0240	Assessment
Research Question	The population category (single mothers) and general area of inquiry (employment or career paths) seem clear enough, but the specific research questions are not.  In particular, the proposal mentions two reasons why single mothers may have worse employment outcomes: first, single mothers may choose jobs with more flexibility so that they can manage their parenting responsibilities, and second, employers may see single mothers as less reliable employees or as morally inferior applicants. How will the data and research strategy allow you to assess these different causal paths separately?
Relevant Literature	The literature mentioned on the motherhood penalty is okay, but this largely concerns the circumstances of married women with children.  The literature on the labor market activity of single mothers is likely to be even more important.
Causal Interpretations	The hypotheses offered seem a reasonable starting point.
Data	The data sound okay, but it is not clear how well they will support the full intent of the research project.  As the data are surveys of the general population, they do not provide information about employers' actions demonstrating bias.  Nor is it obvious how this data can support differentiating between: effects of employers' biases (thinking less of single mothers), effects of employers' rational calculations (expecting lower productivity and dependability of single mothers), obstructive effects of single mothers' family responsibilities, and motivating effects of single mothers' family responsibilities (greater need for income can induce greater effort in the workplace).
Research Value	Okay
Timetable	The proposed timetable seems overly optimistic.
Priorities for Developing a Full Draft	Try to figure out the possible relevant causal influences, how you can hope to distinguish them in the data, and how you can adapt if you cannot distinguish.
Miscellaneous Notes