Your final writing assignment for this course is an an 8 – 10 page research proposal where you will propose a semester-long (15 weeks) research project that:
Formulates a research question and/or hypothesis
Provides a rationale for your study
Develops a literature review for your study
Explains your methodology
Describes how you will analyze your research
Discusses the limitations of your research
Discusses future research
Format:
Use the outline in Appendix A of your textbook to organize your proposal:
INTRODUCTION: Formulate a research objective, research question, or hypothesis that is appropriate for communication research. Your topic should further scholarly understanding of communication and/or respond to a need in society. Describe the nature of the situation, and provide an overview of the selected topic. Describe your topic are and state your RQ/H.
RATIONALE: Justify your selection of the topic. Describe its prevalence, implications for individuals, families, organizations, and/or society at large. Focus your research by indicating why others should be interested in the selected topic. Convince the audience that the topic is worthy of study.
LITERATURE REVIEW: Assuming you are using the same topic you have been all semester, include a revised version of the literature review from your previous assignment. Your literature review should justify your theory and RQ/H, and should summarize previous research done on your topic area.
METHODOLOGY: Decide on the best method for getting an answer to your RQ/H. Describe in detail what methodology you will use, and justify your decisions (You are required to include at least 2 scholarly sources, not including the textbook, that help you understand/explain your methodology):
Your methodology, e.g., experimental research, survey research, textual analysis, ethnographic research,
critical analysis, focus groups, interviews, etc.
Define and describe your population and sample.
What is your sampling design? Who will you talk to? How many? When/where/how?
(If applicable) Describe how you will select your sample.
(If applicable) Describe how you will administer your instrument.
(If applicable) Describe how/when you will conduct observation(s).
How you will control for validity, reliability, and ethics.
(If applicable) What are your variable(s)?
Conceptual definition
Operational definition
Which are independent/dependent (if applicable)
List information to be gathered.
(If applicable)List the types of questions you will ask.
Include an estimated timeline of your project (15 weeks).
ANALYSIS: Describe how you intend to analyze the data.
For survey or experimental research: Statistical analysis plan, and criteria for
accepting or rejecting your hypothesis (if applicable).
For textual analysis or ethnographic research: Coding and analytical method to
be used. How will you write up your results? Narrative? Quotes?
LIMITATIONS: What are the limitations to your research?
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH: What future research might your study point
to?
Requirements:
Your research proposal should:
Propose a 15 week (semester long) research project
Be organized using the format, above
Use a minimum of 12 academic sources (this will require some additional research beyond your literature review for your methodology)
Present a clear, and compelling reason for your research to be done
Be between 8-10 pages long
Formatted using APA style, including a title page, running header and page numbers (use your templatel)
A reference list of all sources cited in your literature review
Turned in via Canvas (I cannot accept papers by email)
This assignment will be graded on:
The quality of your overall proposal
How well you followed the format and explained the rationale for your research
Relevance of sources
Number of sources (Min. 12)
Clarity of writing
Papers is free from spelling/grammar errors
I have already written my literature review, which is many pages of the assignment which is why I do not need the full page limit
I included the literature review in the files which includes sources used before too which will limit having to find 12
Need to make an A
