Research Proposal
A research proposal (a.k.a. research prospectus) is considered to be the “term paper” for the course. The prospectus is a paper asserting how you would perform the research if indeed you were going to do the research. For the purposes of this course, there will be no need to do the actual research, but rather only to formulate the research methodology on the basis of a full literature review of your topic and the textbook readings.
The prospectus consists of three sections: (1) an abstract, (2) literature review, and (3) a research methodology section.1 As each section of the proposal is completed the student is invited to turn it in to the professor for editorial review. The Student is strongly encouraged, but is not required, to re-write the section for the possibility of an improved grade per the editorial comments made by the professor.
The required referencing style is APA. Guidelines for APA referencing are available at the American Psychological Association website (www.apa.org). Papers should be:
Double-spaced,
Use Times New Roman,
Use 12 point font, and
Maintain 1-inch margins.
The proposals will be graded individually by section (i.e., abstract, literature review, and research design sections) and then the total taken for all three sections will be added for the final proposal grade. The abstract will be graded on the ability of the student to succinctly relate the proposal’s content in less than 250 words (but more than 100). The literature review section will be graded on the ability of the student to demonstrate to the instructor that s/he has performed a thorough and comprehensive review of the literature regarding the proposal’s topic, utilizes APA referencing, is free of grammatical and spelling errors, and is succinct. The research design section will be graded on the ability of the student to demonstrate that s/he is cognizant of the best method to perform the research, and the limitations thereunto, and can the utilize research terminology to convey to the instructor the research methodology.
OUTLINE FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Topic / Title
Abstract
Table of Contents
Literature Review
Significance (Importance) of the Topic
Theory Guiding the Research
Related Research
Research Design
Data for the Analysis
Sample and Sampling Plan for the Analysis
Variables for the Analysis
Analysis Procedures
Feasibility
Appendices
Reference List
Topic / Title
Select a title for the research proposal and state this title, with your name below the title
Significance of the Proposed Research
Argue the significance (importance) of the topic and planned research
For theory
For adding to knowledge
For advancing a methodological design (if relevant)
For policy (if relevant)
Theoretical Framework
Review the literature discussing the theory
Identify the propositions of the theory
State the hypotheses that will guide the research
Review of Related Research
Perform a comprehensive review of empirical findings relevant to your hypotheses.
Summarize the findings from past research in the appendix in the text
Data for the Analysis
Describe the source(s) of data for the analysis (if more than one source, describe separately and tell what information will be gathered from each source)
Official, self-report, victimization data, observational data, cross-sectional or longitudinal
Primary or secondary data
If primary, describe the data collection procedures
who will collect the data
what time periods will be covered
if a survey will it be a questionnaire or an interview
how will the survey instrument be distributed
Data management
Who will compute the data if primary data and the amount of time it will take to clean the data (i.e., dealing with missing info)
Sample for the Analysis
Describe the population of interest
Identify the sampling frame
Describe the characteristics of the targeted sample
Demographics (race, age, gender, geographic site, etc.)
Projected sample size
Describe the sampling frame
Variables for the Analysis
Variables to represent each key concept
Control variables (if necessary)
Description of how the variables will be measured
One-item measures versus summary indexes or scales
Indicate the level of measurement of each variable
Identify independent, intervening (if relevant), and dependent variables
Table summarizing concepts and variables with corresponding text
Analysis Procedures
Describe the preliminary analysis
Descriptive statistics
Intercorrelations (graphics, if appropriate)
Refer to hypotheses and levels of measurement to identify appropriate statistical procedure(s)
Feasibility of the Proposed Research
Discuss ethical issues
Append a proposal for approval by the Human Subjects Committee (not necessary for this proposal, but a plus)
Draft a proposed letter of permission from the agency personnel and/or parents or subjects, as relevant
Refer to this appendix in the text
Describe access to secondary data (if relevant)
Estimate the costs of the research
Do a timeline with dates for each step of the research
Describe political concerns, if relevant
Appendices
Summary of articles reviewed (table is preferred)
Questionnaire or interview instrument or observation checklist (not necessary for this class, but a plus)
Timeline
Human Subjects proposal and attachments (not necessary for this class, but a plus)
Reference List
Use full and complete references
The proposal should be written in full sentences and paragraphs and as a continuous document. The final draft of the research proposal will be evaluated on the basis of:
originality of content
significance of the proposed research
accuracy of statements
completeness
organization and continuity of the proposed research
style (including referencing, grammar, composition, and appropriate scientific language)
**Do Not Forget to Include**
You need to have a control group(s).
State your independent and dependent variables and operationalize them.
State and discuss your hypotheses to be tested (these should be independent and not intercorrelated).
Do not use personal pronouns (e.g., I, we, us, etc).
Do not use contractions (e.g., can’t, won’t., don’t, etc.).
Do not spend too much time revisiting the literature review.
Use the terminology of research methods.
Be sure to operationalize all of your concepts, variables, etc.
Use the format specified in the syllabus.
Use bulleted points.
Be consistent with your tenses (e.g., past v. present; was v. is).
The abstract, literature review, and research design section should not be considered completely separate document and should flow without separate title pages for each.
Do not report any findings in the research design section.
Use table and graphs as much as is feasible.
Discuss how you will get informed consent.
Discuss any ethical issues that are inherent with your design.
Discuss issues related to both internal and external validity and reliability.
Base your research design in the literature review. This does not mean to copy and paste the literature review, but rather to utilize designs that have been used in previous research. This enhances both validity and reliability.
Check for spelling and grammatical errors.