in academic work
• Scholarly sources Credible sources that have been reviewed by experts in the field (which occurs in peer-reviewed journals (which the APUS library identify for you in your search) and during the publication process for books); Scholarly sources are therefore the very best types of sources to use in academic work, since we can identify and evaluate the reliability of both the author and sources of information used in the work, and the substance of the work has been reviewed by experts in the field
• All scholarly sources are credible sources, but not all credible sources are scholarly
• All of your sources must be at least credible sources; strive to use the most scholarly sources possible, which are the most reliable sources of information for academic work

Note that books published by reputable publishers (i.e., commercial publishers and academic presses, but NOT self-published) qualify as credible sources.

a

Format

1. Title Page: The title of your paper should be brief but should adequately inform the reader of your general topic and the specific focus of your research. The title page must include the title, your name, course name and number, professors name, and date.
2. Start your assignment with an introductory paragraph, or paragraphs, about your research topic and why it is of interest. End your paragraph(s) with your research question. This section should be 12 page – 1 page.
3. Provide a purpose statement (i.e., what you intend to accomplish (i.e., test the validity of the hypothesis to confirm or refute it) and how you intend to do so (i.e., use research to assess the validity of each of the IVs to make an overall determination regarding the validity of the hypothesis)). This section should be 12 page.
4. State explicitly why this topic is important enough to be researched. This section should be 12 page 1 page.
5. End your purpose statement by stating what you expect to find as a result of your research by presenting your Hypothesis (i.e., your hypothetical thesis) that incorporates your variables (DV and IVs) and provides a direct answer to the RQ posed that can be tested for validity using research.
6. Provide a literature review of the sources that will inform your research. This section should be 3-4 pages.

• Note: research projects include a literature review to determine what knowledge exists on the subject under study and to develop the theoretical framework that will be used in the study. The literature review sets the context for the entire research project by explaining what others have found in researching the same or similar specific research questions. The literature review is written in a narrative format.
• A literature review begins with an introductory paragraph in which the writer frames the research topic and its significance, and the question that the researcher is addressing. To do that, the writer will summarize the major relevant arguments on the research subject, highlighting the main issues and how schools of thought might differ. If there are key terms to be defined, the writer should do that here.
• The body of the literature review tells readers what others have found in their studies about your specific research question (the extent of existing knowledge on your specific research question), critiques what is right or wrong with these other studies, and discusses how the work is distinguishable from the research you are proposing. This literature review should include a critical review of a minimum of 6 appropriate sources, to include scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, material from government publications and websites, and/or other topic-appropriate source. Note: you must provide citations for the ideas of different authors.
• A literature review ends with a concluding paragraph in which the writer summarizes the primary sense of the literature that encapsulates where the existing literature ends and their research begins as they seek to answer their research question and add to the body of knowledge on their topic.
• You will need to identify and be able to gain access to at least six credible sources for this assignment and to support your research; at least two of these sources must be scholarly (i.e., peer reviewed).

Technical Requirements

• Your paper must be at a minimum of 6-8 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit).
• Only credible sources (i.e., sources that both the identity of the author and the source(s) of evidence can be identified and evaluated) can be used for this assignment.
• A minimum of 6 credible sources, at least two of which must be scholarly (i.e., peer reviewed) are required for this assignment. Proper and sufficient attribution to them is also required.
• Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space.
• Follow the current Turabian Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework.
• All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric.

Follow the guidance and adhere to the formatting instructions to ensure you address all required elements of this assignment.