Layout/Font
The following formatting specifications are recommended:
Single or 1.5 line spacing
Size 12, using a Sans Serif Font (eg Calibri)
Left justified with a 2.5 margin
Include page numbers
Include a word count
Word or PDF file format
Please remember that:
All direct quotations from another author’s work must be placed in quotation marks and cited correctly by providing the author name, date, and page number.
All data, ideas, or lines of argument, which you appropriate from another author (even if you do not use their exact words), must be acknowledged and referenced correctly.
You also need to ensure you do not plagiarise your own work (self-plagiarism). You cannot include material that you have written and submitted for another assignment without referencing it correctly.
word limit: 2000 words (+10%)
The Assignment: Research Proposal
This assignment aims to assess your knowledge and understanding of individual differences and social psychology
For this assignment, you will write a research proposal similar to one that you would write if you were to:
Propose a piece of research to potential PhD supervisors
Propose a piece of research to an employer within your place of work
Propose a piece of research for funding
You are to produce a research proposal related to one of the topics covered in this module. Note that this research proposal must be a different topic from your dissertation project. The proposal is for a fictional piece of research that can be completed within one to two years. Although fictional, you should be careful to present a piece of research that could exist in the real world.
In order to do this, you need to write a proposal that is both clear and well written, and that provides the reader with the following information.
1. Introduction, literature review, and rationale
The background literature pertinent to the research proposal. This section will outline the importance of the study, existing empirical research and what it tells us about the area, your identified research gap and your rationale for the current research. Where possible, use theory to help explain the rationale for your study.
2. Research questions OR Hypotheses (do not use both see below)
You should provide the research questions for your proposed study OR the hypotheses. Do not provide both. Adjust your subheading according to which you choose to present.
Please note, for this assignment, you do not need to detail how the research could be carried out (methodology).
Writing this assignment will also assist you in your dissertation write up. Although the research proposal differs from your dissertation because it is not write up of completed research (e.g., there is no discussion), the feedback we provide for this assignment will be formative for your dissertation research.
