Research Proposal

COM 220: FINAL PROJECT RESEARCH PROPOSAL (Additional details discussed in class) -Report due date: ______________________ (hard copy; late work unacceptable) -Presentation date: ______________________ MAJOR PROJECT COMPONENTS (see due dates and points listed on syllabus) -RQs + annotated bibliography -Method section outline -Presentation of proposal -Full research proposal report TASK -Design a research project, create a research proposal -We will investigate this topic: How people consume media today (think: TV, movies, Internet, news, video games, etc.) -Employ one method that we’ve covered so far (e.g., observation, interviews, focus groups) -Note: You do not have to carry out this research for our course, you only need to design it and create a detailed proposal about it (however, you must design a project that is feasible if you alone had 9 months to carry out the work) -Follow these major steps to complete the project: -ID a problem to research—something related to how people consume media today -Generate a long list of RQs about that problem -Select the most promising RQs to pursue -Determine appropriate method for answering RQs -Consult relevant prior research about similar issues -Outline and draft your method section in advance -Develop your research proposal -Present your research proposal to the class -Submit the final version of your research proposal FORMAT -Use APA style (unless other guidelines are noted here) -Length: 8 single-space pages -Use explicitly labeled headings for all but the title page -Include these 8 parts and make each a separate page -Title page (title: subtitle, other details) -Abstract (250-word max) -Rationale (background, why study?, who cares?) -Research Questions (2, related) -Method -Expected Findings -Schedule (based on project criteria; starting after proposal approval) -References (at least 5) ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT FINAL PRESENTATION -In addition to submitting the final paper, you will present a summary of your research proposal to the class -You must use a visual aid, such as PowerPoint or Keynote (where each report section=1 slide) -Length: 4-6 minutes -Presentation tips: -Prepare your visual aid file in multiple forms (e.g., saved on laptop, in email, etc.) -Arrive early on the day you present -Set up your visual aid before class begins