Research Proposal

Instructions for Research Proposal.

1. These instructions explain the rules for the sections of the Research Proposal. You should submit your Research Proposal by email to [email protected] by the date on your Assignment Schedule (posted in ACE Resources). Your Research Proposal must be your own work and not copied from assignments submitted in another class or copied from the Web or another source. If you use information from the Web to support your descriptions or conclusions, insert a citation to the website. Each student must submit an individual written Research Proposal, even though the pilot test data is developed by the group.

A model for the Research Proposal can be found on Page 118 of the Business Research Methods textbook, as well as on Page 660 of Appendix A in the textbook.

2. Minimum total pages: 3-4 pages + Appendix (Pilot Test Results)

3. Sections of the Research Proposal

a. Problem Statement/Literature Search. The problem statement gives the reader an overview of the proposal. It states the management dilemma and how the research will address it. This section serves the same purpose as the Executive Summary in a business plan, an overview of the project. In the MindWriter example, the researchers describe the service and repair program, CompleteCare, in the first paragraph and then state the management dilemma in the second and third paragraphs (poor service; customer complaints). The fourth paragraph describes what the management hopes to do. ¾-1 page

b. Research Objectives. The research objectives section connects the management dilemma to the research goal. How will research help solve the dilemma? In MindWriter, the research demonstrates a connection to 1) Customer satisfaction, i.e. the complaints and 2) the poor service problem. 1/2 page

c. Importance/Benefits. This section seeks to justify the time and expense necessary to do the research by giving positive outcomes expected from the research. The Mindwriter crew points out how improving customer satisfaction can lead to higher profits for a longer period of time. You will explain how your research will help your new business. You may supplement your writing with citations to authoritative website articles. 1/2 page

d. Research Design. This is the main section of the Proposal. It describes the methods of date collection. You should describe how you collected your data and what the purpose was in your questions. The MindWriter researchers describe their questionnaire and how it will be administered. 3/4 -1 page

e. Data Analysis. Summarize the data you obtained in your pilot test. Give the results and comment on them. What did your research show? 3/4 -1 page

f. Results: Deliverables. This is a brief section describing the final package that will be delivered to the proposal’s customer. You will attach the summary of your pilot test as an Appendix.

4. You do not have to write a proposed Budget section.