Thesis Proposal

Chapter 4: Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations

Before writing a research proposal it is helpful to consider how to go about the process. It is important to have a general structure or outline of the topics. The writer should be aware of good writing practices that will ensure a consistent and readable paper. The writer should engage in ethical practices.

Chapter four begins with a discussion of outlining the major points that need to be addressed in a proposal. The chapter goes on to discuss formatting of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods proposals. Writing strategies and ethical issues at different phases of the project are also explored.

Writing the Proposal

Arguments Presented in a Proposal

It is helpful to plan the major points to be presented in the proposal. Maxwell (2005) provided a list of core arguments that need to be advanced in any proposal.

· What do readers need to know to better understand your topic?

· What do readers need to know about your topic?

· What do you propose to study?

· What is the setting, and who are the people you will study?

· What methods do you plan to use to collect data?

· How will you analyze the data?

· How will you validate your findings?

· What ethical issues will your study present?

· What do preliminary results show about the practicability and value of the proposed study?

Format for a Qualitative Proposal

· Qualitative Constructivist Format

· Introduction

· Statement of problem

· Purpose of the study

· Research questions

· Procedures

· Philosophical worldview

· Design

· Role of the researcher

· Data collection procedures

· Data analysis procedures

· Strategies for validating findings

· Proposed narrative structure

· Anticipated ethical issues

· Preliminary pilot findings

· Expected impact and significance of the study

· References

· Appendixes

· Qualitative Transformative Format

· Introduction

· Statement of problem – include power oppression, discrimination, etc.

· Purpose of the study

· Research questions

· Procedures

· Philosophical worldview

· Research strategy

· Role of the researcher

· Data collection procedures-include collaborative approaches

· Data analysis procedures

· Strategies for validating findings

· Proposed narrative structure

· Anticipated ethical issues

· Preliminary pilot findings

· Significance of the study and transformative changes likely to occur

· References

· Appendixes

Format for a Quantitative Proposal

Conforms to sections typically found in quantitative studies reported in journal articles.

· Introduction

· Statement of problem

· Purpose of the study

· Research questions or hypotheses

· Theoretical perspective

· Review of the literature

· Methods

· Design

· Population, sample and participants

· Data collection instruments, variables and materials

· Data analysis procedures

· Anticipated ethical issues in the study

· Preliminary studies or pilot tests

· Appendixes (instruments, timeline, proposed budget)

Format for a Mixed Methods Proposal

The researcher brings together approaches included under quantitative and qualitative formats.

· Introduction

· Statement of problem

· Purpose of the study or study aim and reasons or rationale for a mixed methods study

· Research questions or hypotheses

· Philosophical foundations for using mixed methods research

· Review of the literature

· Methods

· Definition of mixed methods research

· Design used and its definition

· Challenges in using this design and how they will be addressed

· Examples of use of the type of design

· Reference and inclusion of a diagram of procedures

· Quantitative data collection

· Quantitative data analysis

· Qualitative data collection

· Qualitative data analysis

· Mixed methods data analysis procedures

· Validity approaches in both quantitative and qualitative research

· Researcher’s resources and skills to conduct mixed methods research

· Potential ethical issues

· References

· Appendixes (instruments, protocols, diagrams, timeline, budget, summary of major content for each chapter)

Designing the Sections of a Proposal

Tips for students:

· Specify sections early in the design of the proposal. Develop an outline.

· Find proposal authored by other students. As your adviser for copies of proposals that he/she liked.

· Look into courses on proposal development

· Ask adviser for his/her preferred format

Writing Ideas

Writing as Thinking

· Early in the process, write ideas down rather than talk about them. This helps the reader to visualize the final product.

· Work through several drafts of a proposal rather than polishing the first draft

· Iterative approach – write, review and rewrite

· Do not edit proposal at the early draft stage. Franklin(1986) three stage model

· Develop an outline

· Write out a draft and then shift and sort ideas

· Edit and polish each sentence

The Habit of Writing

· Write something each day or at least engage in thinking, gathering information and reviewing what goes in the manuscript

· Select a time of day to work and discipline yourself to write at this time each day

· Choose a place free of distractions

· Write while fresh

· Write in small regular amounts

· Work on two to three writing projects concurrently

Readability of the Manuscript

· Use consistent terms throughout the proposal

· Consider how narrative thoughts of different types guide the reader.

· Umbrella thoughts: general or core ideas

· Big thoughts in writing – specific ideas or images that serve to reinforce, clarify or elaborate upon umbrella thoughts

· Little thoughts – ideas or images whose chief function is to reinforce big thoughts

· Attention or interest thoughts – ideas whose purposes are to keep the reader on track, organize ideas and keep attention

· Use coherence to add to the readability

· Ideas tie together and logically flow

· Builds through connecting sentences and paragraphs

· Voice, Tense, and “Fat”

· Use the active voice as much as possible

· Use strong active verbs

· Pay attention to tense of verbs. APA recommends the following guidelines:

· Past tense or present perfect tense for literature reviews and procedures

· Past tense to describe results

· Present tense to discuss findings

· Expect to edit and revise to trim the fat (additional words, phrases that are unnecessary to convey the meaning of the ideas

Ethical Issues to Anticipate

· Prior to beginning the study

· Consult the code of ethics for your professional organization early in the process

· Apply to the institutional review board (IRB)

· Assess potential for risk

· Consider special needs of vulnerable populations

· Consider the informed consent process

· Obtain necessary permissions – individuals in authority to gain access to study participants and sites

· Select a site without vested interests – insures objectivity and the full expression of multiple perspectives

· Negotiate authorship for publication

· Beginning the study

· Identify a beneficial research problem. Studying the problem should be beneficial to the participants

· Disclose the purpose of the study. Develop the purpose statement and how it will be explained to the participants

· Do not pressure participants into signing consent forms. Participation should be voluntary

· Respect norms and charters of indigenous cultures

· Collecting the data

· Respect the site. Disrupt normal operations as little as possible.

· Make sure all participants receive the benefits

· Avoid deception of participant

· Respect potential power imbalances

· Avoid exploitation of participants

· Avoid collecting harmful information

· Analyzing the data

· Avoid going native. Do not “take sides” by only reporting results that place the participants in a favorable light

· Avoid disclosing only positive results. It is dishonest to withhold results.

· Respect the privacy of the participants

· Reporting, Sharing and Storing Data

· Avoid falsifying authorship, evidence, data, findings or conclusions.

· Do not plagiarize.

· Avoid disclosing information that would harm participants. Maintain confidentiality or, in cases where participants do not want their identities concealed, inform them about the potential risks of nonconfidentiality.

· Communicate in clear, straightforward and appropriate language.

· Share data with other. Provide copies of research reports to participants and stakeholders, publishing in multiple languages when needed.

· Keep raw data and other instruments for a reasonable period of time (APA recommends 5 years)

· Do not duplicate or piecemeal publications. Avoid publishing papers in which authors present the same data, discussions and conclusions without offering new material.

· Complete proof of compliance and lack of conflict of interest statements

· Understand who owns the data

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