Descriptive research 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/Theoretical Framework

If you are going to use Qualitative or Experimental give me the design; what is your plan

to study the sample, what are the specific things that you will do. Example, in qualitative, are

you going to go a live with your sample to collect information and data-ethnography, are you

going to use one entity to collect data from-case study. 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.

If you are doing Descriptive, you provide a

Assumption

You will never have 100% control over everything in your study so researchers provide a

list of things that they “assume” are true because if they are not then they cannot continue their

research. Example, you assume that the participants are being honest when they answer your

research question because if they are not your data is worthless, you assume that your sample is

representative of your population because if it is not then there is no point of doing your

research, you assume that you are using the right methodology to conduct your research, you

assume that you are using the right tools to collect and analyze the data, etc.

Subjects/Selection and Description of Participants

Describe and talk about the things that are specific to the sample which you are using in

your research; where are they from, how old are they, gender, background, education level, etc.

Data Collection

How are you going to collect data? Example, are you going to use an interview; is it

structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Observation; what is the behavior that you are going

to observe. Survey, how many question, what type of questions, etc. Give detailed description of

how you will collect the data

Data Analysis

How you analyzed the data, what methods you used, how did you use them, etc.

Timeline

How much did it take you to do the research, how much time did it take to do each part.

References

What are the references you used in your proposal.

ONLY LIST THE ONES YOU USED IN YOUR IN-TEXT CITATION.