Experimental Proposal
Introduction
In this part you need to write one-two paragraphs about your topic. Try to get the readers
attentions by provide an example that is related to your topic which the reader might find
interesting. At the end of this section you provide a general idea; one sentence, about what you
are trying to do in your research. Example, this study aims to further examine [your research
topic]
Background for the Study
In this section, you give a detailed literature review about the variables that you are going
to use in your study. What other researchers did in this field? What variables they covered? What
issues did they point out? What are some of the main issues that need solving or more research to
be done about them? Hint; your research might answer/address one of these issues!
Purpose of the Study
Give a detailed description about what YOUR study will do exactly. Notice that in the
introduction you gave a general idea about your study. Here you give more details about the
different variables that you are interested in studying. Example, the purpose of this study is to
investigate [independent variable] ‘impact/influence of’ OR “relationship with” [dependent
variable(s)]. Furthermore, this study will examine the Moderating/Mediating impact that
[variable] has on the relationship between [independent] and [dependent]
Research Question(s)
List the research question(s) that you are trying to answer, NOT THE QUESTIONS YOU
USED IN THE SUREVY. Example, will [independent] increase the [dependent]? Will
[Moderating/Mediating impact that variable] have any influence on the relationship? …etc.
Limitation
What are the things that are out of your control that might impact the: data you
collected, your sample, your study, or anything related to your research.
Delimitation
What are the things that are within your control that you will do which might impact
your data you collected, your sample, your study, or anything related to your research.
Nature and Significance of the Problem
This section must include one-two paragraphs on why your research is important OR
what is the added value of your research. In the literature/background section you read the
literature and you got to know important issues about your research area and some of the
problems or issues that need more investigation. In this section you refer to these issue and how
your research will address them, how your research will add more value to the body of literature
in this topic, or how your research will answer/address some of the questions that other
researchers asked. Example, if you are using a sample that has NEVER been studied; like the
graduate students at EIU, that will add value the body of knowledge, if you are using different
variables that no other researcher has used that will add value to the body of knowledge.
Definitions
How other authors/researchers define the variables that you are used in your research. If
you are developing or using your own definition, you would write something like: “This study
define [variable] as [whatever way you want to define that variable]”
Methodology
What methodology will you be using to do your research; one to two sentences.
Research Design
In experimental, how many groups are you going to use and what design you are going to follow, if you are developing your own design; describe it.
Experimental Design
A 3-5 sentence description of the design of the experimental proposal. See Module 3 Lecture and Chapter 7 for reference.
Participants
2-3 sentence paragraph description of who the participants will be for the experiment.
Materials
2-3 sentence paragraph to mention the materials used for interviews or surveys. This can include questionnaires, any device required to administer the experiment.
If a questionnaire is used, limit the questions to 5 questions for this experiment. Place the questionnaire in the Appendix and label.
Groups and Section Procedure
A 2-3 sentence paragraph to describe the demographics of the groups chosen for the experiment.
Experimental Procedure
A multi-step list created of the procedure for the experiment and how the data will be collected.
Experimental Analysis Methodology
2-3 paragraph (3-5 sentences per paragraph) on how the experimental data will be interpreted and displayed for ease of understanding. If a graph is generated, place the questionnaire in the Appendix and label.
Assumptions
These assumptions are concerned with the experiment, not the research proposal.
Subject/Selection and Description of Participants
A finer detail of descriptions of the Participants.
Data Collection
Review of Literature
2-3 paragraph (3-5 sentences per paragraph) of the most important summary and comments from the literature reviews that are most relevant to your experiment. This is to inform and give history on the importance of your research.
Timeline
The timeframe for this experiment and generating a schedule that will give the greatest opportunity of the subjects participating in the experiment. (Time of day, month or year may affect the quantity of participants, what would be the most opportune time for the experiment.)
Discussion/Conclusion
Discuss how your experiment and your Review of Literature either solves or raises more questions concerning your research topic and research question. Also, who would benefit from your experiment and how will the data be useful for future research.
References
What are the references you used in your proposal.
ONLY LIST THE ONES YOU USED IN YOUR IN-TEXT CITATION.