Task: Research Proposal- Mini Research Project
Due Date: Week 8 – Sep 08, 2015 to Sep 10, 2015
Worth: 20% (20 marks)
Objectives
You may work on this assignment in groups of 1, 2 or 3. The purpose of this assessment is to enable students to develop an effective research plan considering context, research questions, sources, timeline, and larger implications for writing a formal research report. Also to practice working with the Research Proposal as an academic genre and to provide an opportunity for working on stylistics and effective academic discourse.
Background
The research proposal will form a foundation for the final research report. It provides a detailed description of the proposed research project, and is like an outline of the entire research project.
Requirements
Each group is required to submit a research proposal (1500-2000). The purpose of this task is to assist students to plan, prepare and write a scholarly paper at an appropriate standard for this level of study. It should demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas and information at a professional level, and be written in a form that can be used to build on for the final research report.
You have worked with your research question(s) for several weeks now, you may have an idea of how you want to study that question(s). If so, start drawing up a brief plan. Use the following heuristics to generate information to enable you to design and guide your study.
Study your question-
• What object (people, places or things) does it suggest you need to study?
• What kind of study does the question suggest (empirical--e.g., ethnography, case study, descriptive study, experimental; historical--oral or archival or both; theoretical; discourse or textual analysis, etc.)?
• What data do you need to collect? (artifacts, texts, people doing something, interviews, etc.)
• How will you analyse the data? (qualitative? quantitative? hermeneutics? discourse analysis? historical? etc.)
• Be very specific in both the data you will examine and the ways in which you will analyse it.
• Look for scholarship that is similar to the kind you wish to design to see what other researchers have identified as data and how they studied these.
The research proposal should typically include (but not limited to): a cover page; a TOC (Table of Contents); an introduction to the proposal, in your own words, that introduces what your proposal is all about; Research Question and Purpose; Methodology; Planning and organisation; Conclusion that summarises key aspects including why this research matters; Referencing using APA style. [For more details see the Marking Guide at the end of this document]
If your research question or research interest could lead you to studying, surveying, interviewing, testing or any other methods of collecting data from human beings, then you should look at the university’s Human ethics website found at:
http://federation.edu.au/research/research-support/ethics/human-ethics
If this is the type of research that you wish to pursue, then you may have to include an ethics proposal in your research report.
Submission
Submit an electronic copy of research proposal via Moodle submission link. Please refer to the Course Description for information regarding late assignments, extensions, special consideration, and plagiarism. A reminder all academic regulations can be accessed via the university’s website, see: http://federation.edu.au/staff/governance/legal/feduni-legislation
ITECH5500 Research Proposal- Marking Guide
Student Id. Student Name

Assessment Mark Mark Awarded
Abstract:
• Significant concepts
• Key aspects of the paper /5
Introduction:
• Background, context, overview
• Purpose, scope and method of the study
• Summary of proposal /10
Research Question and Purpose:
• Statement of problem- gap in knowledge identified
• Research questions, aims, hypotheses are clear and specific
• Definition of the paradigm and methodology chosen for the study, including the rationale for the choice; introduction to conceptual or theoretical framework /10
Literature Review:
• Current, balanced, relevant, significant
• Multidisciplinary and extensive
• Literature clearly summarised and clear connection to the proposed research /10
Methodology:
• Clearly identified research design that is justified and appropriate
• Strengths and weaknesses acknowledged
• Intended population; sampling; selection criteria; research instrument; data collection; data analysis tool/process [as applicable]
• Need for ethics proposal, discussion around ethics and thought given to how comply with an ethics proposal [if applicable]
• Reasons for choosing tools/samples/choice of sample [as applicable]
• Data collection- variables, tools and measurement methods [as applicable]
• Identification of threats to reliability and validity /30
Planning, analysis and organisation:
• Proposal of how the study will help fill the gap in knowledge- what new knowledge it might provide.
• Clear planning and timelines
• Proposed statistical and/or data analysis methods [as applicable]
• Logical progression of ideas at the paragraph and whole-paper levels.
• Brief conclusion- key aspects including why this research matters /10
Other considerations:
• Ethical considerations and procedures such as recruitment of participants etc.; privacy; benefit/harm; coercion; consent; use of data [as applicable]
• OHS considerations and procedures to be addressed within the research project /5
Presentation:
• Style and structure- concise and cohesive
• Spelling and grammar- evidence of proof-reading /10
References:
• Range of references (internet, articles, quotations, books and journals etc.)
• Correct use of citation and referencing
• University guide followed e.g. APA referencing /10
Total /100
Scaled out of 10
Marked by: