Developing the Research Proposal

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Chapter 16

• Developing the Research Proposal

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Research Proposal

• Document presenting a researchable problem and a
  plan of attack and protocol for investigating the
  problem

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Purposes of the Research Proposal

• Basis for approval of thesis or dissertation
• Document requesting funding support
• Functions served (Locke et al, 2000)
• A means of communication
• A plan
• A contract
• Format may vary

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Typical Proposal Content

• Explanation of the problem to be studied
• Background information
• Specific procedures to be followed

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General Proposal Framework

• Three chapter model
• Chapter I Introduction
• Chapter II Review of Literature
• Chapter III Procedures

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Proposal title

• 12 15 words in length
• Problem area precisely identified
• Important variables identified
• Elimination of unnecessary words
• Nouns as key words

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Chapter I - Introduction

• Brief introduction
• Statement of the Problem
• Significance of the Study
• Delimitations
• Limitations
• Assumptions
• Hypotheses
• Definition of Terms

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Chapter II Review of Literature

• Helps justify the study
• Synthesis of the literature that has a
  significant relationship to the current problem
• Organization may vary
• Chronological order
• Content-related
• Method-related
• Content areas

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Chapter III - Procedures

• Presents data collection plan and step-by-step
  instructions for conducting the investigation
• Typical content includes
• Research participants and sampling techniques
• Instrumentation (tests, measures, etc.)
• Design of the study
• Administrative procedures
• Data analysis methods