Dissertation structure: A critical review of current research papers on the topic focusing on the uk data and compare with USA statistics on the contemporary issue in social work practice with the view to contribute and extend knowledge.

CHAPTER 1:
Introduction – Rationale or scope of the problem/ Relevance to social work practice in the contemporary society and Contemporary issue?
-Identify and make clear the argument/statement of intent
-Justify the choice of topic/subject and perspectives.
-Research Aims and Objectives
-Context– Relevant information regarding legislation/ policy/ literature highlighting importance of the topic to social work.
-May contain statistics here that demonstrates significance of the topic to social work.
-General background to the important relevant factors. ** Emphasize why this study is valuable/ relevant to Social Work/ a contemporary social work issue.
-Key issues and why these are important to social work.
-What are the potential barriers and how will the writer overcome these?
-Maternal incarceration
-Parenting

CHAPTER 2:
Current Controversies (Critical analysis of controversial factors)
-Limited data regarding incarceration of women vs men
-Debates regarding problematic children’s outcomes as a result of maternal incarceration
-Varied maternal characteristics
-Gender specific complexities (critical analysis of gender comparing the UK and the USA).

CHAPTER 3:
Theoretical Frameworks:
Applying theory to Practice:
-Attachment theory
-Feminist theory
-Bio-Ecological theory

CHAPTER 4:
Methodology
-Outline of study design and methods.
-Inclusion and Exclusion criteria (Rationale for methods chosen).
-Search strategy – search engines used & terms entered. Explain the scope/ limitations of the material searched for (national/international?) – Also explain the limitations you set on time frame & explain why (mostly using material published after 2010.
-Key terminology.
-demonstrating an understanding of range of research methods – (advantages and limitations) – explanation of literature review/ bias/ethical considerations and values/ scope of research used in relation to date/ country published and therefore its relevance/ transferable learning.
-Literature from the UK and USA to be the primary focus in order to compare the different systems.
-Outline of study design and methods.

CHAPTER 5:
Review of the Literature (Outline of Research papers) –6 main research papers (using subheadings?) -Who carried out research/ when/where/title of paper/who funded/ methods used/key findings – critically evaluate the implications of these factors when discussing
-Demonstrate understanding of theories underpinning research.
-Acknowledge the work of others, contextualise work.
-Structure this section as an essay

CHAPTER 6:
Discussion and Analysis of Themes – linking findings of all papers back to research question.
-Limitations of existing literature and future research needs
-Implications for social work practice and social policy relevance

Recommendations for Future Practice/ Research:

Conclusions:

References:

Appendices:
[word limit 11 000].
Some of the references to consider:
Bowlby, J. 1973. Attachment and Loss: Separation, Vol 2. NYC: Basic Books.
Casey, A. 2016. A shared sentence: The devastating toll of parental incarceration on kids, families, and communities, Baltimore: Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Celinska, K. and Siegel J.A. 2010. Mothers in Trouble: Coping with actual or pending separation from children due to incarceration. The Prison Journal 90: p447-474.

Dallaire, D.H., Zeman, J.L., & Thrash, T., M. 2015. Children experiences of maternal incarceration-specific risks: Predictions to psychological maladaptation. J Clin Child Adolescent Psychol, 44(1), pp.109-122.

Dowell, C.M., Mejia, G.C., Preen, D.B., & Leonie, S. 2018. Maternal incarceration, a child protection, and infant mortality: A descriptive study of infant children of women prisoners in Western Australia. Health and Justice, 6(2), pp. 1-12.

Dominelli, L. 2002. Feminist social work theory and practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Eddy, M.J., & Poehlmann-Tyan, J. 2019. Handbook of children with incarcerated parents: Research, policy, and practice, New York: Springer.

Johnson, E.I., & Easterling, B. 2012. Understanding unique effects of parental incarceration on children: Challenges, progress, and recommendations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(2), pp. 342-356.

Kennedy, D., A. 2012. “The good mother”: Mothering, feminism, and incarceration. William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, 18(2), pp. 161-20.

Muftic, L.R., Bouffard, L.A., & Armstrong, G.S. 2016. Impact Of maternal incarceration on the criminal justice involvement of adult offspring: A research note. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 53(1), pp. 93-111.

Poehlmann, J., Dallaire, D., Loper, A.B., & Shear, L.D. 2010. Children’s contact with their incarcerated parents: Research findings and recommendations. Am Psychol, 65(6), pp.575-598.
Roettger, M.E., & Boardman, J.D. 2012. Parental incarceration and gender-based risks for increased gender mass index: Evidence from national longitudinal study of adolescent health in the United States. American Journal of Epidemiology, 175(7), pp.636-644.
Sandifer, J.L. 2017. Impact of maternal incarceration on children. The encyclopedia of Corrections,
Shemmings, D. and Shemmings, Y. 2011. Understanding the disorganized attachment: Theory and practice for working with children and adults. London: Jessica Kingsley
Singh, S., Burns, T., Tyrer, P. and Islam, Z. 2014. Ethinicity as a predictor of detention under the Mental Health Act. Psychological Medicine 44(5):997-1004

Thomson, N.D., Kuay, H.S., Baron-Cohen, S., Towl, G., J. 2018. The impact of maternal incarceration on their daughter’s empathy. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 56, pp.10-16.
Turney, K., & Goodsell, R. 2018. Parental incarceration and children’s well-being. The Future of Children, 28(1), pp.147-164.
Turney, K. 2017. The unequal consequences of mass incarceration for children. Demography, 54(1), pp. 361-389.
Turney, K., & Wilderman, C. 2015. Detrimental for some? Heterogeneous effects of maternal incarceration on child wellbeing. American Society of Criminology, 14(1), pp. 125-156.
Western, B., & Travis, J. 2014. The growth of incarceration in the United States: Exploring causes and consequences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.

Wildeman, C., & Turney, K. 2014. “Positive, negative or null?” The effects of maternal incarceration on children’s behavioral problems. Demography, 51, pp. 1041-1068.
Wildeman, C., Wakefield, S., & Turney, K. 2013. Misidentifying the effects of parental incarceration? A comment on Johnston and Easterling. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75(1), pp.252-258.
Women’s Justice Workforce (WJT). 2011. Reforming Women’s Justice. London: Prison Reform Trust