MBA512 Research Proposal
SJ/-
21-51-04_ResearchProposal-Abertay.pptxResearch Proposal
Module Learning Outcomes
Create a suitable project plan and secure necessary permissions
Produce an effective project proposal for either a consultancy or theoretical project
Identify how you will critically analyse and interpret primary/secondary research data quantitative and/ or qualitative), testing for validity and reliability of the results within your project
Project Proposal Format
Your proposal should contain the following sections:
Title & Introduction
Background & Purpose of the research
Research question (or statement of the problem for consultancy-based projects)
Overview of research design
Limitations of the research design
It should be no more than 1,500 words long and will contain appendices that will not be counted in the above word count
Title & Introduction
Title of your research paper should be clear, concise, describe your study and ideally should be between 7-15 words long.
An introduction of a research project is a brief overview of the project that outlines its purpose. It should provide readers with a general idea of what the project is about and why it is important.
Background & Purpose of the research
The following elements should all be included in the background and purpose of study:
A general overview of the topic and why it is important (overlaps with establishing the “importance of the topic” in the Introduction)
The current state of the research on the topic or on related topics in the field
Controversies about current knowledge or specific past studies that undergird your research methodology
Any claims or assumptions that have been made by researchers, institutions, or politicians that might need to be clarified
Methods and techniques used in the study or from which your study deviated in some way
Research question/Problem statement
A research question is a question that a study or research project aims to answer.
This question often addresses an issue or a problem, which, through analysis and interpretation of data, is answered in the study’s conclusion.
In most studies, the research question is written so that it outlines various aspects of the study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses.
A problem statement is an explanation in research that describes the issue that is in need of study.
What problem is the research attempting to address?
Having a Problem Statement allows the reader to quickly understand the purpose and intent of the research.
https://research.com/research/how-to-write-a-research-question
https://scientific-publishing.webshop.elsevier.com/research-process/what-problem-statement-examples/
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Overview of research design
Research design is a blueprint of a scientific study. It includes research methodologies, tools, and techniques to conduct the research. It helps to identify and address the problem that may rise during the process of research and analysis.
Here are some steps of a sound research design:
Identifies the research approach and philosophy
Specifies hypothesis (Not compulsory)
Describes sources of data (Secondary/Primary)
Data collection methods - (quantitative/qualitative/mixed)
Defines how data will be interpreted
Limitations of the research design
The limitations in research are the constraints in design, methods or even researchers’ limitations that affect and influence the interpretation of your research’s ultimate findings.
Examples of limitations
Sample size
Lack of available or reliable data
Lack of prior research on the subject
Lack of prior research on the subject
Time constraints
Access to respondents
Appendices
An appendix** comes at the end (after the reference list) of a proposal, research project, or dissertation and contains any additional information such as raw data or interview transcripts etc.
Your Research Proposal Appendix will compulsorily contain the following in addition to any other items you may want to attach:
Annotated Bibliography
Project Plan (Gantt Chart)
Approved Ethical Approval Form
Company Approval in case of consultancy research
Annotated Bibliography
Identify 1-3 themes that are most important for your project and create an annotated bibliography of 10 -15 items, organised by themes. The annotation should show how the literature would support the analysis or focus of the research design.
Each annotation could be around 150 words.
What is an Annotated Bibliography?
“An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited” (guides.library.cornell.edu).
1: Summary
Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say? The length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is.
Sentence starters:
The main idea of this article is…….
The topics covered in this article are…….
The author’s point of view in this article is……
Assessment
Assess: After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is it credible? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?
Sentence Starters:
The author of this piece is/is not credible because……
The author knows a lot about this topic because….
From this piece, the author wants you to………….
Reflection
Reflect: Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?
Sentence Starters:
This article supports my ideas because…..
This article was helpful to me because….
This article added to my knowledge about this topic because….
Sample of Annotated Bibliography – APA Style
Bryant, A. (2015). The impact of social media on society. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 3(1), 1-12. This article examines the impact of social media on society, focusing on how it has changed communication, the spread of information, and the way people interact with each other. (SUMMARY). The author provides an overview of the history of social media, its current usage, and its potential future implications. The article also discusses the potential risks associated with social media, such as cyberbullying and privacy concerns. The author concludes that while social media has had a positive impact on society, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them.(ASSESSMENT) This article provides an in-depth look at the impact of social media on society and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding how social media has changed our lives. The author provides a comprehensive overview of the history and current usage of social media, as well as its potential future implications. The article also discusses the potential risks associated with social media, making it a useful resource for anyone looking to understand the potential dangers of using social media.(REFLECTION)
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Project Plan
Risk Assessment in Research
The risk assessment process is a careful examination of what could cause harm, who/what could be harmed and how.
Typical risks that need to be considered as part of research ethics are:
Social risks: disclosures that could affect participants standing in the community, in their family, and their job.
Legal risks: activities that could result in the participant, researchers and / or University committing an offence; activities that might lead to a participant disclosing criminal activity to a researcher which would necessitate reporting to enforcement authorities; activities that could result in a civil claim for compensation.
Economic harm: financial harm to participant, researcher and / or University through disclosure or other event.
Risk Assessment in Research
Reputational risk: damage to public perception of University or the University/researchers’ reputation in the eyes of funders, the research community and / or the general public.
Safeguarding risks: Risk to young people, vulnerable adults and / or researcher from improper behaviour, abuse or exploitation. Risk to researcher of being in a comprising situation, in which there might be accusations of improper behaviour.
Health and safety risks: risks of harm to health, physical injury or psychological harm to participants or the researcher.
Carrying out initial risk assessments as part of the planning process will help you identify whether existing resources and facilities are adequate to ensure risk control, or if the project needs to be altered accordingly.
It will also help you to identify potential costs that need to be considered as part of the funding bid.
Once the project is approved, research specific risk assessments need to be carried out before work starts.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
| DESCRIPTIONS | DATES |
| Research Methods Exam | 24th February 2024 |
| Topic Submission | 8th February 2024 |
| Ethical Form Submission | 15th February 2024 |
| Research Proposal Submission | 29th February 2024 |
| Management Investigation Project Submission | 20th April 2024 |
| VIVA | 26th April &/or 27th April 2024 |
