Proposal
Written communication: Must be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Resources and citations: Format according to current Evidence and APA guidelines. 7th Edition
Length: 6–9 page typed, double-spaced pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Create a research proposal that provides a detailed plan for your research study that states your hypothesis, reports on sampling methods, and identifies how the data will be analyzed to answer the research question.
Note: The assessments throughout this course build on one another. It’s highly recommended that you complete them in order.
This assessment includes a number of steps and details. For the best results, take your time and focus on one step at a time. Missing even one step or detail can cause additional problems. Use the Attached Research Proposal Template[DOCX]as your guide.
in your reading list, go to the APA Online Psychology Laboratory. Once there, select Student Login and create your account (if you haven’t done so already).
From within the APA Online Psychology Lab, go to Experiments. Then select one of the following experiments (if you’ve completed the Literature Review, be sure to keep the same topic. You will use the same selected experiment throughout all assessments in this course.):
Be a Juror.
select that experiment and go to the Description tab. Read the description thoroughly. Take notes regarding the design procedure and measures. Tip: Complete the experiment as a participant to get first-hand experience with the measure. Once you feel confident you understand the design and measure, write a research proposal using this measure for an experiment.
** Must complete all assessments on the same selected experiment and topic.
For this assessment, write your research proposal for a possible experiment you could conduct using the OPL experiment you’ve selected.
Notes: For the purpose of this research proposal, you will have the following constraints:
Participants: Your participants will be psychology students at a university.
Measure: You must use the OPL experiment you’ve chosen.
Study: You will not be collecting any new data; this research proposal is for possible research, and you will be using pre-existing data.
Be sure to use the Research Proposal Template [DOCX] Download Research Proposal Template [DOCX]for this assessment, as it provides context and wording that you should use to help you clearly explain your main points. By using the template, you will cover all of the points below:
Complete the IRB application portion of the Research Proposal Template.
Insert your revised literature review in the Literature Review section in the template.
Revise your literature review based on any feedback received on attempts from the first assessment.
If you have not completed Assessment 1, write a literature review for your topic; see Assessment 1 for further details.
State your hypothesis for your study.
Operationally define the variables that you are using in your study.
Describe the method you will use to sample your participants and collect data.
Use your notes from the media piece to guide your sampling method selection.
Choose the measurement that matches your study.
Review the template for suggested language.
Discuss how the measurement increases the reliability and validity of the study.
Explain your procedure based on the research design you chose.
Include commentary on the sociocultural considerations that have an effect on the study outcomes and how you can control for them.
Discuss factors related to the overall validity of the study.
Discuss sociocultural factors that could play a role in study outcomes.
Identify the statistical test you’ll use to analyze your data and explain why you picked it.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Differentiate between types of psychological research methods.
Operationally define the variables that are being used in a research study.
Describe a sampling method that is appropriate for a study and available resources.
Competency 2: Design research that controls for variations in behavior related to individual and sociocultural differences.
Identify an appropriate measurement that matches a particular research study.
Design research with respect to controls for variations in behavior related to individual and sociocultural differences.
Competency 3: Design an ethically appropriate psychological research study.
Completes ethics training and submits either the completion report or certificate.
Complete an IRB application.
Describe factors related to the validity of the research study.
Identify a data analysis approach appropriate to the experimental set-up.
Competency 4: Conduct a psychological research study.
Explain the procedure based on a chosen research design.
Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
Revise content to include faculty feedback.
Use APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors.
Use APA style paper formatting with only minor errors.
Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment
Ethics in Research
Ensuring that research complies with the basic principles of ethical research is of utmost importance. We must always take measures to protect participants from harm and maintain confidentiality. Use your textbook to read the following chapter and learn the critical steps that are necessary to ensure that your research complies with ethical standards.
Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research (9th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 3B, “The Importance of Practicing Ethics in Research.”
The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct guides behaviors and decisions made by psychologists in research and most mental health services. Being familiar with the Code of Ethics not only will help you with your assessment, but in the field as well. In your Ethics in Research reading list, read the following sections:
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.
Section 4, “Privacy and Confidentiality.”
This section discusses the importance of the privacy and confidentiality of participants in your study and how to take necessary precautions to maintain the privacy of all participants in your study and how to take necessary precautions to maintain the privacy of all participants that you interact with.
Section 8, “Research and Publication.”
This section discusses ethics in research and publication, such as ensuring that you obtain informed consent from participants prior to conducting a study. Following the APA Code of Ethics helps ensure that there is no harm to the participants or researcher.
Selecting Your Sample
Selecting your sample is the next crucial component of designing your proposal. Use the following resources to help you.
Remember that you are not collecting a new sample or new data. Data have already been collected for you. For the purposes of this second assessment, assume you have access to students in one psychology class and a large university.
Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research (9th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 4, “Sampling and Generalizability.”
This chapter explains populations, samples, and sample size.
In your Selecting your Sample reading list:
Trochim, W. M. K. (n.d.). Sampling terminology. Research Methods Knowledge Base.
Complete The Sample in the Learn tab of the Quick Guide of Academic Writer to learn about the sample of research participants, different types of sampling methods, assessing sampling bias, and selecting an appropriate sample size.
