Writing the Research Proposal

1. CHAPTER SIX Writing the Research Proposal

2. Thought Experiment You are a VT researcher and are pondering a new research project. What are the consequences if: You DO the project. You DO NOT do the project.

3. Thought Experiment on Research • Capital Assets: • Talent – creative energy of the human mind • Time – a very precious unidirectional resource • Funding – return on the investment

4. Prerequisites for Research • You need permission • Management, committees, IRB • You need assets. • Talent, time, & money • You need a plan • Write the Research Proposal

5. Your Proposal… …is the practical application of your educational competence laid bare upon a sheet of paper.(Leedy, Ch 6, p139)

6. Characteristics of a Proposal • Telegraphs the competence of the researcher! • An efficient document – straightforward and to the point. • States the problem immediately with no irrelevant details. • Written with precision and clarity. • Precisely states the nature of the project, with all the necessary supporting details. • Clearly organized with proper use of headings and subheadings

7. Interpreting the Data • Systematically address each subproblem. • Clearly identify the data necessary to solve the subproblem. • State precisely where the data is located. • State explicitly how the data will be secured, with assurance that you have access to it. • State fully and unequivocally how you intend to interpret the data. • Spell out every step in the interpretation of data. • Remember that research is cyclical. • Be sure the data support your conclusions.

8. Quantitative Proposal Formatting • State the Problem and its setting • Review of the Related Literature • The Data and the treatment of the data • The qualifications of the researcher and any assistants • Outline of the proposed study • References • Appendixes

9. Qualitative Proposal Formatting • Introduction • Methodology • Findings • Management plan, timeline, feasibility • References • Appendixes

10. Write the First Draft • Adhere to any required guidelines • Focus on organization and logical thought • State the research problem immediately • Convince the reader of the importance of the study. • Precisely describe your methodology. • Assume your readers know nothing of your project. • Use appendices to present detailed materials and procedures outside the body of the proposal. • Describe how you will analyze the data to answer the research problem.

11. Revise the Proposal • Set the proposal aside for a few days • Scrutinize the proposal, looking for disorganized thoughts and illogical thinking. • Look for places to improve the clarity of your writing. • Seek the feedback of others! • Check for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. • Objectively reconsider the feasibility of the project.

12. Outstanding Qualifications • “…the demonstrated ability to think clearly and logically, to express logical thought concisely and cogently, to discriminate between the significant and the inconsequential, to display technical prowess, to handle abstract thought, to analyze data objectively and accurately, and to interpret results confidently and conservatively. These capabilities characterize scholarship, and it is through scholarship that an applicant for a research grant can demonstrate his [or her] qualifications.” • George N. Eaves, Grants Magazine (1984)