For this assignment you are required to provide an outline of your research proposal
idea. This assignment is worth 20% of the module mark. It also plays a formative role:
you will receive feedback on it, and will have the opportunity to discuss (face to face or
by email) with your supervisor this feedback and areas for improvement ahead of
submitting assignment 2, the in-depth research proposal.
There follow below guidelines and assessment criteria for this assignment.
Guidelines for assignment structure:
● List your research aim(s) and objectives (Approximately 100 words)
● Provide a brief rationale with references for your proposed research project.
Describe the general perspective of your proposed study, drawing upon current
research in the area to identify the key issues and clarify your position on the
topic. (Approximately 600 words)
● Indicate which research methodology you intend to use, and its appropriateness
for your study as well as the proposed data collection instrument(s). (For
example, face-to-face interviews, questionnaire, focus groups) (Approximately
300 words)
Assessment Criteria:
The assessments evaluate your appreciation of the research process. In part A of your
assessment you will be evaluated on your ability to:
● define an appropriate research problem and associated objectives
● draw upon a range of current and relevant literature that relates closely to the
research problem and associated objectives
● summarise and explain the significance of the literature reviewed to the research
problem and associated objectives
● present the strengths and limitations of the methodological approaches within
the discipline
● discuss the appropriateness of the selected methodological approach and the
associated method(s) to investigate/explore the research problem identified
● identify resource and sample limitations and the potential implications for data
collection and analysis
● examine and appraise the risk and ethical implications of the proposed research
● use references appropriately