Research Proposal: Justifying a Proposed Research Project

1. The Proposal AEE 804 Spring 2002 Revised Spring 2003 Reese & Woods

2. Research Genres Abstracts Presentations Research Articles Research Proposals Theses and Dissertations Books and Monographs

3. Purpose of a Research Proposal • To justify a proposed research project to a particular audience, (eg. supervisor, departmental or faculty committee, external funding body, conference, etc.) • To help you to focus on what the actual stages involved in the research process will be, eg. the exact methodology and data analysis that will be adopted • To make sure that these are your ideas, and to help you to focus and crystallize your ideas • To help to focus on a relevant and current topic • To identify a gap or inadequacy in the research literature

4. Some Strategies • Search through literature for topic related articles and books • Read critically - look for interesting and suitable gaps - areas for research • Talk to experts in the field - person, phone, letter, e-mail • Use concept maps to link ideas, and /or formulate questions that the literature review will address

6. Typical Research Proposal Stages • Title • Abstract or Summary • Introduction • Background (typically a literature survey) • Methodology • Implications • Timeline • Budget • Bibliography

7. Project Title • The title should be brief but informative. • It is important that it is clear and easy to understand, and describes what your proposed research is.

8. Title Check List • Clear description of topic • Distinguishes it from other similar topics • Allows another person who is interested in the topic to find it • Catches attention • Brief as possible given the requirements • Contains key words for basic searching

9. Abstract or Summary • This is a very important section, as according to Locke et al.(1987) "The abstract ..... bears a disproportionate share of responsibility for success or failure" • It needs to be written for a wider audience, so technical vocabulary has to be limited • "Abstracts for grant proposals usually begin with the objective or purpose of the study, move on to methodology (procedures and design), and close with a modest but precise statement of the projects" significance’ (Swales 1990, p. 187)

10. Introduction • The introduction is also written so that a more general audience can easily obtain a general idea of what the proposal is about. It will also typically begin with the purpose of the proposed research (Swales 1990).

11. Why Is It a Problem? • Reason for and significance of problem • Any theory being tested, extended, challenged? • Not why it can be done by why it should or must be done • Convince the reader that it is worth investing time, effort, etc.

12. Purpose of Your Project & Expected Outcomes • What is the purpose of your project? • What are the outcomes of your project? • What are the features and qualities that need to be embedded in your outcomes? • How will you know when you have achieved the outcomes with the features and qualities desired? • What criteria will you use?

13. Study Rationale • Has the study been done before? • Will the study advance understanding or influence policy?

14. Background including Lit Review • According to Swales (1990) it is only in the Background and Methodology sections that writers tend to assume that their intended audience is a specialist in their research area and so use more technical language.

15. Purpose of the Literature Review • Familiarize researcher with area and keep up to date with the current research in the area of interest • Identify an appropriate research question • Establish a theoretical framework for the research • Justify the need for the research (adapted from Bruce 1994).

16. Literature Review, continued • Explore the relevant literature • Formulate a problem • Defend the value of the research • Compare the findings and ideas with your own (Bruce 1994). • Establish a context and orient the reader to your research topic • Use a common structure for the Literature Review likened to a "Funnel effect", which goes from general to more specific, ending with your research question, problem or objective (adapted from Weissberg and Buker (1990)

17. Methodology • Researcher(s) will describe the steps to follow in conducting the research • Assessor(s) will scrutinize it to evaluate the feasibility and likelihood of successful completion of the proposed research

18. Methodology Stages • Include the Procedures and Materials stages and possibly some of the other stages, depending on your research area • Overview of research • Population/sample • Location • Restrictions/limiting conditions • Sampling technique • Procedures • Materials

19. Importance • Why is your topic important? • This may be in terms of humanity, community, economics, employment, resources, environment, political influence, world agenda, future impact or other areas. • How will the outcome you aim to achieve meet the objectives of: advancing community well being, developing a useful product or system, extending a body of knowledge, or enhancing your personal development and employment prospects?

20. Keys Writing A Good Proposal • Informative title • Self-sufficient and convincing abstract • Clear research questions • Scholarly and pertinent background and rationale • Relevant previous work • Appropriate population and sample • Appropriate measurement and intervention methods • Quality control • Adequate sample size • Sound analysis plan • Ethical issues well addressed • Tight budget • Realistic timetable

21. Quality of the Presentation • Clear, concise, well-organized • Helpful table of contents and subheadings • Good schematic diagrams and tables • Neat and free of errors

22. Proposal Review • Evaluate second submission of AEE 804 proposals