Chapter 14 – Writing the research proposal. In this chapter students will be able to: Explain the reasons for preparing a comprehensive proposal, identify the elements of a proposal, describe the voice that should be used in a proposal, distinguish between an abstract and an executive summary,…
Planning an Applied Research Project Chapter 14 – Writing the Research Proposal © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Learning Objectives » Explain the reasons for preparing a comprehensive proposal » Identify the elements of a proposal » Describe the voice that should be used in a proposal » Distinguish between an abstract and an executive summary » Read a proposal for research and determine its merits » Evaluate a proposal using specific criteria » Write a coherent and focused proposal © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Key Terms » » » » » » » Abstract Appendices Audience Clarity Coherence Comprehensiveness Creativity » » » » » » » © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Contribution Credibility Executive Summary Feasibility Point of view Research questions Voice Reasons for Proposal » Obtain support from a funder or your professor » Clarify what it is that you want to do and how you will do it » Obtain approval to conduct the research from the appropriate governing bodies » Improve your chances of being successful » Provide information to colleagues » Find partners for the research © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Complete Proposals Contain » » » » » Information about access to sources Sample of documents to be used Plan for conducting the research Documents indicating support for the research Value or significance of the research to be conducted » Approval – or plan for it – to interview, observe or survey respondents © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Elements of a Proposal » » » » » » » » » » Executive summary Introduction Purpose, research questions, and significance Literature review and insights Research design (data collection method, sampling, plan for analysis of the data) Expected findings Possible limitations Applications and next steps Conclusion Appendices of supporting documents © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Elements of a Proposal for Funding » » » » » » » » » » » Cover sheet Executive summary Introduction Purpose, research questions, and significance Literature review and insights Research design (data collection method, sampling, plan for analysis of the data) Expected findings Strategy for disseminating findings Possible limitations and next steps Conclusion Appendices of supporting documents © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Audience and Perspective » Persons who may approve it » Persons who need to approve research with human subjects » Colleagues and scholars interested in your research » Colleagues who can help you » Potential partners in the research » Persons who you need to participate » Other persons interested in your research © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Prefatory Documents Abstract » One to two paragraphs » Brief and succinct » Explanation of the proposal » Prepared for scholars and their colleagues Executive Summary » One to two page document » Clear and comprehensive » Information about contents of the proposal » Prepared for managers and decision makers © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Executive Summary Answers… » » » » » » What is the proposal about? How will the research be conducted? What is the researcher likely to find? How useful will the study results be? Why should the study be undertaken? What is the significance of this study? © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Characteristics of an Executive Summary » » » » » » » Wellwritten Comprehensive Tightly organized Carefully focused Positive tone Enthusiastic Brief – not detailed © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Useful Appendices ˃ ˃ ˃ ˃ ˃ ˃ ˃ Budget for the project Travel plans Publication or dissemination of results plans Timeline Curriculum vita of the principal investigator Permission to conduct research on human subjects Letters of support from organizations and companies involved ˃ Review of deliverables © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Useful Appendices (cont’d) » » » » Plan for disseminating the findings Sample forms Information about statistical methods to be used Information about staff to be involved in the research » List of approvals » Annotated bibliography (sometimes included in an appendix and sometimes a separate document) © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Introduction » Prepares reader for the proposal » Orients reader to the topic and its value or significance » Reviews the contents of the proposal » Alludes to the purpose statement © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Conclusion » » » » » » Restates purpose and research questions Explains need for this research Reviews key elements of the literature review Describes the research design Summarizes expected findings States significance and usefulness of the research © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Seven Criteria for a Research Proposal Clarity Coherence Comprehensiveness Creativity Contribution Credibility Feasibility © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved Review of Class Session » Anything unclear? » One thing that delighted me to learn from this class is … © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All Rights reserved ... Executive summary Introduction Purpose, research questions, and significance Literature review and insights Research design (data collection method, sampling, plan for analysis of the data) Expected findings... Introduction Purpose, research questions, and significance Literature review and insights Research design (data collection method, sampling, plan for analysis of the data) Expected findings Possible limitations... Distinguish between an abstract and an executive summary » Read a proposal for research and determine its merits » Evaluate a proposal using specific criteria » Write a coherent and focused proposal © 2014