RESEARCH PROPOSAL

PRO302 Public Relations Project

Seminar 2 Research questions

Seminar objectives

•  To identify and develop a research question •  To construct ‘good’ research questions •  To discuss research questions and proposals •  To consider ethics in relation to your research

Research questions

•  You should a hard copy of your draft research

question(s) to class this week.

•  You should also be developing your literature review (incorporating at least 4 scholarly readings prior to this class). Bring a hard copy of this to class, even in draft form, as it is an important starting point for exploring your topic and refining your research question(s).

Asking questions

•  1) Is the research question something I/others care about? Is it arguable?

•  2) Is the research question a new spin on an old idea, or does it solve a problem?

•  3) Is it too broad or too narrow? •  4) Is the research question researchable within

the given time frame and location?

•  5) What information is needed? •  Retrieved from: http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/

research-questions.original.pdf

Research questions and projects •  Central research question •  Literature/fieldwork •  Sub-questions •  What data to collect •  How to collect data •  How to analyse the data •  How to answer research question •  How to develop theory that relates to the

research question

Research proposals

Proposals will be assessed on: •  Research question (including problem statement

drawn on relevant literature)

•  Proposed methodology (including data collection and analysis)

•  Structure (including written expression, persuasiveness, and references)

Research ethics

•  Research ethics and integrity •  http://our.murdoch.edu.au/Research-Ethics-and-

Integrity/Human-research-ethics/Information/

•  No data collection can start without the unit coordinator’s approval of the research proposal.

•  Special conditions apply to any research involving people (e.g. participant observation, interviews, surveys, focus groups) and organisations. Please discuss with Kate as you must have written approval for this research before you can begin to collect data.

Ethical principles

•  Right of free and informed choice •  Protection from harm •  Privacy: anonymity and confidentiality •  Autonomy: debriefing •  Honesty: omission, interpretation, and

plagiarism

Questions?