GUIDE TO READING TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS
You will choose a Qualitative Research Proposal, a Quantitative Research Proposal, or a mixed Research Proposal.
Qualitative Research relies on narrative data, which can be expressed verbally and analyzed logically.(please choose this)
Quantitative Research utilizes data, which can be expressed numerically and analyzed statistically.
Mixed Research combines qualitative and quantitative research in the proposal.
You will complete the first three chapters of a Problem Report Proposal, which may be used, later for your thesis if approved by your advisor and your thesis committee. You will notbe collecting data, analyzing data, reporting finding, sharing conclusions, non recommending avenues for further researcher which would involved the additional time and effort to complete chapters four, five, and possibly additional chapters (if you proposal research is qualitative). Refer to chapter 12 writing the final Research Report for additional guidance in the preparation of your chapters one, two, and three of your Problem Report Proposals.
Assignment#1
Read Chapters One and Two and write Chapter One (INTRODUCTION) of your Research Proposal.
Include the following and additional important topics:
Title of the study
Introduction
Topic
Importance of the topic
Problem Statement
Subproblems
Research Questions or Hypotheses
Limitations
Definition of Terms
Discussion of Methodology
How Results will be obtained
How Applicable the Study will be
Significance of the Study
Overview of the Entire Study
Choose a topic, which is of interest to you and others.
Example: Equity
Based on the topic, refine it into a Problem Statement of one to three complete sentences.
Example: In this study, I will identify the relationships between experiential activities of minority college students and their attitudes toward social and professional equity.
Identify and clearly state the problem for your research proposal. As a guide, answer the following questions:
Is the problem clearly and concisely stated?
Is the problem adequately narrowed down into a researchable problem?
Is the problem significant enough to warrant a formal research effort?
Based on the Problem Statement, identify two to six subproblems.
Examples:
- Identify subject disciplines (History, Sociology, Education, etc.) to discover if course subjects promote positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Analyze the culture of professors (minority and/or majority) to determine if the culture of faculty translates into positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Investigate student membership in fraternities/sororities to assess if student organizations support positive attitudes related to social and professional equity for minority college students.
- Determine student participation in cultural organizations and examine the contribution of cultural organizations to positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
Refine the subproblems and write them in the form of Research Questions or Hypotheses (depending on whether you plan to propose qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research).
Example of Research Questions (for qualitative research):
- Will the content of subject disciplines promote positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students?
- Will the culture of professors (minority and/or majority) translate into positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students?
- Will the students’ memberships in fraternities/sororities support positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students?
- Will participation in cultural organizations contribute to positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students?
Example of Hypotheses (for Quantitative Research):
- The content of subject disciplines will promote positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- The culture of professors (minority and/or majority) will translate into positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Memberships in fraternities/sororities will support positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Participation in cultural organizations will contribute to positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
Example of Null Hypotheses (for Quantitative Research):
- The content of subject disciplines will not promote positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- The culture of professors (minority and/or majority) will not translate into positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Membership in fraternities/sororities will not support positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
- Participation in cultural organizations will not contribute to positive attitudes related to social and professional equity of minority college students.
Answer the following questions to your own satisfaction:
Are the research questions or hypotheses clear, testable, and specific?
Does each research question or hypothesis describe a predicted relationship between two or more variables?
Do the research questions or hypotheses flow logically from the theoretical or conceptual framework?