Levels of Measurement, Reliability, and Validity
Each variable has a different level of measurement, which must be carefully considered in the study. There are also unique considerations for reliability and validity. In your textbook, read the following chapters:
Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research (9th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 5, “Measurement, Reliability, and Validity.”
This chapter will help you learn about the various levels of measurement and how to ensure that your study is reliable and valid.
Chapter 6, “Methods of Measuring Behavior.”
As you work on the concepts of tests and measurements, read this chapter to learn about various types of tests and their uses in the field.
Complete Criteria and Criterion Measures in the Learn tab of the Quick Guide of Academic Writer to learn about the selection of appropriate criteria and valid and reliable criterion measures for both the independent and dependent variable.
Variables
Complete the following videos in the Learn tab of the Quick Guide of Academic Writer.
Confounding Variables and Their Control.
Learn about confounding variables and how to control them, as well as how they function in various contexts.
Research Strategies and Variables: Relationships between Variables.
Learn about design choices, causal and noncausal relationships between variables, and data analysis and study design.
Experimental Research Methods
As you work on understanding experimental designs and internal and external validity, review the following resources:
Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research (9th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 11, “Pre- and True Experimental Research Methods.”
This chapter discusses how to ensure that a researcher is controlling for extraneous variables, which are sometimes not accounted for in a study.
Chapter 12, “Quasi-Experimental Research: A Close Cousin to Experimental Research.”
This chapter discusses quasi-experimental research, which is similar to experiments, but does not use random assignment. Understanding these various designs will help you select the most appropriate one for your proposal.
Writing a Research Proposal
As you work toward your proposal, read the following chapters in your textbook:
Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research (9th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 13, “Writing a Research Proposal.”
This chapter will assist you in formatting your paper, understanding the research you have reviewed, data collection, data analysis, reliability, validity, and more. This chapter is a great resource and guide when working on your assessment.
Research Proposal Scoring Guide-
MUST MEET DISTINGUISHED CRITERIA
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
Completes ethics training and submits either the completion report or certificate. Does not complete ethics training. Completes part but not all of ethics training. Completes ethics training and submits either the completion report or certificate. Completes ethics training and submits completion report and certificate confirming an 80% or better for all subsections.
Complete an IRB application. Does not complete an IRB application. Completes an IRB application but leaves areas blank. Completes an IRB application. Completes an IRB application that is ethically appropriate to the study design.
Operationally define the variables that are being used in a research study. Does not provide a definition. Provides a definition of the variables, but the definition is not operational. Operationally defines the variables that are being used in the research study. Operationally defines the variables that are being used in the research study that have a clear connection to the hypothesis.
Describe a sampling method that is appropriate for a study and available resources. Does not describe a sampling method. Describes a sampling method, but the method is not appropriate for the study and available resources. Describes a sampling method that is appropriate for a study and available resources. Describes a sampling method that is appropriate for the study and resources available and has a clear connection to the hypothesis.
Identify an appropriate measurement that matches a particular research study. Does not identify a measurement. Identifies a measurement, but measurement is not appropriate and does not match a particular research study. Identifies an appropriate measurement that matches a particular research study. Identifies an appropriate measurement that matches a particular research study and includes discussion of reliability and validity of the measurement.
Explain the procedure based on a chosen research design. Does not identify a procedure. Identifies a procedure, but does not explain or base the procedure on a chosen research design. Explains the procedure based on a chosen research design. Explains the procedure based on a chosen research design and a clear connection to the hypothesis.
Describe factors related to the validity of the research study. Does not identify factors related to the validity of the research study. Identifies validity of the study but does not describe the factors. Describe factors related to the validity of the research study. Describes factors related to the validity of the research study, including at least one threat to internal validity and one threat to external validity.
Design research with respect to controls for variations in behavior related to individual and sociocultural differences. Does not design research. Designs research, but the research lacks respect to controls for variations in behavior. Designs research with respect to controls for variations in behavior related to individual and sociocultural differences. Designs research with respect to controls for variations in behavior related to individual and sociocultural differences that can influence research outcomes.
Identify a data analysis approach appropriate to the experimental set-up. Does not identify the data analysis approach. Identifies a data analysis approach, but one that doesn’t fit well with the measures specified earlier in the proposal. Identifies a data analysis approach appropriate to the experimental set-up. Identifies a data analysis approach appropriate to the experimental set-up with explanation of why that analysis was selected.
Revise content to include faculty feedback. Does not revise content. Partially revises content to include faculty feedback. Revises content to include faculty feedback. Creates new insights by revising assessment to include faculty feedback.
Use APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors. Does not have citations or a reference list. Uses APA style formatting for citations and reference list but has major errors. Uses APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors. Uses proper APA style formatting for citations and reference list.
Use APA style paper formatting with only minor errors. Does not format paper in line with APA style guidelines. Uses APA style paper formatting but has major errors. Uses APA style paper formatting with only minor errors. Uses proper APA style formatting throughout paper, including spacing, title page, page numbers, and headings.
Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences. Does not respond to the assessment prompt and/or does not organize text appropriately, uses inappropriate tone, or does not include structurally sound sentences. Addresses the assessment purpose with minimal issues related to evidence, tone, and sentence structure. Addresses assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences. Presents a focused purpose through strong organizational skills. Presents evidence through strong paraphrasing/summarizing and appropriate tone and sentence structure.
