CHAPTER OVERVIEW

CHAPTER OVERVIEW • The Format of a Research Proposal • Being Neat • Evaluating the Studies You Read • Planning the Actual Research

THE FORMAT OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL • Introduction • A (brief) review of the relevant literature • Method • Proposed analysis of the data • Results of the data • Implications and limitations • Appendices

INTRODUCTION • The problem statement • A rationale for the research Statement of the research objectives • Hypothesis • Definition of terms • Summary

LITERATURE REVIEW • The importance of the question asked • The current status of the topic • The relationship between the literature and problem statement • Summary

METHOD • Participants • Research design • Data collection plans • Operational definitions • Reliability and validity of instruments • Results of pilot studies • Proposed analysis of data • Results of data

IMPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

APPENDICES • Copies of instruments that will be used • Results of pilot studies • IRB application and letter of approval • Participant approval form • Time line

NEATNESS • Follow APA guidelines

EVALUATING THE STUDIES YOU READ • Understand the literature you read • Critically evaluate the studies you read

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING A RESEARCH STUDY • The review of previous research • The problem and the purpose • The hypothesis • The method • The sample • Results and discussion • References • General comments about the report

PLANNING THE ACTUAL RESEARCH • What activities must be completed? • How much time will it take to complete each step?

SELECTING A DEPENDENT VARIABLE • Try to use proven measures • Ensure that the measure is valid • Ensure that the measure is reliable • Consider what training you might need in order to use the measure • Be sure the test is available to you • If norms are needed, be sure they are available • Obtain the most recent version of the test • Be sure that the test is appropriate for the age group you intend to sample • Read any reviews of the test that are available

REVIEWING A TESTIf you use a test • If you use a test to measure the dependent variable • Review and evaluate the test on these criteria • Basic information • General test information • Design and appearance • Reliability • Validity • Norms • Evaluation

SELECTING A SAMPLE • Others may also be seeking participants • Think about whether group membership poses a problem • Know exactly how you intend to approach your participants • Clearly identify the population from which you intend to sample • The size of your sample depends on the type of research you are doing • Consider both validity and reliability • Consider how much money you can spend • The number of variables and groups you study affects required sample size

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS • HAVE YOU • Developed a data collection form? • Specified appropriate descriptive statistics for your data? • Identified what other demographic information you will need? • Collected and analyzed pilot data?

SELECTING AN INFERENTIAL STATISTIC • Using a flow chart like figure 8.3 can be useful for common analyses • But there is no substitute for a good statistics course

PROTECTING HUMAN SUBJECTS • Institutional Review Board (IRB) • Informed consent

CHAPTER OVERVIEW