The research proposal

1
The research proposal

• HON 101 Fall 2007

2
Purpose of the research proposal

• 1. To inform the reader of nature of your
  proposed research.
• What is the problem?
• What is its extent?
• 2. To convince the reader, especially supervisors
  and reviewers, of the value of your proposed
  research.
• Is this project worth the time
• and money?
• Will it make a difference to the
• world?

3
Purpose of the research proposal

• 3. To demonstrate your expertise and competency
  in a particular area of study.
• Do you have the qualifications to conduct this
  research?
• Have you informed yourself of the existing theory
  and data relevant to your topic?
• Do you have the
• necessary skills to
• conduct the research?

4
Purpose of the research proposal

• 4. To plan the research project and provide a
  step-by-step guide to the tasks necessary for its
  completion.
• What are the key stages of the work?
• What are the priorities?
• How do the various components fit together?
• 5. To request support from individuals and
  agencies who provide supervision, oversight or
  funding for the research project.
• What kinds of support does the project need?
• Are all participants properly protected?

5
Purpose of the research proposal

• 6. To contract with the agencies and individuals
  involved, including supervisors, foundations and
  participants in the research team.
• How will tasks be assigned and resources
  expended?
• What does each contribute
• to the collective endeavor?

6
Structure of the research proposal

• Title
• Abstract
• Problem statement
• Significance statement
• Objectives
• Background
• Research Methodology
• Logistics
• Appendix

7
Structure of the research proposal

• Title
• Clear, informative, and catchy
• Abstract
• Brief overview of the project

8
Structure of the research proposal

• Problem statement
• Broad statement of the theoretical and/or social
  problem that is to be investigated.
• Begin with one sentence relatively simple or
  laypersons language.
• Elaborate in two paragraphs, using an interesting
  story or dramatic illustrations of the problem,
  with quotations that capture the reader's
  interest.
• Demonstrate the scope or depth of the problem.

9
Structure of the research proposal

• Significance statement
• Show why the problem is important and to whom,
  and what contribution this research make both to
  the literature (theory) and to society
  (practice).
• Why is this an urgent matter?
• What is original in your approach?
• What is unique about the context of the research?

10
Structure of the research proposal

• Objectives
• Specific purpose of this research.
• Identifying the key study population, the
  variables, and their possible interrelationships.
  
• Describe your research product.
• What form will the report take (e.g., scholarly
  manuscript, magazine article for the public,
  script for a documentary video)?

11
Structure of the research proposal

• Background
• Statement of the context of the research, how it
  fits in the literature and where it is located in
  time and space.

• Literature review
• Conceptual framework for understanding the
  research problem
• Demonstrates that the researcher is informed of
  existing literature relevant to the research
  question and methodologies.

12
Structure of the research proposal

• Literature review cont.
• integrated overview of research on this topic.
• 1) progressive narrative account (e.g.
  development of knowledge)
• 2) map of the field (e.g. main approaches to
  problem)
• areas of contradiction or confusion, or gaps in
  the literature.
• Define your terms provide operational
  definitions of concepts.

13
Structure of the research proposal

• Research context
• Provide an introduction to the historical and
  geographical context of your research.
• Physical environment
• People and culture
• Development over time

14
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology
• Research question(s)
• State your question in operational form
• State your hypotheses
• A tentative prediction of the answer to the
  research question, such as the expected
  relationship between two or more variables.
• Research Design
• Identify and generally describe
• your research method (e.g., ethnographic field
  study, single case study)
• your research procedures (e.g., long interviews,
  participant, observation).
• Cite the major authors who have described your
  research method.

15
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology cont.
• Subjects
• Explain how you will select informants and gain
  entry into the research context (if relevant).
• Sampling/selection
• Recruitment

16
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology cont.
• Ethical considerations
• Describe the procedures you will take to protect
  the rights of your informants (e.g., informed
  consent, human subjects approval, debriefing).

17
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology cont.
• Data collection
• Describe the kind of data you will collect (e.g.,
  field notes from memory, audio tapes, video
  tapes, transcripts of conversations, examination
  of existing documents, etc.).
• Describe your intended data collection
  procedures. If interviews are to be used, list
  your question(s) or attach as an appendix.
  Describe any equipment to be used.

18
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology cont.
• Data analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Interpretive analysis

19
General guides to proposal writing

•  
• The Elements of a Proposal
• Frank Pajares, Emory University
•  
• Beginners Guide to the Research Proposal
• University of Calgary, Manitoba, Canada, The
  Centre for Advancement of Health
•  
• Conceptualizing, Writing, and Revising a Social
  Science Research Proposal
• Institute of International Studies, University of
  California-Berkeley
•  
• The Proposal in Qualitative Research
• Anthony W. Heath, PhD,  Division of Behavioral
  Sciences, McNeal Family Practice Residency
• SUNY Institute of Technology
• State University of New York
• Teaching the Research Proposal A Brief
  Process-Oriented Overview
• Writing Center, California State Polytechnic
  University, Pomona

20
(No Transcript)
21
Structure of the research proposal

• Methodology cont.
• Interpretive analysis
• Procedures (coding, sorting, etc.)
• Data reduction Write-ups of field notes,
  transcription procedures and conventions,
  computer programs used, etc.
• Data reconstruction development of categories,
  findings, conclusions, connections to existing
  literature, integration of concepts.
• Issues of "reliability" and "validity."
• Questions about the repeatability or stability of
  findings and the accuracy or truthfulness of a
  measurement
• Will you use systematic methods and procedures,
  triangulation, member checking, peer debriefing,
  auditing?