The Paper will be largely devoted to preparing and implementing a research study. “The task is to write a research proposal. ”
This assignment boils down to responses to three questions (concrete experience):
What do you plan to study?
Why do you plan to do it?
How do you plan to do it?
Introduction: The Introduction focuses primarily on the first two questions. More specifically, you should address the following points:
What is the central research problem?
Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing. Answer the “So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care].
Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
Set the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you will study, but what is excluded from the study.
If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts or terms.
Research Methods
The objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.
Specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of these operations in relation to the research problem. Don’t just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods
Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method is perfect so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It’s always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your reader.
This section includes an aggregated reference section.
Why is the topic important?
How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?
How will I find samples?
Grading
Points
1.Introduction
A. Point by Point summary of the Research Problem
What is the problem?
Why understanding more about the subject is meaningful and worthwhile.
What needs to be done to understand the topic better?
20 Points
B.Background Information about the proposed research study.
Include at least 4 references that help contextualize where in the evolution of this topic your research study resides.
Reflect on how your proposed study contributes to what we know? What are the key things that make your study particularly interesting and unique compared with previous studies?
Make clear what things are actually being addressed in your study and also what is not being addressed. Define the boundaries of your study.
20 Points
2.Research Design & Methods
What is the design?
10 Points
Describe the procedures you will take to carry out the study? What measures will you use?
15 Points
How will you obtain your sample? What protocols will you follow?
5 Points
How will you analyze your data?
15 Points
3.References
5 Points